Page 351 - the-idiot

ya, however, suggested that it was a little unceremonious to
go en masse to see him.
‘Very well then, stay at home,’ said Mrs. Epanchin, and a
good thing too, for Evgenie Pavlovitch is coming down and
there will be no one at home to receive him.’
Of course, after this, Aglaya went with the rest. In fact,
she had never had the slightest intention of doing other-
wise.
Prince S., who was in the house, was requested to escort
the ladies. He had been much interested when he first heard
of the prince from the Epanchins. It appeared that they had
known one another before, and had spent some time to-
gether in a little provincial town three months ago. Prince
S. had greatly taken to him, and was delighted with the op-
portunity of meeting him again,
The general had not come down from town as yet, nor
had Evgenie Pavlovitch arrived.
It was not more than two or three hundred yards from
the Epanchins’ house to Lebedeff’s. The first disagreeable
impression experienced by Mrs. Epanchin was to find the
prince surrounded by a whole assembly of other guests—
not to mention the fact that some of those present were
particularly detestable in her eyes. The next annoying cir-
cumstance was when an apparently strong and healthy
young fellow, well dressed, and smiling, came forward to
meet her on the terrace, instead of the half-dying unfortu-
nate whom she had expected to see.
She was astonished and vexed, and her disappointment
pleased Colia immensely. Of course he could have unde-

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