But you see, they want to amuse themselves too; and--and the insignificant ones have to take care of what they have, it seems to me--and if you're of the same mind, Silla, we'll go in to your mother at once--this very moment." He took her by the hand to carry out his intention.
"You must be mad, Nikolai," she exclaimed in terror; the resolution was as terrible as it was unexpected.

"No, no, let it be," she begged in an eager whisper.

"Think of mother! Have you quite forgotten what mother is like?
It will be time enough when we've got something to marry on." "Time enough?
No, it's not time enough for me, Silla.

I must try and get it said now." "And what will happen to me at home afterwards?
And you're not dressed for it either, this evening." "Oh, don't be afraid, Mr.Nikolai.I may as well see with my own eyes how highly my daughter condescends to respect her mother who is left a poor defenceless widow." It was Mrs.Holman's own voice; she was standing in the gateway, looking preternaturally large.
"I thought I had gone through the worst that could be, when Holman died, and that I should be spared the pain of catching my own flesh and blood out, without leave, in conversation in the street, in the middle of the snow.

Neither should I have thought that that person would ever presume to come so near my house.