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"No, no, nonsense! It's nothing. A little giddiness--not

fainting. You have fainting on the brain. H'm, yes, what was I

saying? Oh, yes. In what way will you get convincing proof to-day

that you can respect him, and that he... esteems you, as you

said. I think you said to-day?"

"Mother, show Rodya Pyotr Petrovitch's letter," said Dounia.

With trembling hands, Pulcheria Alexandrovna gave him the letter.

He took it with great interest, but, before opening it, he

suddenly looked with a sort of wonder at Dounia.

"It is strange," he said, slowly, as though struck by a new idea.

"What am I making such a fuss for? What is it all about? Marry

whom you like!"