Page 848 - the-idiot

Ha, ha, ha!’
Rogojin stared intently at them; then he took his hat, and
without a word, left the room.
A few moments later, the prince was seated by Nasta-
sia on the sofa, gazing into her eyes and stroking her face
and hair, as he would a little child’s. He laughed when she
laughed, and was ready to cry when she cried. He did not
speak, but listened to her excited, disconnected chatter,
hardly understanding a word of it the while. No sooner did
he detect the slightest appearance of complaining, or weep-
ing, or reproaching, than he would smile at her kindly, and
begin stroking her hair and her cheeks, soothing and con-
soling her once more, as if she were a child.