The particulars which the princess had learned in regard to

Varenka's past and her relations with Madame Stahl were as

follows: Madame Stahl, of whom some people said that she had worried her

husband out of his life, while others said it was he who had made

her wretched by his immoral behavior, had always been a woman of

weak health and enthusiastic temperament. When, after her

separation from her husband, she gave birth to her only child,

the child had died almost immediately, and the family of Madame

Stahl, knowing her sensibility, and fearing the news would kill

her, had substituted another child, a baby born the same night

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and in the same house in Petersburg, the daughter of the chief

cook of the Imperial Household. This was Varenka. Madame Stahl

learned later on that Varenka was not her own child, but she went

on bringing her up, especially as very soon afterwards Varenka

had not a relation of her own living. Madame Stahl had now been

living more than ten years continuously abroad, in the south,

never leaving her couch. And some people said that Madame Stahl

had made her social position as a philanthropic, highly religious

woman; other people said she really was at heart the highly

ethical being, living for nothing but the good of her

fellow creatures, which she represented herself to be. No one

knew what her faith was--Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox. But

one fact was indubitable--she was in amicable relations with the

highest dignitaries of all the churches and sects.

Varenka lived with her all the while abroad, and everyone who

knew Madame Stahl knew and liked Mademoiselle Varenka, as

everyone called her.

Having learned all these facts, the princess found nothing to

object to in her daughter's intimacy with Varenka, more

especially as Varenka's breeding and education were of the

best--she spoke French and English extremely well--and what was

of the most weight, brought a message from Madame Stahl

expressing her regret that she was prevented by her ill health

from making the acquaintance of the princess.

After getting to know Varenka, Kitty became more and more

fascinated by her friend, and every day she discovered new

virtues in her.

The princess, hearing that Varenka had a good voice, asked her to

come and sing to them in the evening.

"Kitty plays, and we have a piano; not a good one, it's true, but

you will give us so much pleasure," said the princess with her

affected smile, which Kitty disliked particularly just then,

because she noticed that Varenka had no inclination to sing.

Varenka came, however, in the evening and brought a roll of music

with her. The princess had invited Marya Yevgenyevna and her

daughter and the colonel.




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