Chapter 5

           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.