Page 879 - the-idiot

tive, of which she did not speak. She thought that possibly
Aglaya, or at any rate someone sent by her, would be present
incognito at the ceremony, or in the crowd, and she wished
to be prepared for this eventuality.
The prince left her at eleven, full of these thoughts, and
went home. But it was not twelve o’clock when a messenger
came to say that Nastasia was very bad, and he must come
at once.
On hurrying back he found his bride locked up in her
own room and could hear her hysterical cries and sobs. It
was some time before she could be made to hear that the
prince had come, and then she opened the door only just
sufficiently to let him in, and immediately locked it behind
him. She then fell on her knees at his feet. (So at least Dana
Alexeyevna reported.)
‘What am I doing? What am I doing to you?’ she sobbed
convulsively, embracing his knees.
The prince was a whole hour soothing and comfort-
ing her, and left her, at length, pacified and composed. He
sent another messenger during the night to inquire after
her, and two more next morning. The last brought back a
message that Nastasia was surrounded by a whole army of
dressmakers and maids, and was as happy and as busy as
such a beauty should be on her wedding morning, and that
there was not a vestige of yesterday’s agitation remaining.
The message concluded with the news that at the moment
of the bearer’s departure there was a great confabulation in
progress as to which diamonds were to be worn, and how.
This message entirely calmed the prince’s mind.

The Idiot