"Esipova? She was brought up by your grandfather. Why?"
Eugene told his mother about the letter.
"I wonder she is not ashamed to ask for it. Your father gave her so much!"
"But do we owe her this?"
"Well now, how shall I say? It is not a debt. Papa, out of his unbounded kindness . . ."
"Yes, but did Papa consider it a debt?"
"I cannot say. I don't know. I only know it is hard enough for you without that."
Eugene saw that Mary Pavlovna did not know what to say, and was as it were sounding him.
"I see from what you say, that it must be paid," said the son. "I will go to see her to-morrow and have a chat, and see if it cannot be deferred."
"Ah, how sorry I am for you, but, you know, that will be best. Tell her she must wait," said Mary Pavlovna, evidently tranquillized and proud of her son's decision.