Chapter 7

           Whentheprinceceasedspeakingallweregazingmerrilyathim—evenAglaya;butLizabethaProkofievnalookedthejolliestofall.

           “Well!”shecried,“wehave‘puthimthroughhispaces,’withavengeance!Mydears,youimagined,Ibelieve,thatyouwereabouttopatronizethisyounggentleman,likesomepoorprotégépickedupsomewhere,andtakenunderyourmagnificentprotection.Whatfoolswewere,andwhataspeciallybigfoolisyourfather!Welldone,prince!Iassureyouthegeneralactuallyaskedmetoputyouthroughyourpaces,andexamineyou.Astowhatyousaidaboutmyface,youareabsolutelycorrectinyourjudgment.Iamachild,andknowit.Iknewitlongbeforeyousaidso;youhaveexpressedmyownthoughts.Ithinkyournatureandminemustbeextremelyalike,andIamverygladofit.Weareliketwodropsofwater,onlyyouareamanandIawoman,andI’venotbeentoSwitzerland,andthatisallthedifferencebetweenus.”

           “Don’tbeinahurry,mother;theprincesaysthathehassomemotivebehindhissimplicity,”criedAglaya.

           “Yes,yes,sohedoes,”laughedtheothers.

           “Oh,don’tyoubeginbanteringhim,”saidmamma.“Heisprobablyagooddealclevererthanallthreeofyougirlsputtogether.Weshallsee.Onlyyouhaven’ttoldusanythingaboutAglayayet,prince;andAglayaandIarebothwaitingtohear.”

           “Icannotsayanythingatpresent.I’lltellyouafterwards.