fering 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 Gania's eyes flashing at him, as though they would
gladly annihilate him then and there.

"That's 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, wasn't it? You, Rogojin, wait
a moment, don't go yet! I see you don't 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 child's invitation to ruin
him, did you?" she cried. "That's Totski's way, not mine. He's fond of
children. Come along, Rogojin, get your money ready! We won't ta