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Chapter 12

           Whatforpeopleintheirfullvigorisanaimwasforherevidentlymerelyapretext.

           Thusinthemorning—especiallyifshehadeatenanythingrichthedaybefore—shefeltaneedofbeingangryandwouldchooseasthehandiestpretextBelóva’sdeafness.

           Shewouldbegintosaysomethingtoherinalowtonefromtheotherendoftheroom.

           “Itseemsalittlewarmertoday,mydear,”shewouldmurmur.

           AndwhenBelóvareplied:“Ohyes,they’vecome,”shewouldmutterangrily:“OLord!Howstupidanddeafsheis!”

           Anotherpretextwouldbehersnuff,whichwouldseemtoodryortoodampornotrubbedfineenough.Afterthesefitsofirritabilityherfacewouldgrowyellow,andhermaidsknewbyinfalliblesymptomswhenBelóvawouldagainbedeaf,thesnuffdamp,andthecountess’faceyellow.Justassheneededtoworkoffherspleensoshehadsometimestoexerciseherstill-existingfacultyofthinking—andthepretextforthatwasagameofpatience.Whensheneededtocry,thedeceasedcountwouldbethepretext.Whenshewantedtobeagitated,Nicholasandhishealthwouldbethepretext,andwhenshefeltaneedtospeakspitefully,thepretextwouldbeCountessMary.Whenhervocalorgansneededexercise,whichwasusuallytowardseveno’clockwhenshehadhadanafter-dinnerrestinadarkenedroom,thepretextwouldbetheretellingofthesamestoriesoverandoveragaintothesameaudience.

           Theoldlady’sconditionwasunderstoodbythewholehouseholdthoughnooneeverspokeofit,andtheyallmadeeverypossibleefforttosatisfyherneeds

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