Simply as a descriptive touch, or with the idea of prepossessing me in favour of Mr. Luzhin?
Oh, the cunning of them!
I should like to know one thing more: how far they were open with one another that day and night and all this time since?
Was it all put into _words_, or did both understand that they had the same thing at heart and in their minds, so that there was no need to speak of it aloud, and better not to speak of it.
Most likely it was partly like that, from mother's letter it's evident: he struck her as rude _a little_, and mother in her simplicity took her observations to Dounia.
And she was sure to be vexed and 'answered her angrily.'
I should think so!
Who would not be angered when it was quite clear without any naive questions and when it was understood that it was useless to discuss it.
And why does she write to me, 'love Dounia, Rodya, and she loves you more than herself'? Has she a secret conscience-prick at sacrificing her daughter to her son?
'You are our one comfort, you are everything to us.'
Oh, mother!"
His bitterness grew more and more intense, and if he had happened to meet Mr. Luzhin at the moment, he might have murdered him.
"Hm... yes, that's true," he continued, pursuing the whirling ideas that chased each other in his brain, "it is true that 'it needs time and care to get to know a man,' but there is no mistake about Mr. Luzhin.
The chief thing is he is 'a man of business and _seems_ kind,' that was something, wasn't it, to send the bags and big box for them!
A kind man, no doubt after that!
But his _bride_ and her mother are to drive in a peasant's cart covered with sacking (I know, I have been driven in it).
No matter!
It is only ninety versts and then they can 'travel very comfortably, third class,' for a thousand versts!
Quite right, too. One must cut one's coat according to one's cloth, but what about you, Mr. Luzhin?
She is your bride....
And you must be aware that her mother has to raise money on her pension for the journey.
To be sure it's a matter of business, a partnership for mutual benefit, with equal shares and expenses;--food and drink provided, but pay for your tobacco.
The business man has got the better of them, too. The luggage will cost less than their fares and very likely go for nothing.
How is it that they don't both see all that, or is it that they don't want to see?
And they are pleased, pleased!
And to think that this is only the first blossoming, and that the real fruits are to come!
But what really matters is not the stinginess, is not the meanness, but the _tone_ of the whole thing.
For that will be the tone after marriage, it's a foretaste of it.
And mother too, why should she be so lavish?
What will she have by the time she gets to Petersburg?
Three silver roubles or two 'paper ones' as _she_ says.... that old woman... hm.
What does she expect to live upon in Petersburg afterwards?
She has her reasons already for guessing that she _could not_ live with Dounia after the marriage, even for the first few months.
The good man has no doubt let slip something on that subject also, though mother would deny it:
'I shall refuse,' says she.
On whom is she reckoning then? Is she counting on what is left of her hundred and twenty roubles of pension when Afanasy Ivanovitch's debt is paid?
She knits woollen shawls and embroiders cuffs, ruining her old eyes.
And all her shawls don't add more than twenty roubles a year to her hundred and twenty, I know that.
So she is building all her hopes all the time on Mr. Luzhin's generosity; 'he will offer it of himself, he will press it on me.'
You may wait a long time for that!
That's how it always is with these Schilleresque noble hearts; till the last moment every goose is a swan with them, till the last moment, they hope for the best and will see nothing wrong, and although they have an inkling of the other side of the picture, yet they won't face the truth till they are forced to; the very thought of it makes them shiver; they thrust the truth away with both hands, until the man they deck out in false colours puts a fool's cap on them with his own hands.
I should like to know whether Mr. Luzhin has any orders of merit; I bet he has the Anna in his buttonhole and that he puts it on when he goes to dine with contractors or merchants.
He will be sure to have it for his wedding, too!
Enough of him, confound him!
"Well,... mother I don't wonder at, it's like her, God bless her, but how could Dounia?
Dounia darling, as though I did not know you!
You were nearly twenty when I saw you last: I understood you then.
Mother writes that
'Dounia can put up with a great deal.'
I know that very well.