Page 829 - the-idiot

Varia coming along, arm in arm, just as though they were
enjoying a morning walk together. Both of them seemed
very much astonished, not to say disturbed, at seeing me;
they evidently had not expected the pleasure. Aglaya Iva-
novna blushed up, and was actually a little confused. I don’t
know whether it was merely because I was there, or wheth-
er Gania’s beauty was too much for her! But anyway, she
turned crimson, and then finished up the business in a very
funny manner. She jumped up from her seat, bowed back
to Gania, smiled to Varia, and suddenly observed: ‘I only
came here to express my gratitude for all your kind wishes
on my behalf, and to say that if I find I need your services,
believe me—‘ Here she bowed them away, as it were, and
they both marched off again, looking very foolish. Gania
evidently could not make head nor tail of the matter, and
turned as red as a lobster; but Varia understood at once that
they must get away as quickly as they could, so she dragged
Gania away; she is a great deal cleverer than he is. As for
myself, I went there to arrange a meeting to be held between
Aglaya Ivanovna and Nastasia Philipovna.’
‘Nastasia Philipovna!’ cried the prince.
‘Aha! I think you are growing less cool, my friend, and
are beginning to be a trifle surprised, aren’t you? I’m glad
that you are not above ordinary human feelings, for once.
I’ll console you a little now, after your consternation. See
what I get for serving a young and high-souled maiden!
This morning I received a slap in the face from the lady!’
‘A—a moral one?’ asked the prince, involuntarily.
‘Yes—not a physical one! I don’t suppose anyone—even

The Idiot