Page 135 - the-idiot

‘Is it jolly there?’
‘Very.’
‘Mountains?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’ll go and get your bundle.’
Here Varvara joined them.
‘The maid shall bring your bed-linen directly. Have you
a portmanteau?’
‘No; a bundle—your brother has just gone to the hall for
it.’
‘There’s nothing there except this,’ said Colia, returning
at this moment. ‘Where did you put it?’
‘Oh! but that’s all I have,’ said the prince, taking it.
‘Ah! I thought perhaps Ferdishenko had taken it.’
‘Don’t talk nonsense,’ said Varia, severely. She seemed
put out, and was only just polite with the prince.
‘Oho!’ laughed the boy, ‘you can be nicer than that to ME,
you know—I’m not Ptitsin!’
‘You ought to be whipped, Colia, you silly boy. If you
want anything’ (to the prince) ‘please apply to the servant.
We dine at half-past four. You can take your dinner with us,
or have it in your room, just as you please. Come along, Co-
lia, don’t disturb the prince.’
At the door they met Gania coming in.
‘Is father in?’ he asked. Colia whispered something in his
ear and went out.
‘Just a couple of words, prince, if you’ll excuse me. Don’t
blab over THERE about what you may see here, or in this
house as to all that about Aglaya and me, you know. Things

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