, whohadlongnoticedwhatwasgoingonbetweenthemandwasexpectingthisdeclaration, listenedtohiminsilenceandthentoldhersonthathemightmarrywhomhepleased, , forthefirsttime, feltthathismotherwasdispleasedwithhimandthat, despiteherloveforhim, , withoutlookingatherson, shesentforherhusbandand, whenhecame, triedbrieflyandcoldlytoinformhimofthefacts, inherson'spresence, , andhisfather, sighingandevidentlydisconcerted, , thecountwasalwaysconsciousofhisownguilttowardhimforhavingwastedthefamilyfortune, , hewasonlymorevividlyconsciousofthefactthatifhisaffairshadnotbeenindisorder, nobetterwifeforNicholasthanSonyacouldhavebeenwishedfor, andthatnoonebuthimselfwithhisMitenkaandhisuncomfortablehabitswastoblamefortheconditionofthefamilyfinances.
Thefatherandmotherdidnotspeakofthemattertotheirsonagain, butafewdayslaterthecountesssentforSonyaand, withacrueltyneitherofthemexpected, ' cruelwords, -sacrificewashermostcherishedideabutinthiscaseshecouldnotseewhatsheoughttosacrifice, , , thenhethreatenedthatifshemolestedSonyahewouldatoncemarryhersecretly.
Thecountess, withacoldnesshersonhadneverseeninherbefore, repliedthathewasofage, thatPrinceAndrewwasmarryingwithouthisfather'sconsent, andhecoulddothesame, butthatshewouldneverreceivethatintriguerasherdaughter.
