She had nothing to gain by marriage, for already she had everything that she desired, especially since she was permitted to study.

While her father was rather stern, her mother spoiled and petted her; and she was the idol of her aunt Hode, the fiddler's wife.
Hode had bought a fine estate in Polotzk, after my grandfather settled there, and made it her home whenever she became tired of travelling.
She lived in state, with many servants and dependents, wearing silk dresses on week days, and setting silver plate before the meanest guest.

The women of Polotzk were breathless over her wardrobe, counting up how many pairs of embroidered boots she had, at fifteen rubles a pair.

And Hode's manners were as much a subject of gossip as her clothes, for she had picked up strange ways in her travels Although she was so pious that she was never tempted to eat trefah, no matter if she had to go hungry, her conduct in other respects was not strictly orthodox.

For one thing, she was in the habit of shaking hands with men, looking them straight in the face.