Chapter 12

           Itwassevenintheevening,andtheprincewasjustpreparingtogooutforawalkinthepark,whensuddenlyMrs.Epanchinappearedontheterrace.

           “Inthefirstplace,don’tdaretosuppose,”shebegan,“thatIamgoingtoapologize.Nonsense!Youwereentirelytoblame.”

           Theprinceremainedsilent.

           “Wereyoutoblame,ornot?”

           “No,certainlynot,nomorethanyourself,thoughatfirstIthoughtIwas.”

           “Oh,verywell,let’ssitdown,atallevents,forIdon’tintendtostandupallday.Andremember,ifyousay,onewordabout‘mischievousurchins,’Ishallgoawayandbreakwithyoualtogether.Nowthen,didyou,ordidyounot,sendalettertoAglaya,acoupleofmonthsorsoago,aboutEaster-tide?”

           “Yes!”

           “Whatfor?Whatwasyourobject?Showmetheletter.”Mrs.Epanchin’seyesflashed;shewasalmosttremblingwithimpatience.

           “Ihavenotgottheletter,”saidtheprince,timidly,extremelysurprisedattheturntheconversationhadtaken.“Ifanyonehasit,ifitstillexists,AglayaIvanovnamusthaveit.”

           “Nofinessing,please.Whatdidyouwriteabout?”

           “Iamnotfinessing,andIamnotintheleastafraidoftellingyou;butIdon’tseetheslightestreasonwhyIshouldnothavewritten.”

           “Bequiet,youcantalkafterwards!Whatwastheletterabout?Whyareyoublushing?”

           Theprincewassilent.Atlasthespoke.