“But do wait a minute. Do I try and catch them? I don’t try to catch them in the least. A young man, and a very nice one, has fallen in love with her, and she, I fancy.⁠ ⁠…”

“Oh, yes, you fancy! And how if she really is in love, and he’s no more thinking of marriage than I am!⁠ ⁠… Oh, that I should live to see it! Ah! spiritualism! Ah! Nice! Ah! the ball!” And the prince, imagining that he was mimicking his wife, made a mincing curtsey at each word. “And this is how we’re preparing wretchedness for Kitty; and she’s really got the notion into her head.⁠ ⁠…”

“But what makes you suppose so?”

“I don’t suppose; I know. We have eyes for such things, though womenfolk haven’t. I see a man who has serious intentions, that’s Levin: and I see a peacock, like this feather-head, who’s only amusing himself.”

“Oh, well, when once you get an idea into your head!⁠ ⁠…”