The Hedgehog's Message — The Idiot

Varia had rather exaggerated the certainty of her news as to the prince's betrothal to Aglaya. Something strange seemed to have happened, without anything definite having actually happened. Would the prince do or not. Was all this good or bad. Lizabetha's heart had been sore a long while. They remark that they had seen it at the time of the poor knight joke, and even before, though they had been unwilling to believe in such nonsense.

Aglaya keeps him waiting half an hour, then asks for chess, and beats him easily. She laughs and chaffs him until one is quite sorry to see his wretched expression. Then little fools. She cheats and changes cards and steals others in the most bare-faced way, and he beats her hopelessly five times running. She is left little fool each time. She loses her temper and says such awful things that he grows dreadfully pale. She comes back because Colia has brought a hedgehog. Kostia Lebedeff is too shy to come in, because he is carrying a hatchet. They paid fifty copecks, and the hatchet had so taken their fancy that they bought it of their own accord. The money was for Schlosser's History. They succumbed to the temptation. Aglaya coaxes. Dear Colia. She puts the hedgehog in a wicker basket, covers it with a napkin, and sends it to the prince as a token of my profound respect. Colia demands explanations. I am sure that there is some allegory about it. She calls him a silly boy.

At tea she is absent at first, which alarms him. Then, before the family: Do you intend to ask for my hand, or not. Yes. I do ask for it. The prince is more dead than alive. An important moment of my destiny is about to be decided. How do you consider that you will provide for my happiness. I don't quite know how to answer. Later she goes to him timidly. Forgive a silly, horrid, spoilt girl, and be quite assured that we all of us esteem you beyond all words. Forgive me all my absurdity of just now, which, of course, meant nothing. Hippolyte, before he will let the prince leave, asks one more question. How do you think I ought to die, now. The best, the most virtuous way. You should pass us by and forgive us our happiness. Ha, ha, ha. I thought I should hear something like that. Eloquence, eloquence. Good-bye.