Eugene Onegin ( without commentary )

XXIX

She early had been fond of novels; for her they replaced all; she grew enamored with the fictions 4 of Richardson and of Rousseau. Her father was a kindly fellow who lagged in the precedent age but saw no harm in books; 8 he, never reading, deemed them an empty toy, nor did he care what secret tome his daughter had 12 dozing till morn under her pillow. As to his wife, she was herself mad upon Richardson.