Page 418 - the-idiot

here with the prince, and your husband, and a large com-
pany. Why should you refuse to gratify my last wish?’
‘Give me a chair!’ cried Lizabetha Prokofievna, but she
seized one for herself and sat down opposite to Hippolyte.
‘Colia, you must go home with him,’ she commanded and
tomorrow I will come my self. ‘
‘Will you let me ask the prince for a cup of tea?... I am
exhausted. Do you know what you might do, Lizabetha Pro-
kofievna? I think you wanted to take the prince home with
you for tea. Stay here, and let us spend the evening together.
I am sure the prince will give us all some tea. Forgive me for
being so free and easy— but I know you are kind, and the
prince is kind, too. In fact, we are all good-natured people—
it is really quite comical.’
The prince bestirred himself to give orders. Lebedeff hur-
ried out, followed by Vera.
‘It is quite true,’ said Mrs. Epanchin decisively. ‘Talk, but
not too loud, and don’t excite yourself. You have made me
sorry for you. Prince, you don’t deserve that I should stay
and have tea with you, yet I will, all the same, but I won’t
apologize. I apologize to nobody! Nobody! It is absurd!
However, forgive me, prince, if I blew you up—that is, if
you like, of course. But please don’t let me keep anyone,’ she
added suddenly to her husband and daughters, in a tone of
resentment, as though they had grievously offended her. ‘I
can come home alone quite well.’
But they did not let her finish, and gathered round her
eagerly. The prince immediately invited everyone to stay for
tea, and apologized for not having thought of it before. The

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