Page 43 - the-idiot

‘Yes, she promised. We both worried her so that she gave
in; but she wished us to tell you nothing about it until the
day. ‘
The general watched Gania’s confusion intently, and
clearly did not like it.
‘Remember, Ivan Fedorovitch,’ said Gania, in great agita-
tion, ‘that I was to be free too, until her decision; and that
even then I was to have my ‘yes or no’ free.’
‘Why, don’t you, aren’t you—‘ began the general, in
alarm.
‘Oh, don’t misunderstand—‘
‘But, my dear fellow, what are you doing, what do you
mean?’
‘Oh, I’m not rejecting her. I may have expressed myself
badly, but I didn’t mean that.’
‘Reject her! I should think not!’ said the general with an-
noyance, and apparently not in the least anxious to conceal
it. ‘Why, my dear fellow, it’s not a question of your rejecting
her, it is whether you are prepared to receive her consent
joyfully, and with proper satisfaction. How are things go-
ing on at home?’
‘At home? Oh, I can do as I like there, of course; only my
father will make a fool of himself, as usual. He is rapidly be-
coming a general nuisance. I don’t ever talk to him now, but
I hold him in cheek, safe enough. I swear if it had not been
for my mother, I should have shown him the way out, long
ago. My mother is always crying, of course, and my sister
sulks. I had to tell them at last that I intended to be master
of my own destiny, and that I expect to be obeyed at home.

The Idiot