Page 58 - the-idiot

sisters had agreed that all was to be sacrificed by them, if
need be, for Aglaya’s sake; her dowry was to be colossal and
unprecedented.
The general and his wife were aware of this agreement,
and, therefore, when Totski suggested himself for one of the
sisters, the parents made no doubt that one of the two el-
der girls would probably accept the offer, since Totski would
certainly make no difficulty as to dowry. The general valued
the proposal very highly. He knew life, and realized what
such an offer was worth.
The answer of the sisters to the communication was,
if not conclusive, at least consoling and hopeful. It made
known that the eldest, Alexandra, would very likely be dis-
posed to listen to a proposal.
Alexandra was a good-natured girl, though she had a
will of her own. She was intelligent and kind-hearted, and,
if she were to marry Totski, she would make him a good
wife. She did not care for a brilliant marriage; she was emi-
nently a woman calculated to soothe and sweeten the life
of any man; decidedly pretty, if not absolutely handsome.
What better could Totski wish?
So the matter crept slowly forward. The general and
Totski had agreed to avoid any hasty and irrevocable step.
Alexandra’s parents had not even begun to talk to their
daughters freely upon the subject, when suddenly, as it were,
a dissonant chord was struck amid the harmony of the
proceedings. Mrs. Epanchin began to show signs of discon-
tent, and that was a serious matter. A certain circumstance
had crept in, a disagreeable and troublesome factor, which