Out of obstinacy shouted Gania. You havent married, either, thanks to your obstinacy. Oh, you neednt frown at me, Varvara! You can go at once for all I care; I am sick enough of your company. What, you are going to leave us are you, too? he cried, turning to the prince, who was rising from his chair.
Ganias voice was full of the most uncontrolled and uncontrollable irritation.
The prince turned at the door to say something, but perceiving in Ganias expression that there was but that one drop wanting to make the cup overflow, he changed his mind and left the room without a word. A few minutes later he was aware from the noisy voices in the drawing room, that the conversation had become more quarrelsome than ever after his departure.
He crossed the salon and the entrance-hall, so as to pass down the corridor into his own room. As he came near the front door he heard someone outside vainly endeavouring to ring the bell, which was evidently broken, and only shook a little, without emitting any sound.
The prince took down the chain and opened the door. He started back in amazement for there stood Nastasia Philipovna. He knew her at once from her photograph. Her eyes blazed with anger as she looked at him. She quickly pushed by him into the hall, shouldering him out of her way, and said, furiously, as she threw off her fur cloak:
If you are too lazy to mend your bell, you should at least wait in the hall to let people in when they rattle the bell handle. There, now, youve dropped my fur cloak dummy!
Sure enough the cloak was lying on the ground. Nastasia had thrown it off her towards the prince, expecting him to catch it, but the prince had missed it.
Now then announce me, quick!
The prince wanted to say something, but was so confused and astonished that he could not. However, he moved off towards the drawing-room with the cloak over his arm.
Now then, where are you taking my cloak to? Ha, ha, ha! Are you mad?
The prince turned and came back, more confused than ever. When she burst out laughing, he smiled, but his tongue could not form a word as yet. At first, when he had opened the door and saw her standing before him, he had become as pale as death; but now the red blood had rushed back to his cheeks in a torrent.
Why, what an idiot it is! cried Nastasia, stamping her foot with irritation. Go on, do! Whom are you going to announce?
Nastasia Philipovna, murmured the prince.
And how do you know that? she asked him, sharply.
I have never seen you before!
Go on, announce me whats that noise?
They are quarrelling, said the prince, and entered the drawing-room, just as matters in there had almost reached a crisis. Nina Alexandrovna had forgotten that she had submitted to everything! She was defending Varia. Ptitsin was taking her part, too. Not that Varia was afraid of standing up for herself. She was by no means that sort of a girl; but her brother was becoming ruder and more intolerable every moment. Her usual practice in such cases as the present was to say nothing, but stare at him, without taking her eyes off his face for an instant. This manoeuvre, as she well knew, could drive Gania distracted.
Just at this moment the door opened and the prince entered, announcing:
Nastasia Philipovna!
IX
Silence immediately fell on the room; all looked at the prince as though they neither understood, nor hoped to understand. Gania was motionless with horror.
Nastasias arrival was a most unexpected and overwhelming event to all parties. In the first place, she had never been before. Up to now she had been so haughty that she had never even asked Gania to introduce her to his parents. Of late she had not so much as mentioned them. Gania was partly glad of this; but still he had put it to her debit in the account to be settled after marriage.
He would have borne anything from her rather than this visit. But one thing seemed to him quite clear-her visit now, and the present of her portrait on this particular day, pointed out plainly enough which way she intended to make her decision!
The incredulous amazement with which all regarded the prince did not last long, for Nastasia herself appeared at the door and passed in, pushing by the prince again.
At last Ive stormed the citadel! Why do you tie up your bell? she said, merrily, as she pressed Ganias hand, the latter having rushed up to her as soon as she made her appearance. What are you looking so upset about? Introduce me, please!
The bewildered Gania introduced her first to Varia, and both women, before shaking hands, exchanged looks of strange import. Nastasia, however, smiled amiably; but Varia did not try to look amiable, and kept her gloomy expression. She did not even vouchsafe the usual courteous smile of etiquette. Gania darted a terrible glance of wrath at her for this, but Nina Alexandrovna, mended matters a little when Gania introduced her at last. Hardly, however, had the old lady begun about her highly gratified feelings, and so on, when Nastasia left her, and flounced into a chair by Ganias side in the corner by the window, and cried: Wheres your study? and where are the the lodgers? You do take in lodgers, dont you?