Muishkin himself came in very timidly. He seemed to feel his way, and looked in each person’s eyes in a questioning way⁠—for Aglaya was absent, which fact alarmed him at once.

This evening there were no strangers present⁠—no one but the immediate members of the family. Prince S⁠⸺ was still in town, occupied with the affairs of Evgenie Pavlovitch’s uncle.

“I wish at least he would come and say something!” complained poor Lizabetha Prokofievna.

The general sat still with a most preoccupied air. The sisters were looking very serious and did not speak a word, and Lizabetha Prokofievna did not know how to commence the conversation.

At length she plunged into an energetic and hostile criticism of railways, and glared at the prince defiantly.