But Rogojin understood how things were tending, at last. An inexpressibly painful expression came over his face. He wrung his hands; a groan made its way up from the depths of his soul.
Surrender her, for Gods sake! he said to the prince.
All around burst out laughing.
What? Surrender her to YOU? cried Daria Alexeyevna. To a fellow who comes and bargains for a wife like a moujik! The prince wishes to marry her, and you
So do I, so do I! This moment, if I could! Id give every farthing I have to do it.
You drunken moujik, said Daria Alexeyevna, once more. You ought to be kicked out of the place.
The laughter became louder than ever.
Do you hear, prince? said Nastasia Philipovna. Do you hear how this moujik of a fellow goes on bargaining for your bride?
He is drunk, said the prince, quietly, and he loves you very much.
Wont you be ashamed, afterwards, to reflect that your wife very nearly ran away with Rogojin?
Oh, you were raving, you were in a fever; you are still half delirious.
And wont you be ashamed when they tell you, afterwards, that your wife lived at Totskis expense so many years?
No; I shall not be ashamed of that. You did not so live by your own will.
And youll never reproach me with it?
Never.
Take care, dont commit yourself for a whole lifetime.
Nastasia Philipovna. said the prince, quietly, and with deep emotion, I said before that I shall esteem your consent to be my wife as a great honour to myself, and shall consider that it is you who will honour me, not I you, by our marriage. You laughed at these words, and others around us laughed as well; I heard them. Very likely I expressed myself funnily, and I may have looked funny, but, for all that, I believe I understand where honour lies, and what I said was but the literal truth. You were about to ruin yourself just now, irrevocably; you would never have forgiven yourself for so doing afterwards; and yet, you are absolutely blameless. It is impossible that your life should be altogether ruined at your age. What matter that Rogojin came bargaining here, and that Gavrila Ardalionovitch would have deceived you if he could? Why do you continually remind us of these facts? I assure you once more that very few could find it in them to act as you have acted this day. As for your wish to go with Rogojin, that was simply the idea of a delirious and suffering brain. You are still quite feverish; you ought to be in bed, not here. You know quite well that if you had gone with Rogojin, you would have become a washer-woman next day, rather than stay with him. You are proud, Nastasia Philipovna, and perhaps you have really suffered so much that you imagine yourself to be a desperately guilty woman. You require a great deal of petting and looking after, Nastasia Philipovna, and I will do this. I saw your portrait this morning, and it seemed quite a familiar face to me; it seemed to me that the portrait- face was calling to me for help. I-I shall respect you all my life, Nastasia Philipovna, concluded the prince, as though suddenly recollecting himself, and blushing to think of the sort of company before whom he had said all this.
Ptitsin bowed his head and looked at the ground, overcome by a mixture of feelings. Totski muttered to himself: He may be an idiot, but he knows that flattery is the best road to success here.
The prince observed Ganias eyes flashing at him, as though they would gladly annihilate him then and there.
Thats a kind-hearted man, if you like, said Daria Alexeyevna, whose wrath was quickly evaporating.
A refined man, but lost, murmured the general.
Totski took his hat and rose to go. He and the general exchanged glances, making a private arrangement, thereby, to leave the house together.
Thank you, prince; no one has ever spoken to me like that before, began Nastasia Philipovna. Men have always bargained for me, before this; and not a single respectable man has ever proposed to marry me. Do you hear, Afanasy Ivanovitch? What do YOU think of what the prince has just been saying? It was almost immodest, wasnt it? You, Rogojin, wait a moment, dont go yet! I see you dont intend to move however. Perhaps I may go with you yet. Where did you mean to take me to?
To Ekaterinhof, replied Lebedeff. Rogojin simply stood staring, with trembling lips, not daring to believe his ears. He was stunned, as though from a blow on the head.
What are you thinking of, my dear Nastasia? said Daria Alexeyevna in alarm. What are you saying? You are not going mad, are you?
Nastasia Philipovna burst out laughing and jumped up from the sofa.
You thought I should accept this good childs invitation to ruin him, did you? she cried. Thats Totskis way, not mine. Hes fond of children. Come along, Rogojin, get your money ready! We wont talk about marrying just at this moment, but lets see the money at all events. Come! I may not marry you, either. I dont know. I suppose you thought youd keep the money, if I did! Ha, ha, ha! nonsense! I have no sense of shame left. I tell you I have been Totskis concubine. Prince, you must marry Aglaya Ivanovna, not Nastasia Philipovna, or this fellow Ferdishenko will always be pointing the finger of scorn at you. You arent afraid, I know; but I should always be afraid that I had ruined you, and that you would reproach me for it. As for what you say about my doing you honour by marrying you-well, Totski can tell you all about that. You had your eye on Aglaya, Gania, you know you had; and you might have married her if you had not come bargaining. You are all like this. You should choose, once for all, between disreputable women, and respectable ones, or you are sure to get mixed. Look at the general, how hes staring at me!