Why have you drawn my daughter into your scandals in the face of the whole town?
That's what I've come about." "My scandals ?" Varvara Petrovna drew herself up menacingly.
"Maman, I entreat you too, to restrain yourself," Lizaveta Nikolaevna brought out suddenly.
"What's that you say ?" The maman was on the point of breaking into a squeal again, but catching her daughter's flashing eye, she subsided suddenly.
"How could you talk about scandal, maman ?" cried Liza, flushing red.
"I came of my own accord with Yulia Mihailovna's permission, because I wanted to learn this unhappy woman's story and to be of use to her." "This unhappy woman's story!" Praskovya Ivanovna drawled with a spiteful laugh.

"Is it your place to mix yourself up with such 'stories.' Ach, enough of your tyrannising!" She turned furiously to Varvara Petrovna.
"I don't know whether it's true or not, they say you keep the whole town in order, but it seems your turn has come at last." Varvara Petrovna sat straight as an arrow ready to fly from the bow.

For ten seconds she looked sternly and immovably at Praskovya Ivanovna.
"Well, Praskovya, you must thank God that all here present are our friends," she said at last with ominous composure.

"You've said a great deal better unsaid." "But I'm not so much afraid of what the world will say, my lady, as some people.

It's you who, under a show of pride, are trembling at what people will say.