Page 96 - the-idiot

a moment’s pause.
The prince gazed at her in amazement.
‘You know,’ Adelaida continued, ‘you owe us a descrip-
tion of the Basle picture; but first I wish to hear how you
fell in love. Don’t deny the fact, for you did, of course. Be-
sides, you stop philosophizing when you are telling about
anything.’
‘Why are you ashamed of your stories the moment after
you have told them?’ asked Aglaya, suddenly.
‘How silly you are!’ said Mrs. Epanchin, looking indig-
nantly towards the last speaker.
‘Yes, that wasn’t a clever remark,’ said Alexandra.
‘Don’t listen to her, prince,’ said Mrs. Epanchin; ‘she says
that sort of thing out of mischief. Don’t think anything of
their nonsense, it means nothing. They love to chaff, but
they like you. I can see it in their faces—I know their faces.’
‘I know their faces, too,’ said the prince, with a peculiar
stress on the words.
‘How so?’ asked Adelaida, with curiosity.
‘What do YOU know about our faces?’ exclaimed the
other two, in chorus.
But the prince was silent and serious. All awaited his re-
ply.
‘I’ll tell you afterwards,’ he said quietly.
‘Ah, you want to arouse our curiosity!’ said Aglaya. ‘And
how terribly solemn you are about it!’
‘Very well,’ interrupted Adelaida, ‘then if you can read
faces so well, you must have been in love. Come now; I’ve
guessed—let’s have the secret!’