Page 119 - the-idiot

mother, silencing all objection by her manner; she was ev-
idently seriously put out. ‘You see, prince, it is all secrets
with us, just now—all secrets. It seems to be the etiquette of
the house, for some reason or, other. Stupid nonsense, and
in a matter which ought to be approached with all candour
and openheartedness. There is a marriage being talked of,
and I don’t like this marriage—‘
‘Mamma, what are you saying?’ said Alexandra again,
hurriedly.
‘Well, what, my dear girl? As if you can possibly like it
yourself? The heart is the great thing, and the rest is all rub-
bish—though one must have sense as well. Perhaps sense is
really the great thing. Don’t smile like that, Aglaya. I don’t
contradict myself. A fool with a heart and no brains is just
as unhappy as a fool with brains and no heart. I am one and
you are the other, and therefore both of us suffer, both of us
are unhappy.’
‘Why are you so unhappy, mother?’ asked Adelaida, who
alone of all the company seemed to have preserved her good
temper and spirits up to now.
‘In the first place, because of my carefully brought-up
daughters,’ said Mrs. Epanchin, cuttingly; ‘and as that is
the best reason I can give you we need not bother about any
other at present. Enough of words, now! We shall see how
both of you (I don’t count Aglaya) will manage your busi-
ness, and whether you, most revered Alexandra Ivanovna,
will be happy with your fine mate.’
‘Ah!’ she added, as Gania suddenly entered the room,
‘here’s another marrying subject. How do you do?’ she con-

11 The Idiot