Page 647 - the-idiot

talked of two or three days since, and about which she had
nearly quarrelled with Prince S., who did not see anything
particularly lovely in it.
Arrived at the rendezvous of the prince and her daugh-
ter, and hearing the strange words of the latter, Lizabetha
Prokofievna had been dreadfully alarmed, for many rea-
sons. However, now that she had dragged the prince home
with her, she began to feel a little frightened at what she
had undertaken. Why should not Aglaya meet the prince in
the park and have a talk with him, even if such a meeting
should be by appointment?
‘Don’t suppose, prince,’ she began, bracing herself up for
the effort, ‘don’t suppose that I have brought you here to ask
questions. After last night, I assure you, I am not so exceed-
ingly anxious to see you at all; I could have postponed the
pleasure for a long while.’ She paused.
‘But at the same time you would be very glad to know
how I happened to meet Aglaya Ivanovna this morning?’
The prince finished her speech for her with the utmost com-
posure.
‘Well, what then? Supposing I should like to know?’ cried
Lizabetha Prokofievna, blushing. ‘I’m sure I am not afraid
of plain speaking. I’m not offending anyone, and I never
wish to, and—‘
‘Pardon me, it is no offence to wish to know this; you are
her mother. We met at the green bench this morning, punc-
tually at seven o’clock,—according to an agreement made
by Aglaya Ivanovna with myself yesterday. She said that
she wished to see me and speak to me about something im-

The Idiot