Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
A BIOGRAPHY
167
like a little dog, creep up to and nestle in the arms
of any one who smiled kindly upon her, could, when
roused to battle, trample every feeling underfoot, and
wound in cold blood those on whom, a moment before,
she had lavished the warmest affection.
This arose from her intensity of will. For her will
was so strong that it became an overmastering force,
even when it had to do with a purpose entirely
unconnected with feeling. What she desired, what she
wished, she desired with such intensity that she was
almost consumed by it. Now she wanted to leave her
parents’ home, and continue her studies, cost what it
might.
One evening there was to be a family gathering at
her father’s house. In the afternoon her mother had
gone out to choose flowers for her table and new music
for her pianoforte.
Her father was at his club, and the governess was
helping the maid to decorate the drawing-room with
plants.
The girls were alone in their room, and their pretty
new dresses were lying ready for dinner. They were
never allowed to go out of doors without being
accompanied by the footman or the governess. But Sönya
seized upon this moment, when every one was occupied,
to slip o\it of the house. Aniuta, who was in the
conspiracy, accompanied Sönya downstairs, and stood at
the door until she was out of sight. Shè then ran back
to her room with a beating heart, and began to put on
her light-blue dress.
It was already twilight, and the first gas-lamps were
just being lighted. Sönya had drawn down her veil
and pulled her Russian hood well over her face. She
hesitatingly went down the broad empty street, which
she had never before traversed alone. Her pulses were
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
