"Calm yourself.

That's enough.

What are you afraid of?
Surely you know me ?" said Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch, trying to soothe her; but it was long before he could succeed.

She gazed at him dumbly with the same look of agonising perplexity, with a painful idea in her poor brain, and she still seemed to be trying to reach some conclusion.

At one moment she dropped her eyes, then suddenly scrutinised him in a rapid comprehensive glance.