How’s that?
I don’t understand.
But I say, Natasha, oughtn’t I to make haste and go to him?
I’ll be with you as soon as it’s light tomorrow.”
“Yes, go, darling, go.
You were right to think of it.
And be sure to show yourself to him, do you hear?
And come tomorrow as. early as you can.
You won’t run away from me for five days now?” she added slyly, with a caressing glance.
We were all in a state of quiet, unruffled joy.
“Are you coming with me, Vanya?” cried Alyosha as he went out.
“No, he’ll stay a little. I’ve something more to say to you, Vanya.
Mind, quite early tomorrow.”
“Quite early.
Goodnight, Mavra.”
Mavra was in great excitement.
She had listened to all the prince said, she had overheard it all, but there was much she had not understood.
She was Longing to ask questions, and make surmises.
But meantime she looked serious, and even proud.
She, too, realized that much was changed.
We remained alone.
Natasha took my hand, and for some time was silent, as though seeking for something to say.
“I’m tired,” she said at last in a weak voice. “ Listen, are you going to them tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
“Tell mamma, but don’t speak to him.”
“I never speak of you to him, anyway.”
“Of course; he’ll find out without that.
But notice what he says.
How he takes it.
Good heavens, Vanya, will he really curse me for this marriage?
No, impossible.”
“The prince will have to make everything right,” I put in hurriedly.
“They must be reconciled and then everything will go smoothly.”
“My God!
If that could only be!
If that could only be!” she cried imploringly.
“Don’t worry yourself, Natasha, everything will come right.
Everything points to it.”
She looked at me intently.
“Vanya, what do you think of the prince?”
“If he was sincere in what he said, then to my thinking he’s a really generous man.”
“Sincere in what he said?
What does that mean?
Surely he couldn’t have been speaking insincerely?”
“I agree with you,” I answered.
“Then some idea did occur to her,” I thought.
“That’s strange!”
“You kept looking at him . . . so intently.”
“Yes, I thought him rather strange.”
“I thought so too.