What have I done? Where are you dragging me to?
Do you wish me to beg pardon of this creature because she has come here to insult our mother and disgrace the whole household, you low, base wretch? cried Varia, looking back at her brother with proud defiance.
A few moments passed as they stood there face to face, Gania still holding her wrist tightly. Varia struggled once twice to get free; then could restrain herself no longer, and spat in his face.
Theres a girl for you! cried Nastasia Philipovna. Mr. Ptitsin, I congratulate you on your choice.
Gania lost his head. Forgetful of everything he aimed a blow at Varia, which would inevitably have laid her low, but suddenly another hand caught his. Between him and Varia stood the prince.
Enough enough! said the latter, with insistence, but all of a tremble with excitement.
Are you going to cross my path for ever, damn you! cried Gania; and, loosening his hold on Varia, he slapped the princes face with all his force.
Exclamations of horror arose on all sides. The prince grew pale as death; he gazed into Ganias eyes with a strange, wild, reproachful look; his lips trembled and vainly endeavoured to form some words; then his mouth twisted into an incongruous smile.
Very well never mind about me; but I shall not allow you to strike her! he said, at last, quietly. Then, suddenly, he could bear it no longer, and covering his face with his hands, turned to the wall, and murmured in broken accents:
Oh! how ashamed you will be of this afterwards!
Gania certainly did look dreadfully abashed. Colia rushed up to comfort the prince, and after him crowded Varia, Rogojin and all, even the general.
Its nothing, its nothing! said the prince, and again he wore the smile which was so inconsistent with the circumstances.
Yes, he will be ashamed! cried Rogojin. You will be properly ashamed of yourself for having injured such a such a sheep (he could not find a better word). Prince, my dear fellow, leave this and come away with me. Ill show you how Rogojin shows his affection for his friends.
Nastasia Philipovna was also much impressed, both with Ganias action and with the princes reply.
Her usually thoughtful, pale face, which all this while had been so little in harmony with the jests and laughter which she had seemed to put on for the occasion, was now evidently agitated by new feelings, though she tried to conceal the fact and to look as though she were as ready as ever for jesting and irony.
I really think I must have seen him somewhere! she murmured seriously enough.
Oh, arent you ashamed of yourself arent you ashamed? Are you really the sort of woman you are trying to represent yourself to be? Is it possible? The prince was now addressing Nastasia, in a tone of reproach, which evidently came from his very heart.
Nastasia Philipovna looked surprised, and smiled, but evidently concealed something beneath her smile and with some confusion and a glance at Gania she left the room.
However, she had not reached the outer hall when she turned round, walked quickly up to Nina Alexandrovna, seized her hand and lifted it to her lips.
He guessed quite right. I am not that sort of woman, she whispered hurriedly, flushing red all over. Then she turned again and left the room so quickly that no one could imagine what she had come back for. All they saw was that she said something to Nina Alexandrovna in a hurried whisper, and seemed to kiss her hand. Varia, however, both saw and heard all, and watched Nastasia out of the room with an expression of wonder.
Gania recollected himself in time to rush after her in order to show her out, but she had gone. He followed her to the stairs.
Dont come with me, she cried, Au revoir, till the evening do you hear? Au revoir!
He returned thoughtful and confused; the riddle lay heavier than ever on his soul. He was troubled about the prince, too, and so bewildered that he did not even observe Rogojins rowdy band crowd past him and step on his toes, at the door as they went out. They were all talking at once. Rogojin went ahead of the others, talking to Ptitsin, and apparently insisting vehemently upon something very important.
Youve lost the game, Gania he cried, as he passed the latter. Gania gazed after him uneasily, but said nothing.
XI
The prince now left the room and shut himself up in his own chamber. Colia followed him almost at once, anxious to do what he could to console him. The poor boy seemed to be already so attached to him that he could hardly leave him.
You were quite right to go away! he said. The row will rage there worse than ever now; and its like this every day with us and all through that Nastasia Philipovna.
You have so many sources of trouble here, Colia, said the prince.
Yes, indeed, and it is all our own fault. But I have a great friend who is much worse off even than we are. Would you like to know him?
Yes, very much. Is he one of your school-fellows?
Well, not exactly. I will tell you all about him some day . What do you think of Nastasia Philipovna? She is beautiful, isnt she? I had never seen her before, though I had a great wish to do so. She fascinated me. I could forgive Gania if he were to marry her for love, but for money! Oh dear! that is horrible!