Page 147 - the-idiot

for myself—you can hardly expect your sister—‘
‘My sister again,’ cried Gania, looking at her with con-
tempt and almost hate. ‘Look here, mother, I have already
given you my word that I shall always respect you fully and
absolutely, and so shall everyone else in this house, be it
who it may, who shall cross this threshold.’
Gania was so much relieved that he gazed at his mother
almost affectionately.
‘I was not at all afraid for myself, Gania, as you know well.
It was not for my own sake that I have been so anxious and
worried all this time! They say it is all to be settled to-day.
What is to be settled?’
‘She has promised to tell me tonight at her own house
whether she consents or not,’ replied Gania.
‘We have been silent on this subject for three weeks,’ said
his mother, ‘and it was better so; and now I will only ask you
one question. How can she give her consent and make you a
present of her portrait when you do not love her? How can
such a—such a—‘
‘Practised hand—eh?’
‘I was not going to express myself so. But how could you
so blind her?’
Nina Alexandrovna’s question betrayed intense annoy-
ance. Gania waited a moment and then said, without taking
the trouble to conceal the irony of his tone:
‘There you are, mother, you are always like that. You
begin by promising that there are to be no reproaches or in-
sinuations or questions, and here you are beginning them at
once. We had better drop the subject—we had, really. I shall

1 The Idiot