Page 775 - the-idiot

and how foolish! We were always middle-class, thorough-
ly middle-class, people. Why should we attempt to climb
into the giddy heights of the fashionable world? My sisters
are all for it. It’s Prince S. they have to thank for poisoning
their minds. Why are you so glad that Evgenie Pavlovitch
is coming?’
‘Listen to me, Aglaya,’ said the prince, ‘I do believe you
are nervous lest I shall make a fool of myself tomorrow at
your party?’
‘Nervous about you?’ Aglaya blushed. ‘Why should I be
nervous about you? What would it matter to me if you were
to make ever such a fool of yourself? How can you say such
a thing? What do you mean by ‘making a fool of yourself’?
What a vulgar expression! I suppose you intend to talk in
that sort of way tomorrow evening? Look up a few more
such expressions in your dictionary; do, you’ll make a
grand effect! I’m sorry that you seem to be able to come into
a room as gracefully as you do; where did you learn the art?
Do you think you can drink a cup of tea decently, when you
know everybody is looking at you, on purpose to see how
you do it?’
‘Yes, I think I can.’
‘Can you? I’m sorry for it then, for I should have had a
good laugh at you otherwise. Do break SOMETHING at
least, in the drawing-room! Upset the Chinese vase, won’t
you? It’s a valuable one; DO break it. Mamma values it, and
she’ll go out of her mind—it was a present. She’ll cry before
everyone, you’ll see! Wave your hand about, you know, as
you always do, and just smash it. Sit down near it on pur-

The Idiot