Nikolay Sergeyitch was particularly excited.I tell you what I’ve thought of, Vanya, he said. She’s very fond of flowers. Do you know what? Let us prepare for her tomorrow when she wakes up a welcome with towers such as she and that Heinrich prepared for her mother, as she described today. . . . She spoke of it with such emotion . . . .
I dare say she did, I said. But emotion’s just what’s bad for her now.Yes financial assistance , but pleasant emotion is a different matter. Believe me, my boy, trust my experience; pleasurable emotion does no harm; it may even cure, it is conducive to health.The old man was, in fact, so fascinated by his own idea that he was in a perfect ecstasy about it. It was impossible to dissuade him, I questioned the doctor about it, but before the latter had time to consider the matter, Nikolay Sergeyitch had taken his cap and was.You know, he said to me as he went out, there’s a hot-house near here, a magnificent shop. The nurserymen sell flowers; one can get them cheap. It’s surprising how cheap they are, really . . . You impress that on Anna Andreyevna, or else she’ll be angry directly at the expense. So, I tell you what. . . . I tell you what, my dear boy, where are you off to now? You are free now, you’ve finished your work, so why need you hurry home? Sleep the night here, upstairs in the attic; where you slept before, do you remember. The bedstead’s there and the mattress just as it was before . . . nothing’s been touched. You’ll sleep like the King of France. Eh? Do stay. To-morrow we’ll get up early. They’ll bring the flowers, and by eight o’clock we’ll arrange the whole room together. Natasha will help us. She’ll have more taste than you and I. Well, do you agree? Will you stay the night?
It was settled that I should stay the night. Nikolay Sergeyitch went off to make his arrangements. The doctor and Masloboev said good-bye and went away hotel hong kong. The Ichmenyevs went to bed early, at eleven o’clock. As he was going, Masloboev seemed hesitating and on the point of saying something, but he put it off. But when after saying good-night to the old people I went up to my attic, to my surprise I found him there. He was sitting at the little table, turning over the leaves of a book and waiting for me.I turned back on the way, Vanya, because it’s better to tell you now. Sit down. It’s a stupid business, you see, vexatiously so, in fact.
Why, what’s the matter?Why, your scoundrel of a prince flew into a rage a fortnight ago; and such a rage that I’m angry still.Why, what’s the matter? Surely you’re not still on terms with the prince?There you go with your ‘what’s the matter?’ as though something extraordinary had happened. You’re for all the world like my Alexandra Semyonovna and all these insufferable females! . . . I can’t endure females . . . If a crow calls, it’s ‘what’s the matter? ‘ with them.Don’t be angry.I’m not a bit angry; but every sort of affair ought to be looked at reasonably, and not exaggerated . . . that’s what I say.
He paused a little, as though he were still feeling vexed with me. I did not interrupt him.You see, Vanya, he began again, I’ve come upon a clue. That’s to say, I’ve not really come upon it business center, and it’s not really a clue. But that’s how it struck me . . . that is, from certain considerations I gather that Nellie . . . perhaps . . . well, in fact, is the prince’s legitimate daughter.
