Page 641 - the-idiot

Try to realize that in the perpetual admission of guilt she
probably finds some dreadful unnatural satisfaction—as
though she were revenging herself upon someone.
‘Now and then I was able to persuade her almost to see
light around her again; but she would soon fall, once more,
into her old tormenting delusions, and would go so far as
to reproach me for placing myself on a pedestal above her
(I never had an idea of such a thing!), and informed me, in
reply to my proposal of marriage, that she ‘did not want
condescending sympathy or help from anybody.’ You saw
her last night. You don’t suppose she can be happy among
such people as those—you cannot suppose that such society
is fit for her? You have no idea how well-educated she is, and
what an intellect she has! She astonished me sometimes.’
‘And you preached her sermons there, did you?’
‘Oh no,’ continued the prince thoughtfully, not noticing
Aglaya’s mocking tone, ‘I was almost always silent there. I
often wished to speak, but I really did not know what to say.
In some cases it is best to say nothing, I think. I loved her,
yes, I loved her very much indeed; but afterwards—after-
wards she guessed all.’
‘What did she guess?’
‘That I only PITIED her—and—and loved her no lon-
ger!’
‘How do you know that? How do you know that she is not
really in love with that—that rich cad—the man she eloped
with?’
‘Oh no! I know she only laughs at him; she has made a
fool of him all along.’

0 The Idiot