Chapter 32

           

           TheparticularswhichtheprincesshadlearnedinregardtoVarenka’spastandherrelationswithMadameStahlwereasfollows:

           MadameStahl,ofwhomsomepeoplesaidthatshehadworriedherhusbandoutofhislife,whileotherssaiditwashewhohadmadeherwretchedbyhisimmoralbehavior,hadalwaysbeenawomanofweakhealthandenthusiastictemperament.When,afterherseparationfromherhusband,shegavebirthtoheronlychild,thechildhaddiedalmostimmediately,andthefamilyofMadameStahl,knowinghersensibility,andfearingthenewswouldkillher,hadsubstitutedanotherchild,ababybornthesamenightandinthesamehouseinPetersburg,thedaughterofthechiefcookoftheImperialHousehold.ThiswasVarenka.MadameStahllearnedlateronthatVarenkawasnotherownchild,butshewentonbringingherup,especiallyasverysoonafterwardsVarenkahadnotarelationofherownliving.MadameStahlhadnowbeenlivingmorethantenyearscontinuouslyabroad,inthesouth,neverleavinghercouch.AndsomepeoplesaidthatMadameStahlhadmadehersocialpositionasaphilanthropic,highlyreligiouswoman;otherpeoplesaidshereallywasatheartthehighlyethicalbeing,livingfornothingbutthegoodofherfellowcreatures,whichsherepresentedherselftobe.NooneknewwhatherfaithwasCatholic,Protestant,orOrthodox.Butonefactwasindubitableshewasinamicablerelationswiththehighestdignitariesofallthechurchesandsects.

           Varenkalivedwithherallthewhileabroad,andeveryonewhoknewMadameStahlknewandlikedMademoiselleVarenka,aseveryonecalledher.

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