Ідіот

           Shedidit,Iknow,fromsheermischief,tospitehermother,forsheisanaughty,capriciousgirl,arealspoiledchildspitefulandmischievoustoadegree!AndthenAlexandrawantedtoshaveherhead,notfromcapriceormischief,but,likealittlefool,simplybecauseAglayapersuadedhershewouldsleepbetterwithoutherhair,andnotsufferfromheadache!Andhowmanysuitorshavetheynothadduringthelastfiveyears!Excellentoffers,too!Whatmoredotheywant?Whydon’ttheygetmarried?Fornootherreasonthantovextheirmother—none—none!”

           ButLizabethaProkofievnafeltsomewhatconsoledwhenshecouldsaythatoneofhergirls,Adelaida,wassettledatlast.“Itwillbeoneoffourhands!”shedeclaredaloud,thoughinprivatesheexpressedherselfwithgreatertenderness.Theengagementwasbothhappyandsuitable,andwasthereforeapprovedinsociety.PrinceS.wasadistinguishedman,hehadmoney,andhisfuturewifewasdevotedtohim;whatmorecouldbedesired?LizabethaProkofievnahadfeltlessanxiousaboutthisdaughter,however,althoughsheconsideredherartistictastessuspicious.Buttomakeupforthemshewas,ashermotherexpressedit,“merry,”andhadplentyof“common-sense.”ItwasAglaya’sfuturewhichdisturbedhermost.Withregardtohereldestdaughter,Alexandra,themotherneverquiteknewwhethertherewascauseforanxietyornot.Sometimesshefeltasiftherewasnothingtobeexpectedfromher.