Very well, I am going, said Alyosha; only I dont know you and I dont tease you. They told me how they tease you, but I dont want to tease you. Goodby!
Monk in silk trousers! cried the boy, following Alyosha with the same vindictive and defiant expression, and he threw himself into an attitude of defense, feeling sure that now Alyosha would fall upon him; but Alyosha turned, looked at him, and walked away. He had not gone three steps before the biggest stone the boy had in his pocket hit him a painful blow in the back.
So youll hit a man from behind! They tell the truth, then, when they say that you attack on the sly, said Alyosha, turning round again. This time the boy threw a stone savagely right into Alyoshas face; but Alyosha just had time to guard himself, and the stone struck him on the elbow.
Arent you ashamed? What have I done to you? he cried.
The boy waited in silent defiance, certain that now Alyosha would attack him. Seeing that even now he would not, his rage was like a little wild beasts; he flew at Alyosha himself, and before Alyosha had time to move, the spiteful child had seized his left hand with both of his and bit his middle finger. He fixed his teeth in it and it was ten seconds before he let go. Alyosha cried out with pain and pulled his finger away with all his might. The child let go at last and retreated to his former distance. Alyoshas finger had been badly bitten to the bone, close to the nail; it began to bleed. Alyosha took out his handkerchief and bound it tightly round his injured hand. He was a full minute bandaging it. The boy stood waiting all the time. At last Alyosha raised his gentle eyes and looked at him.
Very well, he said, you see how badly youve bitten me. Thats enough, isnt it? Now tell me, what have I done to you?
The boy stared in amazement.
Though I dont know you and its the first time Ive seen you, Alyosha went on with the same serenity, yet I must have done something to youyou wouldnt have hurt me like this for nothing. So what have I done? How have I wronged you, tell me?
Instead of answering, the boy broke into a loud tearful wail and ran away. Alyosha walked slowly after him towards Mihailovsky Street, and for a long time he saw the child running in the distance as fast as ever, not turning his head, and no doubt still keeping up his tearful wail. He made up his mind to find him out as soon as he had time, and to solve this mystery. Just now he had not the time.
Very well, he said, you see how badly youve bitten me. Thats enough, isnt it? Now tell me, what have I done to you?
The boy stared in amazement.
Though I dont know you and its the first time Ive seen you, Alyosha went on with the same serenity, yet I must have done something to youyou wouldnt have hurt me like this for nothing. So what have I done? How have I wronged you, tell me?
Instead of answering, the boy broke into a loud tearful wail and ran away. Alyosha walked slowly after him towards Mihailovsky Street, and for a long time he saw the child running in the distance as fast as ever, not turning his head, and no doubt still keeping up his tearful wail. He made up his mind to find him out as soon as he had time, and to solve this mystery. Just now he had not the time.
Chapter IV.
At the Hohlakovs
Alyosha soon reached Madame Hohlakovs house, a handsome stone house of two stories, one of the finest in our town. Though Madame Hohlakov spent most of her time in another province where she had an estate, or in Moscow, where she had a house of her own, yet she had a house in our town too, inherited from her forefathers. The estate in our district was the largest of her three estates, yet she had been very little in our province before this time. She ran out to Alyosha in the hall.
Did you get my letter about the new miracle? She spoke rapidly and nervously.
Yes.
Did you show it to every one? He restored the son to his mother!
He is dying today, said Alyosha.
I have heard, I know, oh, how I long to talk to you, to you or some one, about all this. No, to you, to you! And how sorry I am I cant see him! The whole town is in excitement, they are all suspense. But nowdo you know Katerina Ivanovna is here now?
Ah, thats lucky, cried Alyosha. Then I shall see her here. She told me yesterday to be sure to come and see her today.
I know, I know all. Ive heard exactly what happened yesterdayand the atrocious behavior of thatcreature. Cest tragique, and if Id been in her place I dont know what I should have done. And your brother Dmitri Fyodorovitch, what do you think of him?my goodness! Alexey Fyodorovitch, I am forgetting, only fancy; your brother is in there with her, not that dreadful brother who was so shocking yesterday, but the other, Ivan Fyodorovitch, he is sitting with her talking; they are having a serious conversation. If you could only imagine whats passing between them nowits awful, I tell you its lacerating, its like some incredible tale of horror. They are ruining their lives for no reason any one can see. They both recognize it and revel in it. Ive been watching for you! Ive been thirsting for you! Its too much for me, thats the worst of it. Ill tell you all about it presently, but now I must speak of something else, the most important thingI had quite forgotten whats most important. Tell me, why has Lise been in hysterics? As soon as she heard you were here, she began to be hysterical!
Maman, its you who are hysterical now, not I, Lises voice caroled through a tiny crack of the door at the side. Her voice sounded as though she wanted to laugh, but was doing her utmost to control it. Alyosha at once noticed the crack, and no doubt Lise was peeping through it, but that he could not see.
And no wonder, Lise, no wonder your caprices will make me hysterical too. But she is so ill, Alexey Fyodorovitch, she has been so ill all night, feverish and moaning! I could hardly wait for the morning and for Herzenstube to come. He says that he can make nothing of it, that we must wait. Herzenstube always comes and says that he can make nothing of it. As soon as you approached the house, she screamed, fell into hysterics, and insisted on being wheeled back into this room here.
Mamma, I didnt know he had come. It wasnt on his account I wanted to be wheeled into this room.
Thats not true, Lise, Yulia ran to tell you that Alexey Fyodorovitch was coming. She was on the lookout for you.
My darling mamma, its not at all clever of you. But if you want to make up for it and say something very clever, dear mamma, youd better tell our honored visitor, Alexey Fyodorovitch, that he has shown his want of wit by venturing to us after what happened yesterday and although every one is laughing at him.
Lise, you go too far. I declare I shall have to be severe. Who laughs at him? I am so glad he has come, I need him, I cant do without him. Oh, Alexey Fyodorovitch, I am exceedingly unhappy!
But whats the matter with you, mamma, darling?
Ah, your caprices, Lise, your fidgetiness, your illness, that awful night of fever, that awful everlasting Herzenstube, everlasting, everlasting, thats the worst of it! Everything, in fact, everything. Even that miracle, too! Oh, how it has upset me, how it has shattered me, that miracle, dear Alexey Fyodorovitch! And that tragedy in the drawingroom, its more than I can bear, I warn you. I cant bear it. A comedy, perhaps, not a tragedy. Tell me, will Father Zossima live till tomorrow, will he? Oh, my God! What is happening to me? Every minute I close my eyes and see that its all nonsense, all nonsense.
I should be very grateful, Alyosha interrupted suddenly, if you could give me a clean rag to bind up my finger with. I have hurt it, and its very painful.
Alyosha unbound his bitten finger. The handkerchief was soaked with blood. Madame Hohlakov screamed and shut her eyes.
Good heavens, what a wound, how awful!
But as soon as Lise saw Alyoshas finger through the crack, she flung the door wide open.
Come, come here, she cried, imperiously. No nonsense now! Good heavens, why did you stand there saying nothing about it all this time? He might have bled to death, mamma! How did you do it? Water, water! You must wash it first of all, simply hold it in cold water to stop the pain, and keep it there, keep it there. Make haste, mamma, some water in a slopbasin. But do make haste, she finished nervously. She was quite frightened at the sight of Alyoshas wound.
Shouldnt we send for Herzenstube? cried Madame Hohlakov.
Mamma, youll be the death of me. Your Herzenstube will come and say that he can make nothing of it! Water, water! Mamma, for goodness sake go yourself and hurry Yulia, she is such a slowcoach and never can come quickly! Make haste, mamma, or I shall die.
Why, its nothing much, cried Alyosha, frightened at this alarm.
Yulia ran in with water and Alyosha put his finger in it.
Some lint, mamma, for mercys sake, bring some lint and that muddy caustic lotion for wounds, whats it called? Weve got some. You know where the bottle is, mamma; its in your bedroom in the righthand cupboard, theres a big bottle of it there with the lint.
Ill bring everything in a minute, Lise, only dont scream and dont fuss. You see how bravely Alexey Fyodorovitch bears it. Where did you get such a dreadful wound, Alexey Fyodorovitch?
Madame Hohlakov hastened away. This was all Lise was waiting for.
First of all, answer the question, where did you get hurt like this? she asked Alyosha, quickly. And then Ill talk to you about something quite different. Well?
Madame Hohlakov hastened away. This was all Lise was waiting for.
First of all, answer the question, where did you get hurt like this? she asked Alyosha, quickly. And then Ill talk to you about something quite different. Well?
Instinctively feeling that the time of her mothers absence was precious for her, Alyosha hastened to tell her of his enigmatic meeting with the schoolboys in the fewest words possible. Lise clasped her hands at his story.
How can you, and in that dress too, associate with schoolboys? she cried angrily, as though she had a right to control him. You are nothing but a boy yourself if you can do that, a perfect boy! But you must find out for me about that horrid boy and tell me all about it, for theres some mystery in it. Now for the second thing, but first a question: does the pain prevent you talking about utterly unimportant things, but talking sensibly?
Of course not, and I dont feel much pain now.