Whydoyouteasehim？\"criedtheprince，suddenly。
\"You’vemovedhimtotears，\"addedFerdishenko。ButHippolytewasbynomeansweeping。Hewasabouttomovefromhisplace，whenhisfourguardsrushedathimandseizedhimoncemore。Therewasalaughatthis。
\"Heleduptothisonpurpose。Hetookthetroubleofwritingallthatsothatpeopleshouldcomeandgrabhimbythearm，\"
observedRogojin。\"Good-night，prince。Whatatimewe’vesathere，myverybonesache！\"
\"Ifyoureallyintendedtoshootyourself，Terentieff，\"saidEvgeniePavlovitch，laughing，\"ifIwereyou，afterallthesecompliments，Ishouldjustnotshootmyselfinordertovexthemall。\"
\"Theyareveryanxioustoseemeblowmybrainsout，\"saidHippolyte，bitterly。
\"Yes，they’llbeawfullyannoyediftheydon’tseeit。\"
\"Thenyouthinktheywon’tseeit？\"
\"Iamnottryingtoeggyouon。Onthecontrary，Ithinkitverylikelythatyoumayshootyourself；buttheprincipalthingistokeepcool，\"saidEvgeniewithadrawl，andwithgreatcondescension。
\"IonlynowperceivewhataterriblemistakeImadeinreadingthisarticletothem，\"saidHippolyte，suddenly，addressingEvgenie，andlookingathimwithanexpressionoftrustandconfidence，asthoughhewereapplyingtoafriendforcounsel。
\"Yes，it’sadrollsituation；Ireallydon’tknowwhatadvicetogiveyou，\"repliedEvgenie，laughing。Hippolytegazedsteadfastlyathim，butsaidnothing。Tolookathimonemighthavesupposedthathewasunconsciousatintervals。
\"Excuseme，\"saidLebedeff，\"butdidyouobservetheyounggentleman’sstyle？’I’llgoandblowmybrainsoutinthepark，’
sayshe，’soasnottodisturbanyone。’Hethinkshewon’tdisturbanybodyifhegoesthreeyardsaway，intothepark，andblowshisbrainsoutthere。\"
\"Gentlemen——\"begantheprince。
\"No，no，excuseme，mostreveredprince，\"Lebedeffinterrupted，excitedly。\"Sinceyoumusthaveobservedyourselfthatthisisnojoke，andsinceatleasthalfyourguestsmustalsohaveconcludedthatafterallthathasbeensaidthisyouthMUSTblowhisbrainsoutforhonour’ssake——I——asmasterofthishouse，andbeforethesewitnesses，nowcalluponyoutotakesteps。\"
\"Yes，butwhatamItodo，Lebedeff？WhatstepsamItotake？I
amready。\"
\"I’lltellyou。Inthefirstplacehemustimmediatelydeliverupthepistolwhichheboastedof，withallitsappurtenances。IfhedoesthisIshallconsenttohisbeingallowedtospendthenightinthishouse——consideringhisfeeblestateofhealth，andofcourseconditionallyuponhisbeingunderpropersupervision。Buttomorrowhemustgoelsewhere。Excuseme，prince！Shouldherefusetodeliveruphisweapon，thenIshallinstantlyseizeoneofhisarmsandGeneralIvolgintheother，andweshallholdhimuntilthepolicearriveandtakethematterintotheirownhands。
Mr。Ferdishenkowillkindlyfetchthem。\"
Atthistherewasadreadfulnoise；Lebedeffdancedaboutinhisexcitement；Ferdishenkopreparedtogoforthepolice；Ganiafranticallyinsistedthatitwasallnonsense，\"fornobodywasgoingtoshootthemselves。\"EvgeniePavlovitchsaidnothing。
\"Prince，\"whisperedHippolyte，suddenly，hiseyesallablaze，\"youdon’tsupposethatIdidnotforeseeallthishatred？\"Helookedattheprinceasthoughheexpectedhimtoreply，foramoment。\"Enough！\"headdedatlength，andaddressingthewholecompany，hecried:\"It’sallmyfault，gentlemen！Lebedeff，here’sthekey，\"(hetookoutasmallbunchofkeys)；\"thisone，thelastbutone——Coliawillshowyou——Colia，where’sColia？\"hecried，lookingstraightatColiaandnotseeinghim。\"Yes，he’llshowyou；hepackedthebagwithmethismorning。Takehimup，Colia；mybagisupstairsintheprince’sstudy，underthetable。
Here’sthekey，andinthelittlecaseyou’llfindmypistolandthepowder，andall。Coliapackedithimself，Mr。Lebedeff；he’llshowyou；butit’sonconditionthattomorrowmorning，whenI
leaveforPetersburg，youwillgivemebackmypistol，doyouhear？Idothisfortheprince’ssake，notyours。\"
\"Capital，that’smuchbetter！\"criedLebedeff，andseizingthekeyhemadeoffinhaste。
Coliastoppedamomentasthoughhewishedtosaysomething；butLebedeffdraggedhimaway。
Hippolytelookedaroundatthelaughingguests。Theprinceobservedthathisteethwerechatteringasthoughinaviolentattackofague。
\"Whatbrutestheyallare！\"hewhisperedtotheprince。Wheneverheaddressedhimheloweredhisvoice。
\"Letthemalone，you’retooweaknow——\"
Yes，directly；I’llgoawaydirectly。I’ll——\"
SuddenlyheembracedMuishkin。
\"PerhapsyouthinkIammad，eh？\"heaskedhim，laughingverystrangely。
\"No，butyou——\"
\"Directly，directly！Standstillamoment，Iwishtolookinyoureyes；don’tspeak——standso——letmelookatyou！Iambiddingfarewelltomankind。\"
Hestoodsofortenseconds，gazingattheprince，motionless，deadlypale，histempleswetwithperspiration；heheldtheprince’shandinastrangegrip，asthoughafraidtolethimgo。
\"Hippolyte，Hippolyte，whatisthematterwithyou？\"criedMuishkin。
\"Directly！There，that’senough。I’llliedowndirectly。Imustdrinktothesun’shealth。Iwishto——Iinsistuponit！Letgo！\"
Heseizedaglassfromthetable，brokeawayfromtheprince，andinamomenthadreachedtheterracesteps。
Theprincemadeafterhim，butitsohappenedthatatthismomentEvgeniePavlovitchstretchedouthishandtosaygood-night。Thenextinstanttherewasageneraloutcry，andthenfollowedafewmomentsofindescribableexcitement。
Reachingthesteps，Hippolytehadpaused，holdingtheglassinhislefthandwhileheputhisrighthandintohiscoatpocket。
Kellerinsistedafterwardsthathehadheldhisrighthandinhispocketallthewhile，whenhewasspeakingtotheprince，andthathehadheldthelatter’sshoulderwithhislefthandonly。
Thiscircumstance，Kelleraffirmed，hadledhimtofeelsomesuspicionfromthefirst。Howeverthismaybe，KellerranafterHippolyte，buthewastoolate。
HecaughtsightofsomethingflashinginHippolyte’srighthand，andsawthatitwasapistol。Herushedathim，butatthatveryinstantHippolyteraisedthepistoltohistempleandpulledthetrigger。Therefollowedasharpmetallicclick，butnoreport。
WhenKellerseizedthewould-besuicide，thelatterfellforwardintohisarms，probablyactuallybelievingthathewasshot。
Kellerhadholdofthepistolnow。Hippolytewasimmediatelyplacedinachair，whilethewholecompanythrongedaroundexcitedly，talkingandaskingeachotherquestions。Everyoneofthemhadheardthesnapofthetrigger，andyettheysawaliveandapparentlyunharmedmanbeforethem。
Hippolytehimselfsatquiteunconsciousofwhatwasgoingon，andgazedaroundwithasenselessexpression。
LebedeffandColiacamerushingupatthismoment。
\"Whatisit？\"someoneasked，breathlessly——\"Amisfire？\"
\"Perhapsitwasn’tloaded，\"saidseveralvoices。
\"It’sloadedallright，\"saidKeller，examiningthepistol，\"but——\"
\"What！diditmissfire？\"
\"Therewasnocapinit，\"Kellerannounced。
Itwouldbedifficulttodescribethepitiablescenethatnowfollowed。Thefirstsensationofalarmsoongaveplacetoamusement；someburstoutlaughingloudandheartily，andseemedtofindamalicioussatisfactioninthejoke。PoorHippolytesobbedhysterically；hewrunghishands；heapproachedeveryoneinturn——evenFerdishenko——andtookthembybothhands，andsworesolemnlythathehadforgotten——absolutelyforgotten——
\"accidentally，andnotonpurpose，\"——toputacapin——thathe\"hadtenofthem，atleast，inhispocket。\"Hepulledthemoutandshowedthemtoeveryone；heprotestedthathehadnotlikedtoputoneinbeforehandforfearofanaccidentalexplosioninhispocket。Thathehadthoughthewouldhavelotsoftimetoputitinafterwards——whenrequired——and，that，intheheatofthemoment，hehadforgottenallaboutit。Hethrewhimselfupontheprince，thenonEvgeniePavlovitch。HeentreatedKellertogivehimbackthepistol，andhe’dsoonshowthemallthat\"hishonour——hishonour，\"——buthewas\"dishonoured，now，forever！\"
Hefellsenselessatlast——andwascarriedintotheprince’sstudy。
Lebedeff，nowquitesobereddown，sentforadoctor；andheandhisdaughter，withBurdovskyandGeneralIvolgin，remainedbythesickman’scouch。
Whenhewascarriedawayunconscious，Kellerstoodinthemiddleoftheroom，andmadethefollowingdeclarationtothecompanyingeneral，inaloudtoneofvoice，withemphasisuponeachword。
\"Gentlemen，ifanyoneofyoucastsanydoubtagain，beforeme，uponHippolyte’sgoodfaith，orhintsthatthecapwasforgottenintentionally，orsuggeststhatthisunhappyboywasactingapartbeforeus，Ibegtoannouncethatthepersonsospeakingshallaccounttomeforhiswords。\"
Noonereplied。
Thecompanydepartedveryquickly，inamass。Ptitsin，Gania，andRogojinwentawaytogether。
TheprincewasmuchastonishedthatEvgeniePavlovitchchangedhismind，andtookhisdeparturewithouttheconversationhehadrequested。
\"Why，youwishedtohaveatalkwithmewhentheothersleft？\"hesaid。
\"Quiteso，\"saidEvgenie，sittingdownsuddenlybesidehim，\"butIhavechangedmymindforthetimebeing。Iconfess，Iamtoodisturbed，andso，Ithink，areyou；andthematterastowhichI
wishedtoconsultyouistooserioustotacklewithone’smindevenalittledisturbed；tooseriousbothformyselfandforyou。
Yousee，prince，foronceinmylifeIwishtoperformanabsolutelyhonestaction，thatis，anactionwithnoulteriormotive；andIthinkIamhardlyinaconditiontotalkofitjustatthismoment，and——and——well，we’lldiscussitanothertime。
Perhapsthemattermaygaininclearnessifwewaitfortwoorthreedays——justthetwoorthreedayswhichImustspendinPetersburg。\"
Hereheroseagainfromhischair，sothatitseemedstrangethatheshouldhavethoughtitworthwhiletositdownatall。
Theprincethought，too，thathelookedvexedandannoyed，andnotnearlysofriendlytowardshimselfashehadbeenearlierinthenight。
\"Isupposeyouwillgotothesufferer’sbedsidenow？\"headded。
\"Yes，Iamafraid……\"begantheprince。
\"Oh，youneedn’tfear！He’llliveanothersixweeksallright。
Verylikelyhewillrecoveraltogether；butIstronglyadviseyoutopackhimofftomorrow。\"
\"IthinkImayhaveoffendedhimbysayingnothingjustnow。IamafraidhemaysuspectthatIdoubtedhisgoodfaith，——aboutshootinghimself，youknow。Whatdoyouthink，EvgeniePavlovitch？\"
\"Notabitofit！Youaremuchtoogoodtohim；youshouldn’tcareahangaboutwhathethinks。Ihaveheardofsuchthingsbefore，butnevercameacross，tilltonight，amanwhowouldactuallyshoothimselfinordertogainavulgarnotoriety，orblowouthisbrainsforspite，ifhefindsthatpeopledon’tcaretopathimonthebackforhissanguinaryintentions。Butwhatastonishesmemorethananythingisthefellow’scandidconfessionofweakness。You’dbettergetridofhimtomorrow，inanycase。
\"Doyouthinkhewillmakeanotherattempt？\"
\"Ohno，nothe，notnow！Butyouhavetobeverycarefulwiththissortofgentleman。Crimeistoooftenthelastresourceofthesepettynonentities。Thisyoungfellowisquitecapableofcuttingthethroatsoftenpeople，simplyforalark，ashetoldusinhis’explanation。’Iassureyouthoseconfoundedwordsofhiswillnotletmesleep。\"
\"Ithinkyoudisturbyourselftoomuch。\"
\"Whatanextraordinarypersonyouare，prince！Doyoumeantosaythatyoudoubtthefactthatheiscapableofmurderingtenmen？\"
\"Idaren’tsay，onewayortheother；allthisisverystrange——
but——\"
\"Well，asyoulike，justasyoulike，\"saidEvgeniePavlovitch，irritably。\"Onlyyouaresuchapluckyfellow，takecareyoudon’tgetincludedamongthetenvictims！\"
\"Oh，heismuchmorelikelynottokillanyoneatall，\"saidtheprince，gazingthoughtfullyatEvgenie。Thelatterlaugheddisagreeably。
\"Well，aurevoir！Didyouobservethathe’willed’acopyofhisconfessiontoAglayaIvanovna？\"
\"Yes，Idid；Iamthinkingofit。\"
\"Inconnectionwith’theten，’eh？\"laughedEvgenie，ashelefttheroom。
Anhourlater，towardsfouro’clock，theprincewentintothepark。Hehadendeavouredtofallasleep，butcouldnot，owingtothepainfulbeatingofhisheart。
Hehadleftthingsquietandpeaceful；theinvalidwasfastasleep，andthedoctor，whohadbeencalledin，hadstatedthattherewasnospecialdanger。Lebedeff，Colia，andBurdovskywerelyingdowninthesick-room，readytotakeitinturnstowatch。
Therewasnothingtofear，therefore，athome。
Buttheprince’smentalperturbationincreasedeverymoment。Hewanderedaboutthepark，lookingabsentlyaroundhim，andpausedinastonishmentwhenhesuddenlyfoundhimselfintheemptyspacewiththerowsofchairsroundit，neartheVauxhall。Thelookoftheplacestruckhimasdreadfulnow:soheturnedroundandwentbythepathwhichhehadfollowedwiththeEpanchinsonthewaytotheband，untilhereachedthegreenbenchwhichAglayahadpointedoutfortheirrendezvous。Hesatdownonitandsuddenlyburstintoaloudfitoflaughter，immediatelyfollowedbyafeelingofirritation。Hisdisturbanceofmindcontinued；hefeltthathemustgoawaysomewhere，anywhere。
Abovehisheadsomelittlebirdsangout，ofasudden；hebegantopeeraboutforitamongtheleaves。Suddenlythebirddartedoutofthetreeandaway，andinstantlyhethoughtofthe\"flybuzzingaboutinthesun’srays\"thatHippolytehadtalkedof；
howthatitknewitsplaceandwasaparticipatorintheuniversallife，whilehealonewasan\"outcast。\"Thispicturehadimpressedhimatthetime，andhemeditateduponitnow。Anold，forgottenmemoryawokeinhisbrain，andsuddenlyburstintoclearnessandlight。ItwasarecollectionofSwitzerland，duringthefirstyearofhiscure，theveryfirstmonths。Atthattimehehadbeenprettynearlyanidiotstill；hecouldnotspeakproperly，andhaddifficultyinunderstandingwhenothersspoketohim。Heclimbedthemountain-side，onesunnymorning，andwanderedlongandaimlesslywithacertainthoughtinhisbrain，whichwouldnotbecomeclear。Abovehimwastheblazingsky，below，thelake；allaroundwasthehorizon，clearandinfinite。
Helookedoutuponthis，longandanxiously。Herememberedhowhehadstretchedouthisarmstowardsthebeautiful，boundlessblueofthehorizon，andwept，andwept。Whathadsotormentedhimwastheideathathewasastrangertoallthis，thathewasoutsidethisgloriousfestival。
Whatwasthisuniverse？Whatwasthisgrand，eternalpageanttowhichhehadyearnedfromhischildhoodup，andinwhichhecouldnevertakepart？Everymorningthesamemagnificentsun；everymorningthesamerainbowinthewaterfall；everyeveningthesameglowonthesnow-mountains。
Everylittleflythatbuzzedinthesun’srayswasasingerintheuniversalchorus，\"knewitsplace，andwashappyinit。
\"Everybladeofgrassgrewandwashappy。Everythingknewitspathandlovedit，wentforthwithasongandreturnedwithasong；onlyheknewnothing，understoodnothing，neithermennorwords，noranyofnature’svoices；hewasastrangerandanoutcast。
Oh，hecouldnotthenspeakthesewords，orexpressallhefelt！
Hehadbeentormenteddumbly；butnowitappearedtohimthathemusthavesaidtheseverywords——eventhen——andthatHippolytemusthavetakenhispictureofthelittleflyfromhistearsandwordsofthattime。
Hewassureofit，andhisheartbeatexcitedlyatthethought，heknewnotwhy。
Hefellasleeponthebench；buthismentaldisquietcontinuedthroughhisslumbers。
Justbeforehedozedoff，theideaofHippolytemurderingtenmenflittedthroughhisbrain，andhesmiledattheabsurdityofsuchathought。
Aroundhimallwasquiet；onlytheflutterandwhisperoftheleavesbrokethesilence，butbrokeitonlytocauseittoappearyetmoredeepandstill。
Hedreamedmanydreamsashesatthere，andallwerefullofdisquiet，sothatheshudderedeverymoment。
Atlengthawomanseemedtoapproachhim。Heknewher，oh！heknewheronlytoowell。Hecouldalwaysnameherandrecognizeheranywhere；but，strange，sheseemedtohavequiteadifferentfacefromhers，ashehadknownit，andhefeltatormentingdesiretobeabletosayshewasnotthesamewoman。Inthefacebeforehimtherewassuchdreadfulremorseandhorrorthathethoughtshemustbeacriminal，thatshemusthavejustcommittedsomeawfulcrime。
Tearsweretremblingonherwhitecheek。Shebeckonedhim，butplacedherfingeronherlipasthoughtowarnhimthathemustfollowherveryquietly。Hisheartfrozewithinhim。Hewouldn’t，heCOULDN’Tconfesshertobeacriminal，andyethefeltthatsomethingdreadfulwouldhappenthenextmoment，somethingwhichwouldblasthiswholelife。
Sheseemedtowishtoshowhimsomething，notfaroff，inthepark。
Herosefromhisseatinordertofollowher，whenabright，clearpealoflaughterrangoutbyhisside。Hefeltsomebody’shandsuddenlyinhisown，seizedit，pressedithard，andawoke。
BeforehimstoodAglaya，laughingaloud。
VIII。
SHElaughed，butshewasratherangrytoo。
\"He’sasleep！Youwereasleep，\"shesaid，withcontemptuoussurprise。
\"Isitreallyyou？\"mutteredtheprince，notquitehimselfasyet，andrecognizingherwithastartofamazement。\"Ohyes，ofcourse，\"headded，\"thisisourrendezvous。Ifellasleephere。\"
\"SoIsaw。\"
\"Didnooneawakemebesidesyourself？Wastherenooneelsehere？Ithoughttherewasanotherwoman。\"
\"Therewasanotherwomanhere？\"
Atlasthewaswideawake。
\"Itwasadream，ofcourse，\"hesaid，musingly。\"StrangethatI
shouldhaveadreamlikethatatsuchamoment。Sitdown——\"
Hetookherhandandseatedheronthebench；thensatdownbesideherandreflected。
Aglayadidnotbegintheconversation，butcontentedherselfwithwatchinghercompanionintently。
Helookedbackather，butattimesitwasclearthathedidnotseeherandwasnotthinkingofher。
Aglayabegantoflushup。
\"Ohyes！\"criedtheprince，starting。\"Hippolyte’ssuicide——\"
\"What？Atyourhouse？\"sheasked，butwithoutmuchsurprise。\"Hewasaliveyesterdayevening，wasn’the？Howcouldyousleephereafterthat？\"shecried，growingsuddenlyanimated。
\"Oh，buthedidn’tkillhimself；thepistoldidn’tgooff。\"
Aglayainsistedonhearingthewholestory。Shehurriedtheprincealong，butinterruptedhimwithallsortsofquestions，nearlyallofwhichwereirrelevant。Amongotherthings，sheseemedgreatlyinterestedineverywordthatEvgeniePavlovitchhadsaid，andmadetheprincerepeatthatpartofthestoryoverandoveragain。
\"Well，that’lldo；wemustbequick，\"sheconcluded，afterhearingall。\"Wehaveonlyanhourhere，tilleight；Imustbehomebythenwithoutfail，sothattheymaynotfindoutthatI
cameandsatherewithyou；butI’vecomeonbusiness。Ihaveagreatdealtosaytoyou。Butyouhavebowledmeoverconsiderablywithyournews。AstoHippolyte，Ithinkhispistolwasboundnottogooff；itwasmoreconsistentwiththewholeaffair。Areyousurehereallywishedtoblowhisbrainsout，andthattherewasnohumbugaboutthematter？\"
\"Nohumbugatall。\"
\"Verylikely。Sohewrotethatyouweretobringmeacopyofhisconfession，didhe？Whydidn’tyoubringit？\"
\"Why，hedidn’tdie！I’llaskhimforit，ifyoulike。\"
\"Bringitbyallmeans；youneedn’taskhim。Hewillbedelighted，youmaybesure；for，inallprobability，heshotathimselfsimplyinorderthatImightreadhisconfession。Don’tlaughatwhatIsay，please，LefNicolaievitch，becauseitmayverywellbethecase。\"
\"I’mnotlaughing。Iamconvinced，myself，thatthatmayhavebeenpartlythereason。
\"Youareconvinced？Youdon’treallymeantosayyouthinkthathonestly？\"askedAglaya，extremelysurprised。
Sheputherquestionsveryquicklyandtalkedfast，everynowandthenforgettingwhatshehadbeguntosay，andnotfinishinghersentence。Sheseemedtobeimpatienttowarntheprinceaboutsomethingorother。Shewasinastateofunusualexcitement，andthoughsheputonabraveandevendefiantair，sheseemedtoberatheralarmed。Shewasdressedverysimply，butthissuitedherwell。Shecontinuallytrembledandblushed，andshesatontheveryedgeoftheseat。
Thefactthattheprinceconfirmedheridea，aboutHippolyteshootinghimselfthatshemightreadhisconfession，surprisedhergreatly。
\"Ofcourse，\"addedtheprince，\"hewishedusalltoapplaudhisconduct——besidesyourself。\"
\"Howdoyoumean——applaud？\"
\"Well——howamItoexplain？Hewasveryanxiousthatweshouldallcomearoundhim，andsayweweresosorryforhim，andthatwelovedhimverymuch，andallthat；andthatwehopedhewouldn’tkillhimself，butremainalive。Verylikelyhethoughtmoreofyouthantherestofus，becausehementionedyouatsuchamoment，thoughperhapshedidnotknowhimselfthathehadyouinhismind’seye。\"
\"Idon’tunderstandyou。Howcouldhehavemeinview，andnotbeawareofithimself？Andyet，Idon’tknow——perhapsIdo。DoyouknowIhaveintendedtopoisonmyselfatleastthirtytimes——eversinceIwasthirteenorso——andtowritetomyparentsbeforeI
didit？Iusedtothinkhowniceitwouldbetolieinmycoffin，andhavethemallweepingovermeandsayingitwasalltheirfaultforbeingsocruel，andallthat——whatareyousmilingat？\"
sheadded，knittingherbrow。\"WhatdoYOUthinkofwhenyougomooningaboutalone？Isupposeyouimagineyourselfafield-
marshal，andthinkyouhaveconqueredNapoleon？\"
\"Well，Ireallyhavethoughtsomethingofthesortnowandthen，especiallywhenjustdozingoff，\"laughedtheprince。\"OnlyitistheAustrianswhomIconquer——notNapoleon。\"
\"Idon’twishtojokewithyou，LefNicolaievitch。IshallseeHippolytemyself。Tellhimso。Asforyou，Ithinkyouarebehavingverybadly，becauseitisnotrighttojudgeaman’ssoulasyouarejudgingHippolyte’s。Youhavenogentleness，butonlyjustice——soyouareunjust。\"
Theprincereflected。
\"Ithinkyouareunfairtowardsme，\"hesaid。\"ThereisnothingwronginthethoughtsIascribetoHippolyte；theyareonlynatural。ButofcourseIdon’tknowforcertainwhathethought。
Perhapshethoughtnothing，butsimplylongedtoseehumanfacesoncemore，andtohearhumanpraiseandfeelhumanaffection。Whoknows？Onlyitallcameoutwrong，somehow。Somepeoplehaveluck，andeverythingcomesoutrightwiththem；othershavenone，andneverathingturnsoutfortunately。\"
\"Isupposeyouhavefeltthatinyourowncase，\"saidAglaya。
\"Yes，Ihave，\"repliedtheprince，quiteunsuspiciousofanyironyintheremark。
\"H’m——well，atallevents，Ishouldn’thavefallenasleephere，inyourplace。Itwasn’tniceofyou，that。Isupposeyoufallasleepwhereveryousitdown？\"
\"ButIdidn’tsleepawinkallnight。Iwalkedandwalkedabout，andwenttowherethemusicwas——\"
\"Whatmusic？\"
\"Wheretheyplayedlastnight。ThenIfoundthisbenchandsatdown，andthoughtandthought——andatlastIfellfastasleep。\"
\"Oh，isthatit？Thatmakesadifference，perhaps。Whatdidyougotothebandstandfor？\"
\"Idon’tknow；I——\"
\"Verywell——afterwards。Youarealwaysinterruptingme。Whatwomanwasityouweredreamingabout？\"
\"Itwas——about——yousawher——\"
\"Quiteso；Iunderstand。Iunderstandquitewell。Youarevery——
Well，howdidsheappeartoyou？Whatdidshelooklike？No，I
don’twanttoknowanythingabouther，\"saidAglaya，angrily；
\"don’tinterruptme——\"
Shepausedamomentasthoughgettingbreath，ortryingtomasterherfeelingofannoyance。
\"Lookhere；thisiswhatIcalledyouherefor。Iwishtomakeyoua——toaskyoutobemyfriend。Whatdoyoustareatmelikethatfor？\"sheadded，almostangrily。
Theprincecertainlyhaddartedaratherpiercinglookather，andnowobservedthatshehadbeguntoblushviolently。Atsuchmoments，themoreAglayablushed，theangriershegrewwithherself；andthiswasclearlyexpressedinhereyes，whichflashedlikefire。Asarule，sheventedherwrathonherunfortunatecompanion，beitwhoitmight。Shewasveryconsciousofherownshyness，andwasnotnearlysotalkativeashersistersforthisreason——infact，attimesshewasmuchtooquiet。When，therefore，shewasboundtotalk，especiallyatsuchdelicatemomentsasthis，sheinvariablydidsowithanairofhaughtydefiance。Shealwaysknewbeforehandwhenshewasgoingtoblush，longbeforetheblushcame。
\"Perhapsyoudonotwishtoacceptmyproposition？\"sheasked，gazinghaughtilyattheprince。
\"Ohyes，Ido；butitissounnecessary。Imean，Ididnotthinkyouneedmakesuchaproposition，\"saidtheprince，lookingconfused。
\"Whatdidyousuppose，then？WhydidyouthinkIinvitedyououthere？Isupposeyouthinkmea’littlefool，’astheyallcallmeathome？\"
\"Ididn’tknowtheycalledyouafool。Icertainlydon’tthinkyouone。\"
\"Youdon’tthinkmeone！Oh，dearme！——that’sverycleverofyou；
youputitsoneatly，too。\"
\"Inmyopinion，youarefarfromafoolsometimes——infact，youareveryintelligent。YousaidaverycleverthingjustnowaboutmybeingunjustbecauseIhadONLYjustice。Ishallrememberthat，andthinkaboutit。\"
Aglayablushedwithpleasure。Allthesechangesinherexpressioncameaboutsonaturallyandsorapidly——theydelightedtheprince；hewatchedher，andlaughed。
\"Listen，\"shebeganagain；\"Ihavelongwaitedtotellyouallthis，eversincethetimewhenyousentmethatletter——evenbeforethat。HalfofwhatIhavetosayyouheardyesterday。I
consideryouthemosthonestanduprightofmen——morehonestanduprightthananyotherman；andifanybodysaysthatyourmindis——issometimesaffected，youknow——itisunfair。Ialwayssaysoandupholdit，becauseevenifyoursurfacemindbealittleaffected(ofcourseyouwillnotfeelangrywithmefortalkingso——Iamspeakingfromahigherpointofview)yetyourrealmindisfarbetterthanalltheirsputtogether。SuchamindastheyhaveneverevenDREAMEDof；becausereally，thereareTWOminds——
thekindthatmatters，andthekindthatdoesn’tmatter。Isn’titso？\"
\"Maybe！maybeso！\"saidtheprince，faintly；hisheartwasbeatingpainfully。
\"Iknewyouwouldnotmisunderstandme，\"shesaid，triumphantly。
\"PrinceS。andEvgeniePavlovitchandAlexandradon’tunderstandanythingaboutthesetwokindsofmind，but，justfancy，mammadoes！\"
\"YouareverylikeLizabethaProkofievna。\"
\"What！surelynot？\"saidAglaya。
\"Yes，youare，indeed。\"
\"Thankyou；Iamgladtobelikemamma，\"shesaid，thoughtfully。
\"Yourespectherverymuch，don’tyou？\"sheadded，quiteunconsciousofthenaivenessofthequestion。
\"VERYmuch；andIamsogladthatyouhaverealizedthefact。\"
\"Iamveryglad，too，becausesheisoftenlaughedatbypeople。
Butlistentothechiefpoint。Ihavelongthoughtoverthematter，andatlastIhavechosenyou。Idon’twishpeopletolaughatme；Idon’twishpeopletothinkmea’littlefool。’I
don’twanttobechaffed。Ifeltallthisofasudden，andI
refusedEvgeniePavlovitchflatly，becauseIamnotgoingtobeforeverthrownatpeople’sheadstobemarried。Iwant——Iwant——
well，I’lltellyou，Iwishtorunawayfromhome，andIhavechosenyoutohelpme。\"
\"Runawayfromhome？\"criedtheprince。
\"Yes——yes——yes！Runawayfromhome！\"sherepeated，inatransportofrage。\"Iwon’t，Iwon’tbemadetoblusheveryminutebythemall！Idon’twanttoblushbeforePrinceS。orEvgeniePavlovitch，oranyone，andthereforeIhavechosenyou。Ishalltellyoueverything，EVERYTHING，eventhemostimportantthingsofall，wheneverIlike，andyouaretohidenothingfrommeonyourside。Iwanttospeaktoatleastoneperson，asIwouldtomyself。TheyhavesuddenlybeguntosaythatIamwaitingforyou，andinlovewithyou。Theybeganthisbeforeyouarrivedhere，andsoIdidn’tshowthemtheletter，andnowtheyallsayit，everyoneofthem。Iwanttobebrave，andbeafraidofnobody。Idon’twanttogototheirballsandthings——Iwanttodogood。Ihavelongdesiredtorunaway，forIhavebeenkeptshutupfortwentyyears，andtheyarealwaystryingtomarrymeoff。IwantedtorunawaywhenIwasfourteenyearsold——Iwasalittlefoolthen，Iknow——butnowIhaveworkeditallout，andI
havewaitedforyoutotellmeaboutforeigncountries。IhaveneverseenasingleGothiccathedral。ImustgotoRome；Imustseeallthemuseums；ImuststudyinParis。AllthislastyearI
havebeenpreparingandreadingforbiddenbooks。AlexandraandAdelaidaareallowedtoreadanythingtheylike，butImayn’t。I
don’twanttoquarrelwithmysisters，butItoldmyparentslongagothatIwishtochangemysocialposition。Ihavedecidedtotakeupteaching，andIcountonyoubecauseyousaidyoulovedchildren。Canwegoinforeducationtogether——ifnotatonce，thenafterwards？Wecoulddogoodtogether。Iwon’tbeageneral’sdaughteranymore！Tellme，areyouaverylearnedman？\"
\"Ohno；notatall。\"
\"Oh-h-h！I’msorryforthat。Ithoughtyouwere。IwonderwhyI
alwaysthoughtso——butatalleventsyou’llhelpme，won’tyou？
BecauseI’vechosenyou，youknow。\"
\"AglayaIvanovna，it’sabsurd。\"
ButIwill，IWILLrunaway！\"shecried——andhereyesflashedagainwithanger——\"andifyoudon’tagreeIshallgoandmarryGavrilaArdalionovitch！Iwon’tbeconsideredahorriblegirl，andaccusedofgoodnessknowswhat。\"
\"Areyououtofyourmind？\"criedtheprince，almoststartingfromhisseat。\"Whatdotheyaccuseyouof？Whoaccusesyou？\"
\"Athome，everybody，mother，mysisters，PrinceS。，eventhatdetestableColia！Iftheydon’tsayit，theythinkit。Itoldthemallsototheirfaces。Itoldmotherandfatherandeverybody。Mammawasillallthedayafterit，andnextdayfatherandAlexandratoldmethatIdidn’tunderstandwhatnonsenseIwastalking。Iinformedthemthattheylittleknewme——
Iwasnotasmallchild——Iunderstoodeverywordinthelanguage——
thatIhadreadacoupleofPauldeKok’snovelstwoyearssinceonpurpose，soastoknowallabouteverything。Nosoonerdidmammahearmesaythisthanshenearlyfainted！\"
Astrangethoughtpassedthroughtheprince’sbrain；hegazedintentlyatAglayaandsmiled。
HecouldnotbelievethatthiswasthesamehaughtyyounggirlwhohadoncesoproudlyshownhimGania’sletter。Hecouldnotunderstandhowthatproudandausterebeautycouldshowherselftobesuchanutterchild——achildwhoprobablydidnotevennowunderstandsomewords。
\"Haveyoualwayslivedathome，AglayaIvanovna？\"heasked。\"I
mean，haveyouneverbeentoschool，orcollege，oranything？\"
\"No——never——nowhere！I’vebeenathomeallmylife，corkedupinabottle；andtheyexpectmetobemarriedstraightoutofit。
Whatareyoulaughingatagain？Iobservethatyou，too，havetakentolaughingatme，andrangeyourselfontheirsideagainstme，\"sheadded，frowningangrily。\"Don’tirritateme——I’mbadenoughwithoutthat——Idon’tknowwhatIamdoingsometimes。IampersuadedthatyoucameheretodayinthefullbeliefthatIaminlovewithyou，andthatIarrangedthismeetingbecauseofthat，\"shecried，withannoyance。
\"IadmitIwasafraidthatthatwasthecase，yesterday，\"
blunderedtheprince(hewasratherconfused)，\"buttodayIamquiteconvincedthat\"
\"How？\"criedAglaya——andherlowerliptrembledviolently。\"YouwereAFRAIDthatI——youdaredtothinkthatI——goodgracious！yoususpected，perhaps，thatIsentforyoutocomehereinordertocatchyouinatrap，sothattheyshouldfindusheretogether，andmakeyoumarryme——\"
\"AglayaIvanovna，aren’tyouashamedofsayingsuchathing？Howcouldsuchahorribleideaenteryoursweet，innocentheart？Iamcertainyoudon’tbelieveawordofwhatyousay，andprobablyyoudon’tevenknowwhatyouaretalkingabout。\"
Aglayasatwithhereyesontheground；sheseemedtohavealarmedevenherselfbywhatshehadsaid。
\"No，I’mnot；I’mnotabitashamed！\"shemurmured。\"Andhowdoyouknowmyheartisinnocent？Andhowdaredyousendmealove——
letterthattime？\"
\"LOVE-LETTER？Myletteralove-letter？Thatletterwasthemostrespectfulofletters；itwentstraightfrommyheart，atwhatwasperhapsthemostpainfulmomentofmylife！Ithoughtofyouatthetimeasakindoflight。I——\"
\"Well，verywell，verywell！\"shesaid，butquiteinadifferenttone。Shewasremorsefulnow，andbentforwardtotouchhisshoulder，thoughstilltryingnottolookhimintheface，asifthemorepersuasivelytobeghimnottobeangrywithher。\"Verywell，\"shecontinued，lookingthoroughlyashamedofherself，\"I
feelthatIsaidaveryfoolishthing。Ionlydiditjusttotryyou。Takeitasunsaid，andifIoffendedyou，forgiveme。Don’tlookstraightatmelikethat，please；turnyourheadaway。Youcalledita’horribleidea’；Ionlysaidittoshockyou。VeryoftenIammyselfafraidofsayingwhatIintendtosay，andoutitcomesallthesame。Youhavejusttoldmethatyouwrotethatletteratthemostpainfulmomentofyourlife。Iknowwhatmomentthatwas！\"sheaddedsoftly，lookingatthegroundagain。
\"Oh，ifyoucouldknowall！\"
\"IDOknowall！\"shecried，withanotherburstofindignation。
\"Youwerelivinginthesamehouseasthathorriblewomanwithwhomyouranaway。\"Shedidnotblushasshesaidthis；onthecontrary，shegrewpale，andstartedfromherseat，apparentlyobliviousofwhatshedid，andimmediatelysatdownagain。Herlipcontinuedtotrembleforalongtime。
Therewassilenceforamoment。Theprincewastakenabackbythesuddennessofthislastreply，anddidnotknowtowhatheshouldattributeit。
\"Idon’tloveyouabit！\"shesaidsuddenly，justasthoughthewordshadexplodedfromhermouth。
Theprincedidnotanswer，andtherewassilenceagain。\"IloveGavrilaArdalionovitch，\"shesaid，quickly；buthardlyaudibly，andwithherheadbentlowerthanever。
\"ThatisNOTtrue，\"saidtheprince，inanequallylowvoice。
\"What！Itellstories，doI？Itistrue！Igavehimmypromiseacoupleofdaysagoonthisveryseat。\"
Theprincewasstartled，andreflectedforamoment。
\"Itisnottrue，\"herepeated，decidedly；\"youhavejustinventedit！\"
\"Youarewonderfullypolite。Youknowheisgreatlyimproved。Helovesmebetterthanhislife。Helethishandburnbeforemyveryeyesinordertoprovetomethathelovedmebetterthanhislife！\"
\"Heburnedhishand！\"
\"Yes，believeitornot！It’sallthesametome！\"
Theprincesatsilentoncemore。Aglayadidnotseemtobejoking；shewastooangryforthat。
\"What！hebroughtacandlewithhimtothisplace？Thatis，iftheepisodehappenedhere；otherwiseIcan’t\"
\"Yes，acandle！What’sthereimprobableaboutthat？\"
\"Awholeone，andinacandlestick？\"
\"Yes——no-halfacandle——anend，youknow——no，itwasawholecandle；it’sallthesame。Bequiet，can’tyou！Hebroughtaboxofmatchestoo，ifyoulike，andthenlightedthecandleandheldhisfingerinitforhalfanhourandmore！——There！Can’tthatbe？\"
\"Isawhimyesterday，andhisfingerswereallright！\"
Aglayasuddenlyburstoutlaughing，assimplyasachild。
\"DoyouknowwhyIhavejusttoldyoutheselies？\"Sheappealedtotheprince，ofasudden，withthemostchildlikecandour，andwiththelaughstilltremblingonherlips。\"Becausewhenonetellsalie，ifoneinsistsonsomethingunusualandeccentric——
somethingtoo’outoftheway’’foranything，youknow——themoreimpossiblethethingis，themoreplausibledoestheliesound。
I’venoticedthis。ButImanageditbadly；Ididn’tknowhowtoworkit。\"Shesuddenlyfrownedagainatthispointasthoughatsomesuddenunpleasantrecollection。
\"If\"——shebegan，lookingseriouslyandevensadlyathim——\"ifwhenIreadyouallthataboutthe’poorknight，’Iwishedto-topraiseyouforonething——IalsowishedtoshowyouthatIknewall——anddidnotapproveofyourconduct。\"
\"Youareveryunfairtome，andtothatunfortunatewomanofwhomyouspokejustnowinsuchdreadfulterms，Aglaya。\"
\"BecauseIknowall，all——andthatiswhyIspeakso。Iknowverywellhowyou——halfayearsince——offeredheryourhandbeforeeverybody。Don’tinterruptme。Yousee，Iammerelystatingfactswithoutanycommentuponthem。AfterthatsheranawaywithRogojin。Thenyoulivedwithheratsomevillageortown，andsheranawayfromyou。\"(Aglayablusheddreadfully。)\"ThenshereturnedtoRogojinagain，wholovesherlikeamadman。Thenyou——likeawisemanasyouare——camebackhereafterherassoonaseveryouheardthatshehadreturnedtoPetersburg。Yesterdayeveningyousprangforwardtoprotecther，andjustnowyoudreamedabouther。Yousee，Iknowall。Youdidcomebackhereforher，forher——nowdidn’tyou？\"
\"Yes——forher！\"saidtheprincesoftlyandsadly，andbendinghisheaddown，quiteunconsciousofthefactthatAglayawasgazingathimwitheyeswhichburnedlikelivecoals。\"Icametofindoutsomething——Idon’tbelieveinherfuturehappinessasRogojin’swife，although——inaword，Ididnotknowhowtohelpherorwhattodoforher——butIcame，onthechance。\"
HeglancedatAglaya，whowaslisteningwithalookofhatredonherface。
\"Ifyoucamewithoutknowingwhy，Isupposeyouloveherverymuchindeed！\"shesaidatlast。
\"No，\"saidtheprince，\"no，Idonotloveher。Oh！ifyouonlyknewwithwhathorrorIrecallthetimeIspentwithher！\"
Ashudderseemedtosweepoverhiswholebodyattherecollection。
\"Tellmeaboutit，\"saidAglaya。
\"Thereisnothingwhichyoumightnothear。WhyIshouldwishtotellyou，andonlyyou，thisexperienceofmine，Ireallycannotsay；perhapsitreallyisbecauseIloveyouverymuch。Thisunhappywomanispersuadedthatsheisthemosthopeless，fallencreatureintheworld。Oh，donotcondemnher！Donotcaststonesather！Shehassufferedtoomuchalreadyintheconsciousnessofherownundeservedshame。
\"Andsheisnotguilty——ohGod！——Everymomentshebemoansandbewailsherself，andcriesoutthatshedoesnotadmitanyguilt，thatsheisthevictimofcircumstances——thevictimofawickedlibertine。
\"Butwhatevershemaysay，rememberthatshedoesnotbelieveitherself，——rememberthatshewillbelievenothingbutthatsheisaguiltycreature。
\"WhenItriedtoridhersoulofthisgloomyfallacy，shesufferedsoterriblythatmyheartwillneverbequiteatpeacesolongasIcanrememberthatdreadfultime！——Doyouknowwhysheleftme？Simplytoprovetomewhatisnottrue——thatsheisbase。Buttheworstofitis，shedidnotrealizeherselfthatthatwasallshewantedtoprovebyherdeparture！Shewentawayinresponsetosomeinnerpromptingtodosomethingdisgraceful，inorderthatshemightsaytoherself——’There——you’vedoneanewactofshame——youdegradedcreature！’
\"Oh，Aglaya——perhapsyoucannotunderstandallthis。Trytorealizethatintheperpetualadmissionofguiltsheprobablyfindssomedreadfulunnaturalsatisfaction——asthoughshewererevengingherselfuponsomeone。
\"NowandthenIwasabletopersuadeheralmosttoseelightaroundheragain；butshewouldsoonfall，oncemore，intoheroldtormentingdelusions，andwouldgosofarastoreproachmeforplacingmyselfonapedestalaboveher(Ineverhadanideaofsuchathing！)，andinformedme，inreplytomyproposalofmarriage，thatshe’didnotwantcondescendingsympathyorhelpfromanybody。’Yousawherlastnight。Youdon’tsupposeshecanbehappyamongsuchpeopleasthose——youcannotsupposethatsuchsocietyisfitforher？Youhavenoideahowwell-educatedsheis，andwhatanintellectshehas！Sheastonishedmesometimes。\"
\"Andyoupreachedhersermonsthere，didyou？\"
\"Ohno，\"continuedtheprincethoughtfully，notnoticingAglaya’smockingtone，\"Iwasalmostalwayssilentthere。Ioftenwishedtospeak，butIreallydidnotknowwhattosay。Insomecasesitisbesttosaynothing，Ithink。Ilovedher，yes，Ilovedherverymuchindeed；butafterwards——afterwardssheguessedall。\"
\"Whatdidsheguess？\"
\"ThatIonlyPITIEDher——and——andlovedhernolonger！\"
\"Howdoyouknowthat？Howdoyouknowthatsheisnotreallyinlovewiththat——thatrichcad——themansheelopedwith？\"
\"Ohno！Iknowsheonlylaughsathim；shehasmadeafoolofhimallalong。\"
\"Hassheneverlaughedatyou？\"
\"No——inanger，perhaps。Ohyes！shereproachedmedreadfullyinanger；andsufferedherself，too！Butafterwards——oh！don’tremindme——don’tremindmeofthat！\"
Hehidhisfaceinhishands。
\"Areyouawarethatshewritestomealmosteveryday？\"
\"Sothatistrue，isit？\"criedtheprince，greatlyagitated。
\"Ihadheardareportofit，butwouldnotbelieveit。\"
\"Whomdidyouhearitfrom？\"askedAglaya，alarmed。\"Rogojinsaidsomethingaboutityesterday，butnothingdefinite。\"
\"Yesterday！Morningorevening？Beforethemusicorafter？\"
\"After——itwasabouttwelveo’clock。\"
\"Ah！Well，ifitwasRogojin——butdoyouknowwhatshewritestomeabout？\"
\"Ishouldnotbesurprisedbyanything。Sheismad！\"
\"Therearetheletters。\"(Aglayatookthreelettersoutofherpocketandthrewthemdownbeforetheprince。)\"Forawholeweekshehasbeenentreatingandworryingandpersuadingmetomarryyou。She——well，sheisclever，thoughshemaybemad——muchclevererthanIam，asyousay。Well，shewritesthatsheisinlovewithmeherself，andtriestoseemeeveryday，ifonlyfromadistance。Shewritesthatyouloveme，andthatshehaslongknownitandseenit，andthatyouandshetalkedaboutme——
there。Shewishestoseeyouhappy，andshesaysthatsheiscertainonlyIcanensureyouthehappinessyoudeserve。Shewritessuchstrange，wildletters——Ihaven’tshownthemtoanyone。Now，doyouknowwhatallthismeans？Canyouguessanything？\"
\"Itismadness——itismerelyanotherproofofherinsanity！\"saidtheprince，andhislipstrembled。
\"Youarecrying，aren’tyou？\"
\"No，Aglaya。No，I’mnotcrying。\"Theprincelookedather。
\"Well，whatamItodo？Whatdoyouadviseme？Icannotgoonreceivingtheseletters，youknow。\"
\"Oh，letheralone，Ientreatyou！\"criedtheprince。Whatcanyoudointhisdark，gloomymystery？Letheralone，andI’lluseallmypowertopreventherwritingyouanymoreletters。\"
\"Ifso，youareaheartlessman！\"criedAglaya。Asifyoucan’tseethatitisnotmyselfsheloves，butyou，you，andonlyyou！
Surelyyouhavenotremarkedeverythingelseinher，andonlynotTHIS？Doyouknowwhattheselettersmean？Theymeanjealousy，sir——nothingbutpurejealousy！She——doyouthinkshewilleverreallymarrythisRogojin，asshesayshereshewill？ShewouldtakeherownlifethedayafteryouandIweremarried。\"
Theprinceshuddered；hisheartseemedtofreezewithinhim。HegazedatAglayainwonderment；itwasdifficultforhimtorealizethatthischildwasalsoawoman。
\"Godknows，Aglaya，thattorestoreherpeaceofmindandmakeherhappyIwouldwillinglygiveupmylife。ButIcannotloveher，andsheknowsthat。\"
\"Oh，makeasacrificeofyourself！Thatsortofthingbecomesyouwell，youknow。Whynotdoit？Anddon’tcallme’Aglaya’；youhavedoneitseveraltimeslately。Youarebound，itisyourDUTY
to’raise’her；youmustgooffsomewhereagaintosootheandpacifyher。Why，youloveher，youknow！\"
\"Icannotsacrificemyselfso，thoughIadmitIdidwishtodosoonce。Whoknows，perhapsIstillwishto！ButIknowforCERTAIN，thatifshemarriedmeitwouldbeherruin；IknowthisandthereforeIleaveheralone。Ioughttogotoseehertoday；nowIshallprobablynotgo。Sheisproud，shewouldneverforgivemethenatureoftheloveIbearher，andweshouldbothberuined。
Thismaybeunnatural，Idon’tknow；buteverythingseemsunnatural。Yousayshelovesme，asifthiswereLOVE！AsifshecouldloveME，afterwhatIhavebeenthrough！No，no，itisnotlove。\"
\"Howpaleyouhavegrown！\"criedAglayainalarm。
Oh，it’snothing。Ihaven’tslept，that’sall，andI’mrathertired。I——wecertainlydidtalkaboutyou，Aglaya。\"
\"Oh，indeed，itistruethen！YOUCOULDACTUALLYTALKABOUTME
WITHHER；and——andhowcouldyouhavebeenfondofmewhenyouhadonlyseenmeonce？\"
\"Idon’tknow。PerhapsitwasthatIseemedtocomeuponlightinthemidstofmygloom。ItoldyouthetruthwhenIsaidIdidnotknowwhyIthoughtofyoubeforeallothers。Ofcourseitwasallasortofdream，adreamamidstthehorrorsofreality。
AfterwardsIbegantowork。Ididnotintendtocomebackherefortwoorthreeyears——\"
\"Thenyoucameforhersake？\"Aglaya’svoicetrembled。
\"Yes，Icameforhersake。\"
Therewasamomentortwoofgloomysilence。Aglayarosefromherseat。
\"Ifyousay，\"shebeganinshakytones，\"ifyousaythatthiswomanofyoursismad——atalleventsIhavenothingtodowithherinsanefancies。Kindlytakethesethreeletters，LefNicolaievitch，andthrowthembacktoher，fromme。Andifshedares，\"criedAglayasuddenly，muchlouderthanbefore，\"ifshedaressomuchaswritemeonewordagain，tellherIshalltellmyfather，andthatsheshallbetakentoalunaticasylum。\"
TheprincejumpedupinalarmatAglaya’ssuddenwrath，andamistseemedtocomebeforehiseyes。
\"Youcannotreallyfeellikethat！Youdon’tmeanwhatyousay。
Itisnottrue，\"hemurmured。
\"ItIStrue，itIStrue，\"criedAglaya，almostbesideherselfwithrage。
\"What’strue？What’sallthis？What’strue？\"saidanalarmedvoicejustbesidethem。
BeforethemstoodLizabethaProkofievna。
\"Why，it’struethatIamgoingtomarryGavrilaArdalionovitch，thatIlovehimandintendtoelopewithhimtomorrow，\"criedAglaya，turninguponhermother。\"Doyouhear？Isyourcuriositysatisfied？Areyoupleasedwithwhatyouhaveheard？\"
Aglayarushedawayhomewardswiththesewords。
\"H’m！well，YOUarenotgoingawayjustyet，myfriend，atallevents，\"saidLizabetha，stoppingtheprince。\"Kindlystephomewithme，andletmehavealittleexplanationofthemystery。
Nicegoingson，these！Ihaven’tsleptawinkallnightasitis。\"
Theprincefollowedher。
IX。
ARRIVEDatherhouse，LizabethaProkofievnapausedinthefirstroom。Shecouldgonofarther，andsubsidedontoacouchquiteexhausted；toofeebletoremembersomuchastoasktheprincetotakeaseat。Thiswasalargereception-room，fullofflowers，andwithaglassdoorleadingintothegarden。
AlexandraandAdelaidacameinalmostimmediately，andlookedinquiringlyattheprinceandtheirmother。
Thegirlsgenerallyroseataboutnineinthemorninginthecountry；Aglaya，oflate，hadbeeninthehabitofgettingupratherearlierandhavingawalkinthegarden，butnotatseveno’clock；abouteightoralittlelaterwasherusualtime。
LizabethaProkofievna，whoreallyhadnotsleptallnight，roseatabouteightonpurposetomeetAglayainthegardenandwalkwithher；butshecouldnotfindhereitherinthegardenorinherownroom。
Thisagitatedtheoldladyconsiderably；andsheawokeherotherdaughters。Next，shelearnedfromthemaidthatAglayahadgoneintotheparkbeforeseveno’clock。ThesistersmadeajokeofAglaya’slastfreak，andtoldtheirmotherthatifshewentintotheparktolookforher，Aglayawouldprobablybeveryangrywithher，andthatshewasprettysuretobesittingreadingonthegreenbenchthatshehadtalkedoftwoorthreedayssince，andaboutwhichshehadnearlyquarrelledwithPrinceS。，whodidnotseeanythingparticularlylovelyinit。
Arrivedattherendezvousoftheprinceandherdaughter，andhearingthestrangewordsofthelatter，LizabethaProkofievnahadbeendreadfullyalarmed，formanyreasons。However，nowthatshehaddraggedtheprincehomewithher，shebegantofeelalittlefrightenedatwhatshehadundertaken。WhyshouldnotAglayameettheprinceintheparkandhaveatalkwithhim，evenifsuchameetingshouldbebyappointment？
\"Don’tsuppose，prince，\"shebegan，bracingherselfupfortheeffort，\"don’tsupposethatIhavebroughtyouheretoaskquestions。Afterlastnight，Iassureyou，Iamnotsoexceedinglyanxioustoseeyouatall；Icouldhavepostponedthepleasureforalongwhile。\"Shepaused。
\"ButatthesametimeyouwouldbeverygladtoknowhowI
happenedtomeetAglayaIvanovnathismorning？\"Theprincefinishedherspeechforherwiththeutmostcomposure。
\"Well，whatthen？SupposingIshouldliketoknow？\"criedLizabethaProkofievna，blushing。\"I’msureIamnotafraidofplainspeaking。I’mnotoffendinganyone，andIneverwishto，and——\"
\"Pardonme，itisnooffencetowishtoknowthis；youarehermother。Wemetatthegreenbenchthismorning，punctuallyatseveno’clock，——accordingtoanagreementmadebyAglayaIvanovnawithmyselfyesterday。Shesaidthatshewishedtoseemeandspeaktomeaboutsomethingimportant。WemetandconversedforanhouraboutmattersconcerningAglayaIvanovnaherself，andthat’sall。\"
\"Ofcourseitisall，myfriend。Idon’tdoubtyouforamoment，\"
saidLizabethaProkofievnawithdignity。
\"Welldone，prince，capital！\"criedAglaya，whoenteredtheroomatthismoment。\"ThankyouforassumingthatIwouldnotdemeanmyselfwithlies。Come，isthatenough，mamma，ordoyouintendtoputanymorequestions？\"
\"YouknowIhaveneverneededtoblushbeforeyou，uptothisday，thoughperhapsyouwouldhavebeengladenoughtomakeme，\"
saidLizabethaProkofievna，——withmajesty。\"Good-bye，prince；
forgivemeforbotheringyou。Itrustyouwillrestassuredofmyunalterableesteemforyou。\"
Theprincemadehisbowsandretiredatonce。AlexandraandAdelaidasmiledandwhisperedtoeachother，whileLizabethaProkofievnaglaredseverelyatthem。\"Weareonlylaughingattheprince’sbeautifulbows，mamma，\"saidAdelaida。\"Sometimeshebowsjustlikeameal-sack，butto-dayhewaslike——likeEvgeniePavlovitch！\"
\"ItistheHEARTwhichisthebestteacherofrefinementanddignity，notthedancing-master，\"saidhermother，sententiously，anddepartedupstairstoherownroom，notsomuchasglancingatAglaya。
Whentheprincereachedhome，aboutnineo’clock，hefoundVeraLebedeffandthemaidontheverandah。Theywerebothbusytryingtotidyuptheplaceafterlastnight’sdisorderlyparty。
\"Thankgoodness，we’vejustmanagedtofinishitbeforeyoucamein！\"saidVera，joyfully。
\"Good-morning！Myheadwhirlsso；Ididn’tsleepallnight。I
shouldliketohaveanapnow。\"
\"Here，ontheverandah？Verywell，I’lltellthemallnottocomeandwakeyou。Papahasgoneoutsomewhere。\"
Theservantlefttheroom。Verawasabouttofollowher，butreturnedandapproachedtheprincewithapreoccupiedair。
\"Prince！\"shesaid，\"havepityonthatpoorboy；don’tturnhimouttoday。\"
\"Notfortheworld；heshalldojustashelikes。\"
\"Hewon’tdoanyharmnow；and——anddon’tbetooseverewithhim，\"
\"Ohdearno！Why——\"
\"And——andyouwon’tLAUGHathim？That’sthechiefthing。\"
\"Ohno！Never。\"
\"HowfoolishIamtospeakofsuchthingstoamanlikeyou，\"
saidVera，blushing。\"ThoughyouDOlooktired，\"sheadded，halfturningaway，\"youreyesaresosplendidatthismoment——sofullofhappiness。\"
\"Really？\"askedtheprince，gleefully，andhelaughedindelight。
ButVera，simple-mindedlittlegirlthatshewas(justlikeaboy，infact)，herebecamedreadfullyconfused，ofasudden，andranhastilyoutoftheroom，laughingandblushing。
\"Whatadearlittlethingsheis，\"thoughttheprince，andimmediatelyforgotallabouther。
Hewalkedtothefarendoftheverandah，wherethesofastood，withatableinfrontofit。Herehesatdownandcoveredhisfacewithhishands，andsoremainedfortenminutes。Suddenlyheputhishandinhiscoat-pocketandhurriedlyproducedthreeletters。
Butthedooropenedagain，andoutcameColia。
Theprinceactuallyfeltgladthathehadbeeninterrupted，——andmightreturntheletterstohispocket。Hewasgladoftherespite。
\"Well，\"saidColia，plunginginmediasres，ashealwaysdid，\"here’sago！WhatdoyouthinkofHippolytenow？Don’trespecthimanylonger，eh？\"
\"Whynot？Butlookhere，Colia，I’mtired；besides，thesubjectistoomelancholytobeginuponagain。Howishe，though？\"
\"Asleep——he’llsleepforacoupleofhoursyet。Iquiteunderstand——youhaven’tslept——youwalkedaboutthepark，Iknow。
Agitation——excitement——allthatsortofthing——quitenatural，too！\"
\"HowdoyouknowIwalkedintheparkanddidn’tsleepathome？\"
\"Verajusttoldme。Shetriedtopersuademenottocome，butI
couldn’thelpmyself，justforoneminute。Ihavebeenhavingmyturnatthebedsideforthelasttwohours；KostiaLebedeffistherenow。Burdovskyhasgone。Now，liedown，prince，makeyourselfcomfortable，andsleepwell！I’mawfullyimpressed，youknow。\"
\"Naturally，allthis——\"
\"No，no，Imeanwiththe’explanation，’especiallythatpartofitwherehetalksaboutProvidenceandafuturelife。Thereisagiganticthoughtthere。\"
