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"Not at all. Quite the contrary indeed. With her, he was always

very patient, considerate even. In fact, all those seven years of

their married life he gave way to her, too much so indeed, in

many cases. All of a sudden he seems to have lost patience."

"Then he could not have been so awful if he controlled himself

for seven years? You seem to be defending him, Dounia?"

"No, no, he's an awful man! I can imagine nothing more awful!"

Dounia answered, almost with a shudder, knitting her brows, and

sinking into thought.

"That had happened in the morning," Pulcheria Alexandrovna went

on hurriedly. "And directly afterwards she ordered the horses to

be harnessed to drive to the town immediately after dinner. She

always used to drive to the town in such cases. She ate a very

good dinner, I am told...."

"After the beating?"