Page 148 - the-idiot

never leave you, mother; any other man would cut and run
from such a sister as this. See how she is looking at me at
this moment! Besides, how do you know that I am blinding
Nastasia Philipovna? As for Varia, I don’t care—she can do
just as she pleases. There, that’s quite enough!’
Gania’s irritation increased with every word he uttered,
as he walked up and down the room. These conversations
always touched the family sores before long.
‘I have said already that the moment she comes in I go
out, and I shall keep my word,’ remarked Varia.
‘Out of obstinacy’ shouted Gania. ‘You haven’t married,
either, thanks to your obstinacy. Oh, you needn’t frown at
me, Varvara! You can go at once for all I care; I am sick
enough of your company. What, you are going to leave us
are you, too?’ he cried, turning to the prince, who was ris-
ing from his chair.
Gania’s voice was full of the most uncontrolled and un-
controllable irritation.
The prince turned at the door to say something, but per-
ceiving in Gania’s expression that there was but that one
drop wanting to make the cup overflow, he changed his
mind and left the room without a word. A few minutes later
he was aware from the noisy voices in the drawing room,
that the conversation had become more quarrelsome than
ever after his departure.
He crossed the salon and the entrance-hall, so as to pass
down the corridor into his own room. As he came near the
front door he heard someone outside vainly endeavouring
to ring the bell, which was evidently broken, and only shook

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