You can imagine all she went through! To leave her situation at once was impossible not only on account of the money debt, but also to spare the feelings of Marfa Petrovna, whose suspicions would have been aroused: and then Dounia would have been the cause of a rupture in the family.

And it would have meant a terrible scandal for Dounia too; that would have been inevitable.

There were various other reasons owing to which Dounia could not hope to escape from that awful house for another six weeks.

You know Dounia, of course; you know how clever she is and what a strong will she has.

Dounia can endure a great deal and even in the most difficult cases she has the fortitude to maintain her firmness.