\"Quiteso——parties——youareveryright，\"saidtheprince。\"IwasreadingabookaboutNapoleonandtheWaterloocampaignonlytheotherday，byCharasse，inwhichtheauthordoesnotattempttoconcealhisjoyatNapoleon’sdiscomfitureateverypage。Wellnow，Idon’tlikethat；itsmellsof’party，’youknow。Youarequiteright。AndwereyoumuchoccupiedwithyourserviceunderNapoleon？\"
Thegeneralwasinecstasies，fortheprince’sremarks，made，astheyevidentlywere，inallseriousnessandsimplicity，quitedissipatedthelastrelicsofhissuspicion。
\"IknowCharasse’sbook！Oh！Iwassoangrywithhiswork！I
wrotetohimandsaid——Iforgetwhat，atthismoment。YouaskwhetherIwasverybusyundertheEmperor？Ohno！Iwascalled’page，’buthardlytookmydutyseriously。Besides，NapoleonverysoonlosthopeofconciliatingtheRussians，andhewouldhaveforgottenallaboutmehadhenotlovedme——forpersonalreasons——
Idon’tmindsayingsonow。Myheartwasgreatlydrawntohim，too。Mydutieswerelight。ImerelyhadtobeatthepalaceoccasionallytoescorttheEmperoroutriding，andthatwasaboutall。Irodeveryfairlywell。Heusedtohavearidebeforedinner，andhissuiteonthoseoccasionsweregenerallyDavoust，myself，andRoustan。\"
\"Constant？\"saidtheprince，suddenly，andquiteinvoluntarily。
\"No；Constantwasawaythen，takingalettertotheEmpressJosephine。Insteadofhimtherewerealwaysacoupleoforderlies——andthatwasall，excepting，ofcourse，thegeneralsandmarshalswhomNapoleonalwaystookwithhimfortheinspectionofvariouslocalities，andforthesakeofconsultationgenerally。Iremembertherewasone——Davoust——nearlyalwayswithhim——abigmanwithspectacles。Theyusedtoargueandquarrelsometimes。OncetheywereintheEmperor’sstudytogether——justthosetwoandmyself——Iwasunobserved——andtheyargued，andtheEmperorseemedtobeagreeingtosomethingunderprotest。Suddenlyhiseyefellonmeandanideaseemedtoflashacrosshim。
\"’Child，’hesaid，abruptly。’IfIweretorecognizetheRussianorthodoxreligionandemancipatetheserfs，doyouthinkRussiawouldcomeovertome？’\"
\"’Never！’Icried，indignantly。\"
\"TheEmperorwasmuchstruck。\"
\"’IntheflashingeyesofthispatrioticchildIreadandacceptthefiatoftheRussianpeople。Enough，Davoust，itismerephantasyonourpart。Come，let’shearyourotherproject。’\"
\"’Yes，butthatwasagreatidea，\"saidtheprince，clearlyinterested。\"YouascribeittoDavoust，doyou？\"
\"Well，atallevents，theywereconsultingtogetheratthetime。
Ofcourseitwastheideaofaneagle，andmusthaveoriginatedwithNapoleon；buttheotherprojectwasgoodtoo——itwasthe’Conseildulion！’asNapoleoncalledit。ThisprojectconsistedinaproposaltooccupytheKremlinwiththewholearmy；toarmandfortifyitscientifically，tokillasmanyhorsesascouldbegot，andsalttheirflesh，andspendthewinterthere；andinspringtofighttheirwayout。Napoleonlikedtheidea——itattractedhim。WeroderoundtheKremlinwallseveryday，andNapoleonusedtogiveorderswheretheyweretobepatched，wherebuiltup，wherepulleddownandsoon。Allwasdecidedatlast。
Theywerealonetogether——thosetwoandmyself。
\"Napoleonwaswalkingupanddownwithfoldedarms。Icouldnottakemyeyesoffhisface——myheartbeatloudlyandpainfully。
\"’I’moff，’saidDavoust。’Whereto？’askedNapoleon。
\"’Tosalthorse-flesh，’saidDavoust。Napoleonshuddered——hisfatewasbeingdecided。
\"’Child，’headdressedmesuddenly，’whatdoyouthinkofourplan？’Ofcourseheonlyappliedtomeasasortoftoss-up，youknow。IturnedtoDavoustandaddressedmyreplytohim。Isaid，asthoughinspired:
\"’Escape，general！Gohome！——’
\"Theprojectwasabandoned；Davoustshruggedhisshouldersandwentout，whisperingtohimself——’Bah，ildevientsuperstitieux！’
Nextmorningtheordertoretreatwasgiven。\"
\"Allthisismostinteresting，\"saidtheprince，verysoftly，\"ifitreallywasso——thatis，Imean——\"hehastenedtocorrecthimself。
\"Oh，mydearprince，\"criedthegeneral，whowasnowsointoxicatedwithhisownnarrativethatheprobablycouldnothavepulledupatthemostpatentindiscretion。
\"Yousay，ifitreallywasso！’Therewasmore——muchmore，I
assureyou！Thesearemerelyafewlittlepoliticalacts。ItellyouIwastheeye-witnessofthenightlysorrowandgroaningsofthegreatman，andofthatnoonecanspeakbutmyself。Towardstheendheweptnomore，thoughhecontinuedtoemitanoccasionalgroan；buthisfacegrewmoreovercastdaybyday，asthoughEternitywerewrappingitsgloomymantleabouthim。
Occasionallywepassedwholehoursofsilencetogetheratnight，Roustansnoringinthenextroom——thatfellowsleptlikeapig。
’Buthe’sloyaltomeandmydynasty，’saidNapoleonofhim。
\"Sometimesitwasverypainfultome，andoncehecaughtmewithtearsinmyeyes。Helookedatmekindly。’Youaresorryforme，’
hesaid，’you，mychild，andperhapsoneotherchild——myson，theKingofRome——maygrieveforme。Alltheresthateme；andmybrothersarethefirsttobetraymeinmisfortune。’Isobbedandthrewmyselfintohisarms。Hecouldnotresistme——heburstintotears，andourtearsmingledaswefoldedeachotherinacloseembrace。
\"’Write，oh，writealettertotheEmpressJosephine！’Icried，sobbing。Napoleonstarted，reflected，andsaid，’Youremindmeofathirdheartwhichlovesme。Thankyou，myfriend；’andthenandtherehesatdownandwrotethatlettertoJosephine，withwhichConstantwassentoffnextday。\"
\"Youdidagoodaction，\"saidtheprince，\"forinthemidstofhisangryfeelingsyouinsinuatedakindthoughtintohisheart。\"
\"Justso，prince，justso。Howwellyoubringoutthatfact！
Becauseyourownheartisgood！\"criedtheecstaticoldgentleman，and，strangelyenough，realtearsglistenedinhiseyes。\"Yes，prince，itwasawonderfulspectacle。And，doyouknow，IallbutwentofftoParis，andshouldassuredlyhavesharedhissolitaryexilewithhim；but，alas，ourdestinieswereotherwiseordered！Weparted，hetohisisland，whereIamsurehethoughtoftheweepingchildwhohadembracedhimsoaffectionatelyatpartinginMoscow；andIwassentofftothecadetcorps，whereIfoundnothingbutroughnessandharshdiscipline。Alas，myhappydaysweredone！
\"’Idonotwishtodepriveyourmotherofyou，and，therefore，I
willnotaskyoutogowithme，’hesaid，themorningofhisdeparture，’butIshouldliketodosomethingforyou。’Hewasmountinghishorseashespoke。’Writesomethinginmysister’salbumforme，’Isaidrathertimidly，forhewasinastateofgreatdejectionatthemoment。Heturned，calledforapen，tookthealbum。’Howoldisyoursister？’heasked，holdingthepeninhishand。’Threeyearsold，’Isaid。’Ah，petitefillealors！’
andhewroteinthealbum:
’Nementesjamais！
NAPOLEON(votreamisincere)。’
\"Suchadvice，andatsuchamoment，youmustallow，prince，was——\"
\"Yes，quiteso；veryremarkable。\"
\"Thispageofthealbum，framedingold，hungonthewallofmysister’sdrawing-roomallherlife，inthemostconspicuousplace，tillthedayofherdeath；whereitisnow，Ireallydon’tknow。
Heavens！it’stwoo’clock！HOWIhavekeptyou，prince！Itisreallymostunpardonableofme。
Thegeneralrose。
\"Oh，notintheleast，\"saidtheprince。\"Onthecontrary，I
havebeensomuchinterested，I’mreallyverymuchobligedtoyou。\"
\"Prince，\"，saidthegeneral，pressinghishand，andlookingathimwithflashingeyes，andanexpressionasthoughhewereundertheinfluenceofasuddenthoughtwhichhadcomeuponhimwithstunningforce。\"Prince，youaresokind，sosimple-minded，thatsometimesIreallyfeelsorryforyou！Igazeatyouwithafeelingofrealaffection。Oh，Heavenblessyou！Mayyourlifeblossomandfructifyinlove。Mineisover。Forgiveme，forgiveme！\"
Helefttheroomquickly，coveringhisfacewithhishands。
Theprincecouldnotdoubtthesincerityofhisagitation。Heunderstood，too，thattheoldmanhadlefttheroomintoxicatedwithhisownsuccess。Thegeneralbelongedtothatclassofliars，who，inspiteoftheirtransportsoflying，invariablysuspectthattheyarenotbelieved。Onthisoccasion，whenherecoveredfromhisexaltation，hewouldprobablysuspectMuishkinofpityinghim，andfeelinsulted。
\"HaveIbeenactingrightlyinallowinghimtodevelopsuchvastresourcesofimagination？\"theprinceaskedhimself。Buthisanswerwasafitofviolentlaughterwhichlastedtenwholeminutes。Hetriedtoreproachhimselfforthelaughingfit，buteventuallyconcludedthatheneedn’tdoso，sinceinspiteofithewastrulysorryfortheoldman。Thesameeveninghereceivedastrangeletter，shortbutdecided。Thegeneralinformedhimthattheymustpartforever；thathewasgrateful，butthatevenfromhimhecouldnotaccept\"signsofsympathywhichwerehumiliatingtothedignityofamanalreadymiserableenough。\"
WhentheprinceheardthattheoldmanhadgonetoNinaAlexandrovna，though，hefeltalmosteasyonhisaccount。
Wehaveseen，however，thatthegeneralpaidavisittoLizabethaProkofievnaandcausedtroublethere，thefinalupshotbeingthathefrightenedMrs。Epanchin，andangeredherbybitterhintsastohissonGania。
Hehadbeenturnedoutindisgrace，eventually，andthiswasthecauseofhisbadnightandquarrelsomeday，whichendedinhissuddendepartureintothestreetinaconditionapproachinginsanity，asrecordedbefore。
Coliadidnotunderstandtheposition。Hetriedseveritywithhisfather，astheystoodinthestreetafterthelatterhadcursedthehousehold，hopingtobringhimroundthatway。
\"Well，wherearewetogotonow，father？\"heasked。\"Youdon’twanttogototheprince’s；youhavequarrelledwithLebedeff；
youhavenomoney；Ineverhaveany；andhereweareinthemiddleoftheroad，inanicesortofmess。\"
\"Bettertobeofamessthaninamess！Iremembermakingajokesomethinglikethatatthemessineighteenhundredandforty——
forty——Iforget。’Whereismyyouth，whereismygoldenyouth？’
Whowasitsaidthat，Colia？\"
\"ItwasGogol，inDeadSouls，father，\"criedColia，glancingathiminsomealarm。
\"’DeadSouls，’yes，ofcourse，dead。WhenIdie，Colia，youmustengraveonmytomb:
\"’HereliesaDeadSoul，Shamepursuesme。’
\"Whosaidthat，Colia？\"
\"Idon’tknow，father。\"
\"TherewasnoEropegoff？EroshkaEropegoff？\"hecried，suddenly，stoppingintheroadinafrenzy。\"NoEropegoff！Andmyownsontosayit！Eropegoffwasintheplaceofabrothertomeforelevenmonths。Ifoughtaduelforhim。Hewasmarriedafterwards，andthenkilledonthefieldofbattle。Thebulletstruckthecrossonmybreastandglancedoffstraightintohistemple。’I’llneverforgetyou，’hecried，andexpired。Iservedmycountrywellandhonestly，Colia，butshame，shamehaspursuedme！YouandNinawillcometomygrave，Colia；poorNina，I
alwaysusedtocallherNinaintheolddays，andhowsheloved……Nina，Nina，oh，Nina。WhathaveIeverdonetodeserveyourforgivenessandlong-suffering？Oh，Colia，yourmotherhasanangelicspirit，anangelicspirit，Colia！\"
\"Iknowthat，father。Lookhere，dearoldfather，comebackhome！
Let’sgobacktomother。Look，sheranafteruswhenwecameout。
Whathaveyoustoppedherfor，justasthoughyoudidn’ttakeinwhatIsaid？Whyareyoucrying，father？\"
PoorColiacriedhimself，andkissedtheoldman’shands\"Youkissmyhands，MINE？\"
\"Yes，yes，yours，yours！Whatistheretosurpriseanyoneinthat？
Come，come，youmustn’tgoonlikethis，cryinginthemiddleoftheroad；andyouageneraltoo，amilitaryman！Come，let’sgoback。\"
\"Godblessyou，dearboy，forbeingrespectfultoadisgracedman。Yes，toapoordisgracedoldfellow，yourfather。Youshallhavesuchasonyourself；leroideRome。Oh，cursesonthishouse！\"
\"Come，come，whatdoesallthismean？\"criedColiabesidehimselfatlast。\"Whatisit？Whathashappenedtoyou？Whydon’tyouwishtocomebackhome？Whyhaveyougoneoutofyourmind，likethis？\"
\"I’llexplainit，I’llexplainalltoyou。Don’tshout！Youshallhear。LeroideRome。Oh，Iamsad，Iammelancholy！
\"’Nurse，whereisyourtomb？’\"
\"Whosaidthat，Colia？\"
\"Idon’tknow，Idon’tknowwhosaidit。Comehomeatonce；comeon！I’llpunchGania’sheadmyself，ifyoulike——onlycome。Oh，whereareyouofftoagain？\"Thegeneralwasdragginghimawaytowardsthedoorahousenear。Hesatdownonthestep，stillholdingColiabythehand。
\"Benddown——benddownyourear。I’lltellyouall——disgrace——benddown，I’lltellyouinyourear。\"
\"Whatareyoudreamingof？\"saidpoor，frightenedColia，stoopingdowntowardstheoldman，allthesame。
\"LeroideRome，\"whisperedthegeneral，tremblingallover。
\"What？WhatDOyoumean？WhatroideRome？\"
\"I-I，\"thegeneralcontinuedtowhisper，clingingmoreandmoretightlytotheboy’sshoulder。\"I——wish——totellyou——all——Maria——
MariaPetrovna——Su——Su——Su……\"
Coliabrokeloose，seizedhisfatherbytheshoulders，andstaredintohiseyeswithfrenziedgaze。Theoldmanhadgrownlivid——
hislipswereshaking，convulsionswerepassingoverhisfeatures。SuddenlyheleantoverandbegantosinkslowlyintoColia’sarms。
\"He’sgotastroke！\"criedColia，loudly，realizingwhatwasthematteratlast。
V。
INpointoffact，Variahadratherexaggeratedthecertaintyofhernewsastotheprince’sbetrothaltoAglaya。Verylikely，withtheperspicacityofhersex，shegaveoutasanaccomplishedfactwhatshefeltwasprettysuretobecomeafactinafewdays。PerhapsshecouldnotresistthesatisfactionofpouringonelastdropofbitternessintoherbrotherGania’scup，inspiteofherloveforhim。Atallevents，shehadbeenunabletoobtainanydefinitenewsfromtheEpanchingirls——themostshecouldgetoutofthembeinghintsandsurmises，andsoon。
PerhapsAglaya’ssistershadmerelybeenpumpingVariafornewswhilepretendingtoimpartinformation；orperhaps，again，theyhadbeenunabletoresistthefemininegratificationofteasingafriend——for，afterallthistime，theycouldscarcelyhavehelpeddiviningtheaimofherfrequentvisits。
Ontheotherhand，theprince，althoughhehadtoldLebedeff，——asweknow，thatnothinghadhappened，andthathehadnothingtoimpart，——theprincemayhavebeeninerror。Somethingstrangeseemedtohavehappened，withoutanythingdefinitehavingactuallyhappened。Variahadguessedthatwithhertruefeminineinstinct。
HoworwhyitcameaboutthateveryoneattheEpanchins’becameimbuedwithoneconviction——thatsomethingveryimportanthadhappenedtoAglaya，andthatherfatewasinprocessofsettlement——itwouldbeverydifficulttoexplain。Butnosoonerhadthisideatakenroot，thanallatoncedeclaredthattheyhadseenandobserveditlongago；thattheyhadremarkeditatthetimeofthe\"poorknight\"joke，andevenbefore，thoughtheyhadbeenunwillingtobelieveinsuchnonsense。
Sosaidthesisters。Ofcourse，LizabethaProkofievnahadforeseenitlongbeforetherest；her\"hearthadbeensore\"foralongwhile，shedeclared，anditwasnowsosorethatsheappearedtobequiteoverwhelmed，andtheverythoughtoftheprincebecamedistastefultoher。
Therewasaquestiontobedecided——mostimportant，butmostdifficult；somuchso，thatMrs。Epanchindidnotevenseehowtoputitintowords。Wouldtheprincedoornot？Wasallthisgoodorbad？Ifgood(whichmightbethecase，ofcourse)，WHYgood？
Ifbad(whichwashardlydoubtful)，WHEREIN，especially，bad？
Eventhegeneral，thepaterfamilias，thoughastonishedatfirst，suddenlydeclaredthat，\"uponhishonour，hereallybelievedhehadfanciedsomethingofthekind，afterall。Atfirst，itseemedanewidea，andthen，somehow，itlookedasfamiliaraspossible。\"Hiswifefrownedhimdownthere。Thiswasinthemorning；butintheevening，alonewithhiswife，hehadgiventongueagain。
\"Well，really，youknow\"——(silence)——\"ofcourse，youknowallthisisverystrange，iftrue，whichIcannotdeny；but\"——
(silence)——\"But，ontheotherhand，ifonelooksthingsintheface，youknow——uponmyhonour，theprinceisararegoodfellow——
and——and——and——well，hisname，youknow——yourfamilyname——allthislookswell，andperpetuatesthenameandtitleandallthat——
whichatthismomentisnotstandingsohighasitmight——fromonepointofview——don’tyouknow？Theworld，theworldistheworld，ofcourse——andpeoplewilltalk——and——and——theprincehasproperty，youknow——ifitisnotverylarge——andthenhe——he——\"
(Continuedsilence，andcollapseofthegeneral。)
Hearingthesewordsfromherhusband，LizabethaProkofievnawasdrivenbesideherself。
Accordingtoheropinion，thewholethinghadbeenonehuge，fantastical，absurd，unpardonablemistake。\"Firstofall，thisprinceisanidiot，and，secondly，heisafool——knowsnothingoftheworld，andhasnoplaceinit。Whomcanhebeshownto？Wherecanyoutakehimto？WhatwilloldBielokonskisay？WeneverthoughtofsuchahusbandasTHATforourAglaya！\"
Ofcourse，thelastargumentwasthechiefone。Thematernalhearttrembledwithindignationtothinkofsuchanabsurdity，althoughinthatheartthereroseanothervoice，whichsaid:\"AndWHYisnottheprincesuchahusbandasyouwouldhavedesiredforAglaya？\"ItwasthisvoicewhichannoyedLizabethaProkofievnamorethananythingelse。
Forsomereasonorother，thesisterslikedtheideaoftheprince。Theydidnotevenconsideritverystrange；inaword，theymightbeexpectedatanymomenttorangethemselvesstronglyonhisside。Butbothofthemdecidedtosaynothingeitherway。
IthadalwaysbeennoticedinthefamilythatthestrongerMrs。
Epanchin’soppositionwastoanyproject，thenearershewas，inreality，togivingin。
Alexandra，however，founditdifficulttokeepabsolutesilenceonthesubject。Longsinceholding，asshedid，thepostof\"confidentialadvisertomamma，\"shewasnowperpetuallycalledincouncil，andaskedheropinion，andespeciallyherassistance，inordertorecollect\"howonearthallthishappened？\"Whydidnooneseeit？Whydidnoonesayanythingaboutit？Whatdidallthatwretched\"poorknight\"jokemean？Whywasshe，LizabethaProkofievna，driventothink，andforesee，andworryforeverybody，whiletheyallsuckedtheirthumbs，andcountedthecrowsinthegarden，anddidnothing？Atfirst，Alexandrahadbeenverycareful，andhadmerelyrepliedthatperhapsherfather’sremarkwasnotsofarout:that，intheeyesoftheworld，probablythechoiceoftheprinceasahusbandforoneoftheEpanchingirlswouldbeconsideredaverywiseone。Warmingup，however，sheaddedthattheprincewasbynomeansafool，andneverhadbeen；andthatasto\"placeintheworld，\"nooneknewwhatthepositionofarespectablepersoninRussiawouldimplyinafewyears——whetheritwoulddependonsuccessesinthegovernmentservice，ontheoldsystem，orwhat。
ToallthishermotherrepliedthatAlexandrawasafreethinker，andthatallthiswasduetothat\"cursedwoman’srightsquestion。\"
Halfanhourafterthisconversation，shewentofftotown，andthencetotheKammennyOstrof，[\"StoneIsland，\"asuburbandparkofSt。Petersburg]toseePrincessBielokonski，whohadjustarrivedfromMoscowonashortvisit。TheprincesswasAglaya’sgodmother。
\"OldBielokonski\"listenedtoallthefeveredanddespairinglamentationsofLizabethaProkofievnawithouttheleastemotion；
thetearsofthissorrowfulmotherdidnotevokeansweringsighs——
infact，shelaughedather。Shewasadreadfulolddespot，thisprincess；shecouldnotallowequalityinanything，noteveninfriendshipoftheoldeststanding，andsheinsistedontreatingMrs。Epanchinasherprotegee，asshehadbeenthirty-fiveyearsago。ShecouldneverputupwiththeindependenceandenergyofLizabetha’scharacter。Sheobservedthat，asusual，thewholefamilyhadgonemuchtoofarahead，andhadconvertedaflyintoanelephant；that，sofarasshehadheardtheirstory，shewaspersuadedthatnothingofanyseriousnesshadoccurred；thatitwouldsurelybebettertowaituntilsomethingDIDhappen；thattheprince，inheropinion，wasaverydecentyoungfellow，thoughperhapsalittleeccentric，throughillness，andnotquiteasweightyintheworldasonecouldwish。Theworstfeaturewas，shesaid，NastasiaPhilipovna。
LizabethaProkofievnawellunderstoodthattheoldladywasangryatthefailureofEvgeniePavlovitch——herownrecommendation。ShereturnedhometoPavlofskinaworsehumourthanwhensheleft，andofcourseeverybodyinthehousesuffered。Shepitchedintoeveryone，because，shedeclared，theyhad’gonemad。’Whywerethingsalwaysmismanagedinherhouse？Whyhadeverybodybeeninsuchafrantichurryinthismatter？Sofarasshecouldsee，nothingwhateverhadhappened。Surelytheyhadbetterwaitandseewhatwastohappen，insteadofmakingmountainsoutofmolehills。
Andsotheconclusionofthematterwasthatitwouldbefarbettertotakeitquietly，andwaitcoollytoseewhatwouldturnup。But，alas！peacedidnotreignformorethantenminutes。ThefirstblowdealttoitspowerwasincertainnewscommunicatedtoLizabethaProkofievnaastoeventswhichbadhappenedduringhertriptoseetheprincess。(ThistriphadtakenplacethedayafterthatonwhichtheprincehadturnedupattheEpanchinsatnearlyoneo’clockatnight，thinkingitwasnine。)
Thesistersrepliedcandidlyandfullyenoughtotheirmother’simpatientquestionsonherreturn。Theysaid，inthefirstplace，thatnothingparticularhadhappenedsinceherdeparture；thattheprincehadbeen，andthatAglayahadkepthimwaitingalongwhilebeforesheappeared——halfanhour，atleast；thatshehadthencomein，andimmediatelyaskedtheprincetohaveagameofchess；thattheprincedidnotknowthegame，andAglayahadbeatenhimeasily；thatshehadbeeninawonderfullymerrymood，andhadlaughedattheprince，andchaffedhimsounmercifullythatonewasquitesorrytoseehiswretchedexpression。
Shehadthenaskedhimtoplaycards——thegamecalled\"littlefools。\"Atthisgamethetableswereturnedcompletely，fortheprincehadshownhimselfamasteratit。Aglayahadcheatedandchangedcards，andstolenothers，inthemostbare-facedway，but，inspiteofeverythingtheprincehadbeatenherhopelesslyfivetimesrunning，andshehadbeenleft\"littlefool\"eachtime。
Aglayathenlosthertemper，andbegantosaysuchawfulthingstotheprincethathelaughednomore，butgrewdreadfullypale，especiallywhenshesaidthatsheshouldnotremaininthehousewithhim，andthatheoughttobeashamedofcomingtotheirhouseatall，especiallyatnight，\"AFTERALLTHATHADHAPPENED。\"
Sosaying，shehadlefttheroom，bangingthedoorafterher，andtheprincewentoff，lookingasthoughhewereonhiswaytoafuneral，inspiteofalltheirattemptsatconsolation。
Suddenly，aquarterofanhouraftertheprince’sdeparture，Aglayahadrushedoutofherroominsuchahurrythatshehadnotevenwipedhereyes，whichwerefulloftears。ShecamebackbecauseColiahadbroughtahedgehog。Everybodycameintoseethehedgehog。InanswertotheirquestionsColiaexplainedthatthehedgehogwasnothis，andthathehadleftanotherboy，KostiaLebedeff，waitingforhimoutside。Kostiawastooshytocomein，becausehewascarryingahatchet；theyhadboughtthehedgehogandthehatchetfromapeasantwhomtheyhadmetontheroad。Hehadofferedtosellthemthehedgehog，andtheyhadpaidfiftycopecksforit；andthehatchethadsotakentheirfancythattheyhadmadeuptheirmindstobuyitoftheirownaccord。
Onhearingthis，AglayaurgedColiatosellherthehedgehog；sheevencalledhim\"dearColia，\"intryingtocoaxhim。Herefusedforalongtime，butatlasthecouldholdoutnomore，andwenttofetchKostiaLebedeff。Thelatterappeared，carryinghishatchet，andcoveredwithconfusion。Thenitcameoutthatthehedgehogwasnottheirs，butthepropertyofaschoolmate，onePetroff，whohadgiventhemsomemoneytobuySchlosser’sHistoryforhim，fromanotherschoolfellowwhoatthatmomentwasdriventoraisingmoneybythesaleofhisbooks。ColiaandKostiawereabouttomakethispurchasefortheirfriendwhenchancebroughtthehedgehogtotheirnotice，andtheyhadsuccumbedtothetemptationofbuyingit。TheywerenowtakingPetroffthehedgehogandhatchetwhichtheyhadboughtwithhismoney，insteadofSchiosser’sHistory。ButAglayasoentreatedthemthatatlasttheyconsentedtosellherthehedgehog。Assoonasshehadgotpossessionofit，sheputitinawickerbasketwithColia’shelp，andcovereditwithanapkin。ThenshesaidtoColia:\"Goandtakethishedgehogtotheprincefromme，andaskhimtoacceptitasatokenofmyprofoundrespect。\"Coliajoyfullypromisedtodotheerrand，buthedemandedexplanations。
\"Whatdoesthehedgehogmean？Whatisthemeaningofsuchapresent？\"Aglayarepliedthatitwasnoneofhisbusiness。\"Iamsurethatthereissomeallegoryaboutit，\"Coliapersisted。
Aglayagrewangry，andcalledhim\"asillyboy。\"\"IfIdidnotrespectallwomeninyourperson，\"repliedColia，\"andifmyownprincipleswouldpermitit，Iwouldsoonprovetoyou，thatI
knowhowtoanswersuchaninsult！\"But，intheend，Coliawentoffwiththehedgehogingreatdelight，followedbyKostiaLebedeff。Aglaya’sannoyancewassoonover，andseeingthatColiawasswingingthehedgehog’sbasketviolentlytoandfro，shecalledouttohimfromtheverandah，asiftheyhadneverquarrelled:\"Colia，dear，pleasetakecarenottodrophim！\"
Coliaappearedtohavenogrudgeagainsther，either，forhestopped，andansweredmostcordially:\"No，Iwillnotdrophim！
Don’tbeafraid，AglayaIvanovna！\"Afterwhichhewentonhisway。Aglayaburstoutlaughingandranuptoherroom，highlydelighted。Hergoodspiritslastedthewholeday。
AllthisfilledpoorLizabetha’smindwithchaoticconfusion。
Whatonearthdiditallmean？Themostdisturbingfeaturewasthehedgehog。Whatwasthesymbolicsignificationofahedgehog？
Whatdidtheyunderstandbyit？Whatunderlayit？Wasitacrypticmessage？
PoorGeneralEpanchin\"puthisfootinit\"byansweringtheabovequestionsinhisownway。Hesaidtherewasnocrypticmessageatall。Asforthehedgehog，itwasjustahedgehog，whichmeantnothing——unless，indeed，itwasapledgeoffriendship，——thesignofforgettingofoffencesandsoon。Atallevents，itwasajoke，and，ofcourse，amostpardonableandinnocentone。
Wemayaswellremarkthatthegeneralhadguessedperfectlyaccurately。
Theprince，returninghomefromtheinterviewwithAglaya，hadsatgloomyanddepressedforhalfanhour。HewasalmostindespairwhenColiaarrivedwiththehedgehog。
Thentheskyclearedinamoment。Theprinceseemedtoarisefromthedead；heaskedColiaallaboutit，madehimrepeatthestoryoverandoveragain，andlaughedandshookhandswiththeboysinhisdelight。
ItseemedcleartotheprincethatAglayaforgavehim，andthathemightgothereagainthisveryevening；andinhiseyesthatwasnotonlythemainthing，buteverythingintheworld。
\"Whatchildrenwearestill，Colia！\"hecriedatlast，enthusiastically，——\"andhowdelightfulitisthatwecanbechildrenstill！\"
\"Simply——mydearprince，——simplysheisinlovewithyou，——that’sthewholeofthesecret！\"repliedColia，withauthority。
Theprinceblushed，butthistimehesaidnothing。Coliaburstoutlaughingandclappedhishands。Aminutelatertheprincelaughedtoo，andfromthismomentuntiltheeveninghelookedathiswatcheveryotherminutetoseehowmuchtimehehadtowaitbeforeeveningcame。
Butthesituationwasbecomingrapidlycritical。
Mrs。Epanchincouldbearhersuspensenolonger，andinspiteoftheoppositionofhusbandanddaughters，shesentforAglaya，determinedtogetastraightforwardansweroutofher，onceforall。
\"Otherwise，\"sheobservedhysterically，\"Ishalldiebeforeevening。\"
Itwasonlynowthateveryonerealizedtowhataridiculousdead-
lockthewholematterhadbeenbrought。Exceptingfeignedsurprise，indignation，laughter，andjeering——bothattheprinceandateveryonewhoaskedherquestions，——nothingcouldbegotoutofAglaya。
LizabethaProkofievnawenttobedandonlyroseagainintimefortea，whentheprincemightbeexpected。
Sheawaitedhimintremblingagitation；andwhenheatlastarrivedshenearlywentoffintohysterics。
Muishkinhimselfcameinverytimidly。Heseemedtofeelhisway，andlookedineachperson’seyesinaquestioningway，——forAglayawasabsent，whichfactalarmedhimatonce。
Thiseveningtherewerenostrangerspresent——noonebuttheimmediatemembersofthefamily。PrinceS。wasstillintown，occupiedwiththeaffairsofEvgeniePavlovitch’suncle。
\"IwishatleastHEwouldcomeandsaysomething！\"complainedpoorLizabethaProkofievna。
Thegeneralsatstillwithamostpreoccupiedair。Thesisterswerelookingveryseriousanddidnotspeakaword，andLizabethaProkofievnadidnotknowhowtocommencetheconversation。
Atlengthsheplungedintoanenergeticandhostilecriticismofrailways，andglaredattheprincedefiantly。
AlasAglayastilldidnotcome——andtheprincewasquitelost。Hehadthegreatestdifficultyinexpressinghisopinionthatrailwaysweremostusefulinstitutions，——andinthemiddleofhisspeechAdelaidalaughed，whichthrewhimintoastillworsestateofconfusion。
AtthismomentinmarchedAglaya，ascalmandcollectedascouldbe。Shegavetheprinceaceremoniousbowandsolemnlytookupaprominentpositionnearthebigroundtable。Shelookedattheprincequestioningly。
Allpresentrealizedthatthemomentforthesettlementofperplexitieshadarrived。
\"Didyougetmyhedgehog？\"sheinquired，firmlyandalmostangrily。
Yes，Igotit，\"saidtheprince，blushing。
\"Tellusnow，atonce，whatyoumadeofthepresent？Imusthaveyouanswerthisquestionformother’ssake；sheneedspacifying，andsodoalltherestofthefamily！\"
\"Lookhere，Aglaya——\"beganthegeneral。
\"This——thisisgoingbeyondalllimits！\"saidLizabethaProkofievna，suddenlyalarmed。
\"Itisnotintheleastbeyondalllimits，mamma！\"saidherdaughter，firmly。\"Isenttheprinceahedgehogthismorning，andIwishtohearhisopinionofit。Goon，prince。\"
\"What——whatsortofopinion，AglayaIvanovna？\"
\"Aboutthehedgehog。\"
\"Thatis——IsupposeyouwishtoknowhowIreceivedthehedgehog，AglayaIvanovna，——or，Ishouldsay，howIregardedyoursendinghimtome？Inthatcase，Imaytellyou——inaword——thatI——infact——\"
Hepaused，breathless。
\"Come——youhaven’ttoldusmuch！\"saidAglaya，afterwaitingsomefiveseconds。\"Verywell，Iamreadytodropthehedgehog，ifyoulike；butIamanxioustobeabletoclearupthisaccumulationofmisunderstandings。Allowmetoaskyou，prince，——Iwishtohearfromyou，personally——areyoumakingmeanoffer，ornot？\"
\"Graciousheavens！\"exclaimedLizabethaProkofievna。Theprincestarted。Thegeneralstiffenedinhischair；thesistersfrowned。
\"Don’tdeceivemenow，prince——tellthetruth。Allthesepeoplepersecutemewithastoundingquestions——aboutyou。Isthereanygroundforallthesequestions，ornot？Come！\"
\"Ihavenotaskedyoutomarrymeyet，AglayaIvanovna，\"saidtheprince，becomingsuddenlyanimated；\"butyouknowyourselfhowmuchIloveyouandtrustyou。\"
\"No——Iaskedyouthis——answerthis！Doyouintendtoaskformyband，ornot？\"
\"Yes——Idoaskforit！\"saidtheprince，moredeadthanalivenow。
Therewasageneralstirintheroom。
\"No——no——mydeargirl，\"beganthegeneral。\"Youcannotproceedlikethis，Aglaya，ifthat’showthematterstands。It’simpossible。Prince，forgiveit，mydearfellow，but——LizabethaProkofievna！\"——heappealedtohisspouseforhelp——\"youmustreally——\"
\"NotI——notI！Iretirefromallresponsibility，\"saidLizabethaProkofievna，withawaveofthehand。
\"Allowmetospeak，please，mamma，\"saidAglaya。\"IthinkIoughttohavesomethingtosayinthematter。Animportantmomentofmydestinyisabouttobedecided\"——(thisishowAglayaexpressedherself)——\"andIwishtofindouthowthematterstands，formyownsake，thoughIamgladyouareallhere。Allowmetoaskyou，prince，sinceyoucherishthoseintentions，howyouconsiderthatyouwillprovideformyhappiness？\"
\"I——Idon’tquiteknowhowtoansweryourquestion，AglayaIvanovna。Whatistheretosaytosuchaquestion？And——andmustIanswer？\"
\"Ithinkyouareratheroverwhelmedandoutofbreath。Havealittlerest，andtrytorecoveryourself。Takeaglassofwater，or——butthey’llgiveyousometeadirectly。\"
\"Iloveyou，AglayaIvanovna，——Iloveyouverymuch。Iloveonlyyou——and——pleasedon’tjestaboutit，forIdoloveyouverymuch。\"
\"Well，thismatterisimportant。Wearenotchildren——wemustlookintoitthoroughly。Nowthen，kindlytellme——whatdoesyourfortuneconsistof？\"
\"No——Aglaya——come，enoughofthis，youmustn’tbehavelikethis，\"
saidherfather，indismay。
\"It’sdisgraceful，\"saidLizabethaProkofievnainaloudwhisper。
\"She’smad——quite！\"saidAlexandra。
\"Fortune——money——doyoumean？\"askedtheprinceinsomesurprise。
\"Justso。\"
\"Ihavenow——let’ssee——Ihaveahundredandthirty-fivethousandroubles，\"saidtheprince，blushingviolently。
\"Isthatall，really？\"saidAglaya，candidly，withouttheslightestshowofconfusion。\"However，it’snotsobad，especiallyifmanagedwitheconomy。Doyouintendtoserve？\"
\"I——Iintendedtotryforacertificateasprivatetutor。\"
\"Verygood。Thatwouldincreaseourincomenicely。HaveyouanyintentionofbeingaKammer-junker？\"
\"AKammer-junker？Ihadnotthoughtofit，but——\"
Butherethetwosisterscouldrestrainthemselvesnolonger，andbothofthemburstintoirrepressiblelaughter。
AdelaidahadlongsincedetectedinAglaya’sfeaturesthegatheringsignsofanapproachingstormoflaughter，whichsherestrainedwithamazingself-control。
Aglayalookedmenacinglyatherlaughingsisters，butcouldnotcontainherselfanylonger，andthenextminuteshetoohadburstintoanirrepressible，andalmosthysterical，fitofmirth。Atlengthshejumpedup，andranoutoftheroom。
\"Iknewitwasallajoke！\"criedAdelaida。\"Ifeltiteversince——sincethehedgehog。\"
\"No，no！Icannotallowthis，——thisisalittletoomuch，\"criedLizabethaProkofievna，explodingwithrage，andsherosefromherseatandfollowedAglayaoutoftheroomasquicklyasshecould。
Thetwosistershurriedlywentafterher。
Theprinceandthegeneralweretheonlytwopersonsleftintheroom。
\"It’s——it’sreally——nowcouldyouhaveimaginedanythinglikeit，LefNicolaievitch？\"criedthegeneral。Hewasevidentlysomuchagitatedthathehardlyknewwhathewishedtosay。\"Seriouslynow，seriouslyImean——\"
\"IonlyseethatAglayaIvanovnaislaughingatme，\"saidthepoorprince，sadly。
\"Waitabit，myboy，I’lljustgo——youstayhere，youknow。Butdojustexplain，ifyoucan，LefNicolaievitch，howintheworldhasallthiscomeabout？Andwhatdoesitallmean？Youmustunderstand，mydearfellow；Iamafather，yousee，andIoughttobeallowedtounderstandthematter——doexplain，Ibegyou！\"
\"IloveAglayaIvanovna——sheknowsit，——andIthinkshemusthavelongknownit。\"
Thegeneralshruggedhisshoulders。
\"Strange——it’sstrange，\"hesaid，\"andyouloveherverymuch？\"
\"Yes，verymuch。\"
\"Well——it’sallmoststrangetome。Thatis——mydearfellow，itissuchasurprise——suchablow——that……Yousee，itisnotyourfinancialposition(thoughIshouldnotobjectifyouwereabitricher)——Iamthinkingofmydaughter’shappiness，ofcourse，andthethingis——areyouabletogiveherthehappinessshedeserves？Andthen——isallthisajokeonherpart，orissheinearnest？Idon’tmeanonyourside，butonhers。\"
AtthismomentAlexandra’svoicewasheardoutsidethedoor，callingout\"Papa！\"
\"Waitformehere，myboy——willyou？Justwaitandthinkitallover，andI’llcomebackdirectly，\"hesaidhurriedly，andmadeoffwithwhatlookedliketherapidityofalarminresponsetoAlexandra’scall。
Hefoundthemotheranddaughterlockedinoneanother’sarms，minglingtheirtears。
Thesewerethetearsofjoyandpeaceandreconciliation。Aglayawaskissinghermother’slipsandcheeksandhands；theywerehuggingeachotherinthemostardentway。
\"There，lookathernow——IvanFedorovitch！Heresheis——allofher！ThisisourREALAglayaatlast！\"saidLizabethaProkofievna。
Aglayaraisedherhappy，tearfulfacefromhermother’sbreast，glancedatherfather，andburstoutlaughing。Shesprangathimandhuggedhimtoo，andkissedhimoverandoveragain。Shethenrushedbacktohermotherandhidherfaceinthematernalbosom，andthereindulgedinmoretears。Hermothercoveredherwithacornerofhershawl。
\"Oh，youcruellittlegirl！Howwillyoutreatusallnext，I
wonder？\"shesaid，butshespokewitharingofjoyinhervoice，andasthoughshebreathedatlastwithouttheoppressionwhichshehadfeltsolong。
\"Cruel？\"sobbedAglaya。\"Yes，IAMcruel，andworthless，andspoiled——tellfatherso，——oh，hereheis——IforgotFather，listen！\"Shelaughedthroughhertears。
\"Mydarling，mylittleidol，\"criedthegeneral，kissingandfondlingherhands(Aglayadidnotdrawthemaway)；\"soyoulovethisyoungman，doyou？\"
\"No，no，no，can’tBEARhim，Ican’tBEARyouryoungman！\"criedAglaya，raisingherhead。\"AndifyoudaresaythatONCEmore，papa——I’mserious，youknow，I’m，——doyouhearme——I’mserious！\"
Shecertainlydidseemtobeseriousenough。Shehadflushedupalloverandhereyeswereblazing。
Thegeneralfelttroubledandremainedsilent，whileLizabethaProkofievnatelegraphedtohimfrombehindAglayatoasknoquestions。
\"Ifthat’sthecase，darling——then，ofcourse，youshalldoexactlyasyoulike。Heiswaitingalonedownstairs。Hadn’tI
betterhinttohimgentlythathecango？\"ThegeneraltelegraphedtoLizabethaProkofievnainhisturn。
\"No，no，youneedn’tdoanythingofthesort；youmustn’thintgentlyatall。I’llgodownmyselfdirectly。Iwishtoapologizetothisyoungman，becauseIhurthisfeelings。\"
\"Yes，SERIOUSLY，\"saidthegeneral，gravely。
\"Well，you’dbetterstayhere，allofyou，foralittle，andI’llgodowntohimalonetobeginwith。I’lljustgoinandthenyoucanfollowmealmostatonce。That’sthebestway。\"
Shehadalmostreachedthedoorwhensheturnedroundagain。
\"Ishalllaugh——IknowIshall；Ishalldieoflaughing，\"shesaid，lugubriously。
However，sheturnedandrandowntotheprinceasfastasherfeetcouldcarryher。
\"Well，whatdoesitallmean？Whatdoyoumakeofit？\"askedthegeneralofhisspouse，hurriedly。
\"Ihardlydaresay，\"saidLizabetha，ashurriedly，\"butIthinkit’sasplainasanythingcanbe。\"
\"Ithinksotoo，asclearasday；sheloveshim。\"
\"Loveshim？Sheisheadoverearsinlove，that’swhatsheis，\"
putinAlexandra。
\"Well，Godblessher，Godblessher，ifsuchisherdestiny，\"
saidLizabetha，crossingherselfdevoutly。
\"H’mdestinyitis，\"saidthegeneral，\"andthere’snogettingoutofdestiny。\"
Withthesewordstheyallmovedofftowardsthedrawing-room，whereanothersurpriseawaitedthem。Aglayahadnotonlynotlaughed，asshehadfeared，buthadgonetotheprincerathertimidly，andsaidtohim:
\"Forgiveasilly，horrid，spoiltgirl\"——(shetookhishandhere)——
\"andbequiteassuredthatweallofusesteemyoubeyondallwords。AndifIdaredtoturnyourbeautiful，admirablesimplicitytoridicule，forgivemeasyouwouldalittlechilditsmischief。Forgivemeallmyabsurdityofjustnow，which，ofcourse，meantnothing，andcouldnothavetheslightestconsequence。\"Shespokethesewordswithgreatemphasis。
Herfather，mother，andsisterscameintotheroomandweremuchstruckwiththelastwords，whichtheyjustcaughtastheyentered——\"absurditywhichofcoursemeantnothing\"——andstillmoresowiththeemphasiswithwhichAglayahadspoken。
Theyexchangedglancesquestioningly，buttheprincedidnotseemtohaveunderstoodthemeaningofAglaya’swords；hewasinthehighestheavenofdelight。
\"Whydoyouspeakso？\"hemurmured。\"Whydoyouaskmyforgiveness？\"
Hewishedtoaddthathewasunworthyofbeingaskedforforgivenessbyher，butpaused。PerhapshedidunderstandAglaya’ssentenceabout\"absurditywhichmeantnothing，\"andlikethestrangefellowthathewas，rejoicedinthewords。
UndoubtedlythefactthathemightnowcomeandseeAglayaasmuchashepleasedagainwasquiteenoughtomakehimperfectlyhappy；thathemightcomeandspeaktoher，andseeher，andsitbyher，andwalkwithher——whoknows，butthatallthiswasquiteenoughtosatisfyhimforthewholeofhislife，andthathewoulddesirenomoretotheendoftime？
(LizabethaProkofievnafeltthatthismightbethecase，andshedidn’tlikeit；thoughveryprobablyshecouldnothaveputtheideaintowords。)
Itwouldbedifficulttodescribetheanimationandhighspiritswhichdistinguishedtheprincefortherestoftheevening。
Hewassohappythat\"itmadeonefeelhappytolookathim，\"asAglaya’ssistersexpresseditafterwards。Hetalked，andtoldstoriesjustashehaddoneoncebefore，andneversince，namelyontheveryfirstmorningofhisacquaintancewiththeEpanchins，sixmonthsago。SincehisreturntoPetersburgfromMoscow，hehadbeenremarkablysilent，andhadtoldPrinceS。ononeoccasion，beforeeveryone，thathedidnotthinkhimselfjustifiedindegradinganythoughtbyhisunworthywords。
Butthiseveninghedidnearlyallthetalkinghimself，andtoldstoriesbythedozen，whileheansweredallquestionsputtohimclearly，gladly，andwithanyamountofdetail。
Therewasnothing，however，oflove-makinginhistalk。Hisideaswereallofthemostseriouskind；somewereevenmysticalandprofound。
Heairedhisownviewsonvariousmatters，someofhismostprivateopinionsandobservations，manyofwhichwouldhaveseemedratherfunny，sohishearersagreedafterwards，hadtheynotbeensowellexpressed。
Thegenerallikedserioussubjectsofconversation；butbothheandLizabethaProkofievnafeltthattheywerehavingalittletoomuchofagoodthingtonight，andastheeveningadvanced，theybothgrewmoreorlessmelancholy；buttowardsnight，theprincefelltotellingfunnystories，andwasalwaysthefirsttoburstoutlaughinghimself，whichheinvariablydidsojoyouslyandsimplythattherestlaughedjustasmuchathimasathisstories。
AsforAglaya，shehardlysaidawordalltheevening；butshelistenedwithallherearstoLefNicolaievitch’stalk，andscarcelytookhereyesoffhim。
\"Shelookedathim，andstaredandstared，andhungoneverywordhesaid，\"saidLizabethaafterwards，toherhusband，\"andyet，tellherthatsheloveshim，andsheisfurious！\"
\"What’stobedone？It’sfate，\"saidthegeneral，shrugginghisshoulders，and，foralongwhileafter，hecontinuedtorepeat:
\"It’sfate，it’sfate！\"
WemayaddthattoabusinessmanlikeGeneralEpanchinthepresentpositionofaffairswasmostunsatisfactory。Hehatedtheuncertaintyinwhichtheyhadbeen，perforce，left。However，hedecidedtosaynomoreaboutit，andmerelytolookon，andtakehistimeandtunefromLizabethaProkofievna。
Thehappystateinwhichthefamilyhadspenttheevening，asjustrecorded，wasnotofverylongduration。NextdayAglayaquarrelledwiththeprinceagain，andsoshecontinuedtobehaveforthenextfewdays。Forwholehoursatatimesheridiculedandchaffedthewretchedman，andmadehimalmostalaughing-
stock。
Itistruethattheyusedtositinthelittlesummer-housetogetherforanhourortwoatatime，veryoften，butitwasobservedthatontheseoccasionstheprincewouldreadthepaper，orsomebook，aloudtoAglaya。
\"Doyouknow，\"Aglayasaidtohimonce，interruptingthereading，\"I’veremarkedthatyouaredreadfullybadlyeducated。Youneverknowanythingthoroughly，ifoneasksyou；neitheranyone’sname，nordates，norabouttreatiesandsoon。It’sagreatpity，youknow！\"
\"ItoldyouIhadnothadmuchofaneducation，\"repliedtheprince。
\"HowamItorespectyou，ifthat’sthecase？Readonnow。No——
don’t！Stopreading！\"
Andoncemore，thatsameevening，Aglayamystifiedthemall。
PrinceS。hadreturned，andAglayawasparticularlyamiabletohim，andaskedagreatdealafterEvgeniePavlovitch。(Muishkinhadnotcomeinasyet。)
SuddenlyPrinceS。hintedsomethingabout\"anewandapproachingchangeinthefamily。\"HewasledtothisremarkbyacommunicationinadvertentlymadetohimbyLizabethaProkofievna，thatAdelaida’smarriagemustbepostponedalittlelonger，inorderthatthetwoweddingsmightcomeofftogether。
ItisimpossibletodescribeAglaya’sirritation。Sheflaredup，andsaidsomeindignantwordsabout\"allthesesillyinsinuations。\"Sheaddedthat\"shehadnointentionsasyetofreplacinganybody’smistress。\"
Thesewordspainfullyimpressedthewholeparty；butespeciallyherparents。LizabethaProkofievnasummonedasecretcounciloftwo，andinsisteduponthegeneral’sdemandingfromtheprinceafullexplanationofhisrelationswithNastasiaPhilipovna。ThegeneralarguedthatitwasonlyawhimofAglaya’s；andthat，hadnotPrinceS。unfortunatelymadethatremark，whichhadconfusedthechildandmadeherblush，sheneverwouldhavesaidwhatshedid；andthathewassureAglayaknewwellthatanythingshemighthaveheardoftheprinceandNastasiaPhilipovnawasmerelythefabricationofmalicioustongues，andthatthewomanwasgoingtomarryRogojin。HeinsistedthattheprincehadnothingwhatevertodowithNastasiaPhilipovna，sofarasanyliaisonwasconcerned；and，ifthetruthweretobetoldaboutit，headded，neverhadhad。
Meanwhilenothingputtheprinceout，andhecontinuedtobeintheseventhheavenofbliss。Ofcoursehecouldnotfailtoobservesomeimpatienceandill-temperinAglayanowandthen；
buthebelievedinsomethingelse，andnothingcouldnowshakehisconviction。Besides，Aglaya’sfrownsneverlastedlong；theydisappearedofthemselves。
Perhapshewastooeasyinhismind。SothoughtHippolyte，atallevents，whomethimintheparkoneday。
\"Didn’tItellyouthetruthnow，whenIsaidyouwereinlove？\"
hesaid，cominguptoMuishkinofhisownaccord，andstoppinghim。
Theprincegavehimhishandandcongratulatedhimupon\"lookingsowell。\"
Hippolytehimselfseemedtobehopefulabouthisstateofhealth，asisoftenthecasewithconsumptives。
Hehadapproachedtheprincewiththeintentionoftalkingsarcasticallyabouthishappyexpressionofface，butverysoonforgothisintentionandbegantotalkabouthimself。Hebegancomplainingabouteverything，disconnectedlyandendlessly，aswashiswont。
\"Youwouldn’tbelieve，\"heconcluded，\"howirritatingtheyallarethere。Theyaresuchwretchedlysmall，vain，egotistical，COMMONPLACEpeople！Wouldyoubelieveit，theyinvitedmethereundertheexpressconditionthatIshoulddiequickly，andtheyareallaswildaspossiblewithmefornothavingdiedyet，andforbeing，onthecontrary，agooddealbetter！Isn’titacomedy？Idon’tmindbettingthatyoudon’tbelieveme！\"
Theprincesaidnothing。
\"Isometimesthinkofcomingovertoyouagain，\"saidHippolyte，carelessly。\"SoyouDON’Tthinkthemcapableofinvitingamanontheconditionthatheistolooksharpanddie？\"
\"Icertainlythoughttheyinvitedyouwithquiteotherviews。\"
\"Ho，ho！youarenotnearlysosimpleastheytrytomakeyouout！Thisisnotthetimeforit，orIwouldtellyouathingortwoaboutthatbeauty，Gania，andhishopes。Youarebeingundermined，pitilesslyundermined，and——anditisreallymelancholytoseeyousocalmaboutit。Butalas！it’syournature——youcan’thelpit！\"
\"Myword！whatathingtobemelancholyabout！Why，doyouthinkIshouldbeanyhappierifIweretofeeldisturbedabouttheexcavationsyoutellmeof？\"
\"Itisbettertobeunhappyandknowtheworst，thantobehappyinafool’sparadise！Isupposeyoudon’tbelievethatyouhavearivalinthatquarter？\"
\"Yourinsinuationsastorivalryarerathercynical，Hippolyte。
I’msorrytosayIhavenorighttoansweryou！AsforGania，I
putittoyou，CANanymanhaveahappymindafterpassingthroughwhathehashadtosuffer？Ithinkthatisthebestwaytolookatit。Hewillchangeyet，hehaslotsoftimebeforehim，andlifeisrich；besides——besides……\"theprincehesitated。\"Astobeingundermined，Idon’tknowwhatintheworldyouaredrivingat，Hippolyte。Ithinkwehadbetterdropthesubject！\"
\"Verywell，we’lldropitforawhile。Youcan’tlookatanythingbutinyourexalted，generousway。Youmustputoutyourfingerandtouchathingbeforeyou’llbelieveit，eh？Ha！ha！ha！I
supposeyoudespisemedreadfully，prince，eh？Whatdoyouthink？\"
\"Why？Becauseyouhavesufferedmorethanwehave？\"
\"No；becauseIamunworthyofmysufferings，ifyoulike！\"
\"WhoeverCANsufferisworthytosuffer，Ishouldthink。AglayaIvanovnawishedtoseeyou，aftershehadreadyourconfession，but——\"
\"Shepostponedthepleasure——Isee——Iquiteunderstand！\"saidHippolyte，hurriedly，asthoughhewishedtobanishthesubject。
\"Ihear——theytellme——thatyoureadherallthatnonsensealoud？
Stupid@boshitwas——writtenindelirium。AndIcan’tunderstandhowanyonecanbesoIwon’tsayCRUEL，becausethewordwouldbehumiliatingtomyself，butwe’llsaychildishlyvainandrevengeful，astoREPROACHmewiththisconfession，anduseitasaweaponagainstme。Don’tbeafraid，I’mnotreferringtoyourself。\"
\"Oh，butI’msorryyourepudiatetheconfession，Hippolyte——itissincere；and，doyouknow，eventheabsurdpartsofit——andthesearemany\"(hereHippolytefrownedsavagely)\"are，asitwere，redeemedbysuffering——foritmusthavecostyousomethingtoadmitwhatyoutheresay——greattorture，perhaps，forallIknow。
Yourmotivemusthavebeenaverynobleoneallthrough。Whatevermayhaveappearedtothecontrary，Igiveyoumyword，Iseethismoreplainlyeveryday。Idonotjudgeyou；Imerelysaythistohaveitoffmymind，andIamonlysorrythatIdidnotsayitallTHEN——\"
Hippolyteflushedhotly。Hehadthoughtatfirstthattheprincewas\"humbugging\"him；butonlookingathisfacehesawthathewasabsolutelyserious，andhadnothoughtofanydeception。
Hippolytebeamedwithgratification。
\"AndyetImustdie，\"hesaid，andalmostadded:\"amanlikeme@
\"AndimaginehowthatGaniaannoysme！Hehasdevelopedtheidea——orpretendstobelieve——thatinallprobabilitythreeorfourotherswhoheardmyconfessionwilldiebeforeIdo。There’sanideaforyou——andallthisbywayofCONSOLINGme！Ha！ha！ha！Inthefirstplacetheyhaven’tdiedyet；andinthesecond，iftheyDIDdie——allofthem——whatwouldbethesatisfactiontomeinthat？Hejudgesmebyhimself。Buthegoesfurther，heactuallypitchesintomebecause，ashedeclares，’anydecentfellow’
woulddiequietly，andthat’allthis’ismereegotismonmypart。Hedoesn’tseewhatrefinementofegotismitisonhisownpart——andatthesametime，whatox-likecoarseness！HaveyoueverreadofthedeathofoneStepanGleboff，intheeighteenthcentury？Ireadofityesterdaybychance。\"
\"Whowashe？\"
HewasimpaledonastakeinthetimeofPeter。\"
\"Iknow，Iknow！Helaytherefifteenhoursinthehardfrost，anddiedwiththemostextraordinaryfortitude——Iknow——whatofhim？\"
\"OnlythatGodgivesthatsortofdyingtosome，andnottoothers。Perhapsyouthink，though，thatIcouldnotdielikeGleboff？\"
\"Notatall！\"saidtheprince，blushing。\"Iwasonlygoingtosaythatyou——notthatyoucouldnotbelikeGleboff——butthatyouwouldhavebeenmorelike@
\"Iguesswhatyoumean——IshouldbeanOsterman，notaGleboff——
eh？Isthatwhatyoumeant？\"
\"WhatOsterman？\"askedtheprinceinsomesurprise。
\"Why，Osterman——thediplomatist。Peter’sOsterman，\"mutteredHippolyte，confused。Therewasamoment’spauseofmutualconfusion。
Oh，no，no！\"saidtheprinceatlast，\"thatwasnotwhatIwasgoingtosay——ohno！Idon’tthinkyouwouldeverhavebeenlikeOsterman。\"
Hippolytefrownedgloomily。
\"I’lltellyouwhyIdrawtheconclusion，\"explainedtheprince，evidentlydesirousofclearingupthematteralittle。\"Because，thoughIoftenthinkoverthemenofthosetimes，Icannotforthelifeofmeimaginethemtobelikeourselves。Itreallyappearstomethattheywereofanotherracealtogetherthanourselvesoftoday。Atthattimepeopleseemedtosticksotooneidea；now，theyaremorenervous，moresensitive，moreenlightened——peopleoftwoorthreeideasatonce——asitwere。
Themanoftodayisabroaderman，sotospeak——andIdeclareI
believethatiswhatpreventshimfrombeingsoself-containedandindependentabeingashisbrotherofthoseearlierdays。Ofcoursemyremarkwasonlymadeunderthisimpression，andnotintheleast@
\"Iquiteunderstand。Youaretryingtocomfortmeforthenaivenesswithwhichyoudisagreedwithme——eh？Ha！ha！ha！Youarearegularchild，prince！However，Icannothelpseeingthatyoualwaystreatmelike——likeafragilechinacup。Nevermind，nevermind，I’mnotabitangry！Atalleventswehavehadaveryfunnytalk。Doyouknow，allthingsconsidered，IshouldliketobesomethingbetterthanOsterman！Iwouldn’ttakethetroubletorisefromthedeadtobeanOsterman。However，IseeImustmakearrangementstodiesoon，orImyself。Well——leavemenow！Aurevoir。Lookhere——beforeyougo，justgivemeyouropinion:howdoyouthinkIoughttodie，now？Imean——thebest，themostvirtuousway？Tellme！\"
\"Youshouldpassusbyandforgiveusourhappiness，\"saidtheprinceinalowvoice。
\"Ha！ha！ha！Ithoughtso。IthoughtIshouldhearsomethinglikethat。Well，youare——youreallyare——ohdearme！Eloquence，eloquence！Good-bye！\"
VI。
AstotheeveningpartyattheEpanchins’atwhichPrincessBielokonskiwastobepresent，Variahadreportedwithaccuracy；
thoughshehadperhapsexpressedherselftoostrongly。
Thethingwasdecidedinahurryandwithacertainamountofquiteunnecessaryexcitement，doubtlessbecause\"nothingcouldbedoneinthishouselikeanywhereelse。\"
TheimpatienceofLizabethaProkofievna\"togetthingssettled\"
explainedagooddeal，aswellastheanxietyofbothparentsforthehappinessoftheirbeloveddaughter。Besides，PrincessBielokonskiwasgoingawaysoon，andtheyhopedthatshewouldtakeaninterestintheprince。Theywereanxiousthatheshouldentersocietyundertheauspicesofthislady，whosepatronagewasthebestofrecommendationsforanyyoungman。
Evenifthereseemssomethingstrangeaboutthematch，thegeneralandhiswifesaidtoeachother，the\"world\"willacceptAglaya’sfiancewithoutanyquestionifheisunderthepatronageoftheprincess。Inanycase，theprincewouldhavetobe\"shown\"
soonerorlater；thatis，introducedintosociety，ofwhichhehad，sofar，nottheleastidea。Moreover，itwasonlyaquestionofasmallgatheringofafewintimatefriends。BesidesPrincessBielokonski，onlyoneotherladywasexpected，thewifeofahighdignitary。EvgeniePavlovitch，whowastoescorttheprincess，wastheonlyyoungman。
Muishkinwastoldoftheprincess’svisitthreedaysbeforehand，butnothingwassaidtohimaboutthepartyuntilthenightbeforeitwastotakeplace。
Hecouldnothelpobservingtheexcitedandagitatedconditionofallmembersofthefamily，andfromcertainhintsdroppedinconversationhegatheredthattheywereallanxiousastotheimpressionheshouldmakeupontheprincess。ButtheEpanchins，oneandall，believedthatMuishkin，inhissimplicityofmind，wasquiteincapableofrealizingthattheycouldbefeelinganyanxietyonhisaccount，andforthisreasontheyalllookedathimwithdreadanduneasiness。
Inpointoffact，hedidattachmarvellouslylittleimportancetotheapproachingevent。Hewasoccupiedwithaltogetherdifferentthoughts。Aglayawasgrowinghourlymorecapriciousandgloomy，andthisdistressedhim。WhentheytoldhimthatEvgeniePavlovitchwasexpected，heevincedgreatdelight，andsaidthathehadlongwishedtoseehim——andsomehowthesewordsdidnotpleaseanyone。
Aglayalefttheroominafitofirritation，anditwasnotuntillateintheevening，pasteleven，whentheprincewastakinghisdeparture，thatshesaidawordortwotohim，privately，assheaccompaniedhimasfarasthefrontdoor。
\"Ishouldlikeyou，\"shesaid，\"nottocomeheretomorrowuntilevening，whentheguestsareallassembled。Youknowtherearetobeguests，don’tyou？\"
Shespokeimpatientlyandwithseverity；thiswasthefirstallusionshehadmadetothepartyoftomorrow。
Shehatedtheideaofit，everyonesawthat；andshewouldprobablyhavelikedtoquarrelaboutitwithherparents，butprideandmodestypreventedherfrombroachingthesubject。
TheprincejumpedtotheconclusionthatAglaya，too，wasnervousabouthim，andtheimpressionhewouldmake，andthatshedidnotliketoadmitheranxiety；andthisthoughtalarmedhim。
\"Yes，Iaminvited，\"hereplied。
