Page 444 - the-idiot

ing could be plainer than that he and Adelaida had come
for the express purpose of obtaining explanations, and that
they suspected him of being concerned in the affair. And if
all this were so, then SHE must have some terrible object in
view! What was it? There was no stopping HER, as Muish-
kin knew from experience, in the performance of anything
she had set her mind on! ‘Oh, she is mad, mad!’ thought the
poor prince.
But there were many other puzzling occurrences that
day, which required immediate explanation, and the prince
felt very sad. A visit from Vera Lebedeff distracted him a
little. She brought the infant Lubotchka with her as usual,
and talked cheerfully for some time. Then came her young-
er sister, and later the brother, who attended a school close
by. He informed Muishkin that his father had lately found a
new interpretation of the star called ‘wormwood,’ which fell
upon the water-springs, as described in the Apocalypse. He
had decided that it meant the network of railroads spread
over the face of Europe at the present time. The prince re-
fused to believe that Lebedeff could have given such an
interpretation, and they decided to ask him about it at the
earliest opportunity. Vera related how Keller had taken up
his abode with them on the previous evening. She thought
he would remain for some time, as he was greatly pleased
with the society of General Ivolgin and of the whole fam-
ily. But he declared that he had only come to them in order
to complete his education! The prince always enjoyed the
company of Lebedeff’s children, and today it was especially
welcome, for Colia did not appear all day. Early that morn-