"I have got it," rejoined Maximitch, putting his hand into his breast.
"I promised Palashka to give it to you."

He handed me a folded paper, and immediately darted off at full gallop.
I opened it and read with emotion the following lines--

"It has pleased God to deprive me at once of my father and my mother. I
have no longer on earth either parents or protectors. I have recourse to
you, because I know you have always wished me well, and also that you
are ever ready to help those in need. I pray God this letter may reach
you. Maximitch has promised me he will ensure it reaching you. Palashka
has also heard Maximitch say that he often sees you from afar in the
sorties, and that you do not take care of yourself, nor think of those
who pray God for you with tears.

"I was long ill, and when at last I recovered, Alexey Iványtch, who
commands here in the room of my late father, forced Father Garasim to
hand me over to him by threatening him with Pugatchéf. I live under his
guardianship in our house. Alexey Iványtch tries to oblige me to marry
him. He avers that he saved my life by not exposing Akoulina
Pamphilovna's stratagem when she spoke of me to the robbers as her
niece, but it would be easier to me to die than to become the wife of a
man like Chvabrine. He treats me with great cruelty, and threatens, if I
do not change my mind, to bring me to the robber camp, where I should
suffer the fate of Elizabeth Kharloff.[62]

"I have begged Alexey Iványtch to give me some time to think it over. He
has given me three days; if at the end of that time I do not become his
wife I need expect no more consideration at his hands. Oh! my father,