Section 14: Chapter 20 Summary

In Chapter 20, Mme. Petrovich announces the next day that she is moving back to town. M. Petrovich talks to her, but her plans do not change. That evening, M. Petrovich takes Count Malevsky to the hall and forbids him to set foot in the house again, and the count vanishes. The Petrovichs prepare to return to town, and M. Petrovich convinces his wife not to start a public scandal. Mme. Petrovich sends her compliments to Princess Zasyekin with the excuse of poor health as the reason preventing her from taking a proper leave. Vladimir is in a daze, unable to understand why Zinaida would ruin herself on someone unavailable like his father. He recalls Dr. Looshin's words about sacrificing oneself being the height of bliss for some people. Vladimir sees Zinaida in the window and is unable to leave without a...