Wouldyoubelieveit，that，knowinghe’sagoodman，asplendidman，thatI’mnotworthhislittlefinger，Istillhatehim。Ihatehimforhisgenerosity。
Andthere’snothingleftformebut……’
Shewouldhavesaid`death，’butStepanArkadyevichwouldnotletherfinish。
`Youareillandoverwrought，’hesaid；`believeme，you’reexaggeratingdreadfully。There’snothingsoterribleinit。’
AndStepanArkadyevichsmiled。NooneelseinStepanArkadyevich’splace，havingtodowithsuchdespair，wouldhaveventuredtosmilethesmilewouldhaveseemedbrutal；butinhissmiletherewassomuchofsweetnessandalmostfemininetendernessthathissmiledidnotwound，butsoftenedandsoothed。Hisgentle，soothingwordsandsmileswereassoothingandsofteningasalmondoil。AndAnnasoonfeltthis。