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out a farthing in his pocket. I gave him twenty-five roubles
to go on with, and am going to find him some easy place in
one of the government offices. I should like you to ply him
well with the victuals, my dears, for I should think he must
be very hungry.’
‘You astonish me,’ said the lady, gazing as before. ‘Fits,
and hungry too! What sort of fits?’
‘Oh, they don’t come on frequently, besides, he’s a regular
child, though he seems to be fairly educated. I should like
you, if possible, my dears,’ the general added, making slow-
ly for the door, ‘to put him through his paces a bit, and see
what he is good for. I think you should be kind to him; it is a
good deed, you know—however, just as you like, of course—
but he is a sort of relation, remember, and I thought it might
interest you to see the young fellow, seeing that this is so.’
‘Oh, of course, mamma, if we needn’t stand on ceremony
with him, we must give the poor fellow something to eat af-
ter his journey; especially as he has not the least idea where
to go to,’ said Alexandra, the eldest of the girls.
‘Besides, he’s quite a child; we can entertain him with a
little hide-and-seek, in case of need,’ said Adelaida.
‘Hide-and-seek? What do you mean?’ inquired Mrs. Ep-
anchin.
‘Oh, do stop pretending, mamma,’ cried Aglaya, in vexa-
tion. ‘Send him up, father; mother allows.’
The general rang the bell and gave orders that the prince
should be shown in.
‘Only on condition that he has a napkin under his chin
at lunch, then,’ said Mrs. Epanchin, ‘and let Fedor, or Ma-

The Idiot