Page 708 - the-idiot

the town at this moment. Run after him and beg his par-
don—quick.’
But the father of the family was out in the road already.
Colia was carrying his bag for him; Nina Alexandrovna
stood and cried on the doorstep; she wanted to run after
the general, but Ptitsin kept her back.
‘You will only excite him more,’ he said. ‘He has nowhere
else to go to—he’ll be back here in half an hour. I’ve talked
it all over with Colia; let him play the fool a bit, it will do
him good.’
‘What are you up to? Where are you off to? You’ve no-
where to go to, you know,’ cried Gania, out of the window.
‘Come back, father; the neighbours will hear!’ cried Var-
ia.
The general stopped, turned round, raised his hands and
remarked: ‘My curse be upon this house!’
‘Which observation should always be made in as theatri-
cal a tone as possible,’ muttered Gania, shutting the window
with a bang.
The neighbours undoubtedly did hear. Varia rushed out
of the room.
No sooner had his sister left him alone, than Gania took
the note out of his pocket, kissed it, and pirouetted around.

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