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 as she looked at him; it always seemed to her that he understood her better than any one else in the family, though he did not say much. She was the youngest, and therefore her father's favorite daughter, and it seemed to her that his love made him clairvoyant. When she saw his kind blue eyes steadily fixed on her, it seemed to her that he read her very soul, and saw all the evil that was working there. She blushed, and bent toward him, expecting a kiss; but he only pulled her hair, saying:—

"These stupid chignons! one never gets down to the real daughter, but you caress the hair of departed females. Well! Dolinka," turning to his eldest daughter, "what is that trump of yours doing?"

"Nothing, papa," said Dolly, perceiving that her father referred to her husband; "he is always away from home, and I scarcely ever see him," she could not refrain from adding, with an ironical smile.

"Has he not gone yet to the country to sell his wood?"

"No; he is always putting it off."

"Truly," said the old prince, "is he taking after me?—I hear you," he said in reply to his wife, and sitting down. "And as for you, Katya," he said, addressing his youngest daughter, "do you know what you ought to do? Sometime, some fine morning, wake up and say, 'There! I am perfectly well and happy, papa, and we must go for our early morning walk in the cold,' ha?"

What her father said seemed very simple, but at his words Kitty felt confused and disconcerted like a convicted criminal. "Yes, he knows all, he understands all, and these words mean that I ought to overcome my humiliation, however great it has been."

She could not summon up the courage to reply. She began to say something, but suddenly burst into tears, and ran from the room.

"Just like your tricks!" said the princess to her husband, angrily. "You always .... " and she began one of her tirades.

The prince listened for some time to her reproaches,