Page 824 - the-idiot

what she was driving at, but held their peace, fearing to ir-
ritate the good lady. She, as though anxious to avoid any
conversation, walked ahead, silent and alone. At last Ad-
elaida remarked that it was no use racing along at such a
pace, and that she could not keep up with her mother.
‘Look here,’ said Lizabetha Prokofievna, turning round
suddenly; ‘we are passing his house. Whatever Aglaya may
think, and in spite of anything that may happen, he is not
a stranger to us; besides which, he is ill and in misfortune.
I, for one, shall call in and see him. Let anyone follow me
who cares to.’
Of course every one of them followed her.
The prince hastened to apologize, very properly, for yes-
terday’s mishap with the vase, and for the scene generally.
‘Oh, that’s nothing,’ replied Lizabetha; ‘I’m not sorry for
the vase, I’m sorry for you. H’m! so you can see that there
was a ‘scene,’ can you? Well, it doesn’t matter much, for ev-
eryone must realize now that it is impossible to be hard on
you. Well, au revoir. I advise you to have a walk, and then
go to sleep again if you can. Come in as usual, if you feel in-
clined; and be assured, once for all, whatever happens, and
whatever may have happened, you shall always remain the
friend of the family—mine, at all events. I can answer for
myself.’
In response to this challenge all the others chimed in
and reechoed mamma’s sentiments.
And so they took their departure; but in this hasty and
kindly designed visit there was hidden a fund of cruel-
ty which Lizabetha Prokofievna never dreamed of. In the