Page 272 - the-idiot

did so at once.
Aglaya was the only one of the family whose good graces
he could not gain, and who always spoke to him haughtily,
but it so happened that the boy one day succeeded in giving
the proud maiden a surprise.
It was about Easter, when, taking advantage of a momen-
tary tetea-tete Colia handed Aglaya a letter, remarking that
he ‘had orders to deliver it to her privately.’ She stared at
him in amazement, but he did not wait to hear what she
had to say, and went out. Aglaya broke the seal, and read
as follows:
‘Once you did me the honour of giving me your confi-
dence. Perhaps you have quite forgotten me now! How is it
that I am writing to you? I do not know; but I am conscious
of an irresistible desire to remind you of my existence, espe-
cially you. How many times I have needed all three of you;
but only you have dwelt always in my mind’s eye. I need
you—I need you very much. I will not write about myself. I
have nothing to tell you. But I long for you to be happy. ARE
you happy? That is all I wished to say to you—Your brother,
‘PR. L. MUISHKIN.’
On reading this short and disconnected note, Aglaya
suddenly blushed all over, and became very thoughtful.
It would be difficult to describe her thoughts at that mo-
ment. One of them was, ‘Shall I show it to anyone?’ But she
was ashamed to show it. So she ended by hiding it in her
table drawer, with a very strange, ironical smile upon her
lips.
Next day, she took it out, and put it into a large book, as

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