Page 469 - the-idiot

“PRINCE LEF NICOLAIEVITCH,—If you think fit, after all
that has passed, to honour our house with a visit, I can assure
you you will not find me among the number of those who are
in any way delighted to see you.

‘AGLAYA EPANCHIN.’

Mrs. Epanchin reflected a moment. The next minute she
flew at the prince, seized his hand, and dragged him after
her to the door.
‘Quick—come along!’ she cried, breathless with agitation
and impatience. ‘Come along with me this moment!’
‘But you declared I wasn’t—‘
‘Don’t be a simpleton. You behave just as though you
weren’t a man at all. Come on! I shall see, now, with my
own eyes. I shall see all.’
‘Well, let me get my hat, at least.’
‘Here’s your miserable hat He couldn’t even choose a re-
spectable shape for his hat! Come on! She did that because I
took your part and said you ought to have come—little vix-
en!—else she would never have sent you that silly note. It’s a
most improper note, I call it; most improper for such an in-
telligent, well-brought-up girl to write. H’m! I dare say she
was annoyed that you didn’t come; but she ought to have
known that one can’t write like that to an idiot like you, for
you’d be sure to take it literally.’ Mrs. Epanchin was drag-
ging the prince along with her all the time, and never let go
of his hand for an instant. ‘What are you listening for?’ she
added, seeing that she had committed herself a little. ‘She

The Idiot