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194
SÖNYA KOVALÉVSKY
But, as usual, Sönya had even then premonitions of
coming evil. One of her friends recalls to mind that,
on the day on which the foundation-stone of their first
house was to be laid, Sönya remarked that the occasion
was spoiled for her by a dream she had had on the
previous night.
She dreamed that she was standing on the spot
where the stone was to be laid, surrounded by the
throng assembled to witness the ceremony. Suddenly
the crowd parted, and she saw her husband in the
midst, struggling with a diabolical being which strove
to trample him beneath its feet, and which, on
succeeding, laughed sardonically.
This dream affected Sönya so powerfully that she
became depressed and low-spirited for some time; and
truly it was a dream which, later on, was verified in a
terrible manner.
When, one after another, these vast speculations
failed, Sönya’s fortitude and energy showed
themselves in all their greatness.
She had for a while, it is true, permitted her
imagination to be fired by the common temptation of
using her intelligence and creative genius for the
acquisition of a fortune; but her soul could not long be
wedded to so paltry an aim. She was able to lose
millions at one blow without suffering a sleepless night
or acquiring a new wrinkle on her brow. She could
behold all prospect of wealth vanish without one
regret. She had desired to be rich because life, in all its
forms, tempted her. Her passionate and imaginative
nature made her wish for a full experience. But when
she found that she could not succeed in this, she
withdrew at once, and summoned up all her energy and
fortitude in order to comfort her husband.
Strange to say, this simple-minded man, to whom
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