While awaiting the time for carrying out her plans on a large

scale, however, Kitty, even then at the springs, where there were

so many people ill and unhappy, readily found a chance for

practicing her new principles in imitation of Varenka.

At first the princess noticed nothing but that Kitty was much

under the influence of her _engouement_, as she called it, for

Madame Stahl, and still more for Varenka. She saw that Kitty did

not merely imitate Varenka in her conduct, but unconsciously

imitated her in her manner of walking, of talking, of blinking

her eyes. But later on the princess noticed that, apart from

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this adoration, some kind of serious spiritual change was taking

place in her daughter.

The princess saw that in the evenings Kitty read a French

testament that Madame Stahl had given her--a thing she had never

done before; that she avoided society acquaintances and

associated with the sick people who were under Varenka's

protection, and especially one poor family, that of a sick

painter, Petrov. Kitty was unmistakably proud of playing the

part of a sister of mercy in that family. All this was well

enough, and the princess had nothing to say against it,

especially as Petrov's wife was a perfectly nice sort of woman,

and that the German princess, noticing Kitty's devotion, praised

her, calling her an angel of consolation. All this would have

been very well, if there had been no exaggeration. But the

princess saw that her daughter was rushing into extremes, and so

indeed she told her.

"_Il ne faut jamais rien outrer_," she said to her.

Her daughter made her no reply, only in her heart she thought

that one could not talk about exaggeration where Christianity was

concerned. What exaggeration could there be in the practice of a

doctrine wherein one was bidden to turn the other cheek when one

was smitten, and give one's cloak if one's coat were taken? But

the princess disliked this exaggeration, and disliked even more

the fact that she felt her daughter did not care to show her all

her heart. Kitty did in fact conceal her new views and feelings

from her mother. She concealed them not because she did not

respect or did not love her mother, but simply because she was

her mother. She would have revealed them to anyone sooner than

to her mother.

"How is it Anna Pavlovna's not been to see us for so long?" the

princess said one day of Madame Petrova. "I've asked her, but

she seems put out about something."

"No, I've not noticed it, maman," said Kitty, flushing hotly.




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