Poor Folk Anthology

by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

  "What does Ivan say? Alyosha, my dear, my only son, I'm afraid of Ivan. I'm more afraid of Ivan than the other. You're the only one I'm not afraid of… ."

  "Don't be afraid of Ivan either. He is angry, but he'll defend you."

  "Alyosha, and what of the other? He's run to Grushenka. My angel, tell me the truth, was she here just now or not?"

  "No one has seen her. It was a mistake. She has not been here."

  "You know Mitya wants to marry her, to marry her."

  "She won't marry him."

  "She won't. She won't. She won't. She won't on any account!"

  The old man fairly fluttered with joy, as though nothing more comforting could have been said to him. In his delight he seized Alyosha's hand and pressed it warmly to his heart. Tears positively glittered in his eyes.

  "That image of the Mother of God of which I was telling you just now," he said. "Take it home and keep it for yourself. And I'll let you go back to the monastery… . I was joking this morning, don't be angry with me. My head aches, Alyosha… . Alyosha, comfort my heart. Be an angel and tell me the truth!"

  "You're still asking whether she has been here or not?" Alyosha said sorrowfully.

  "No, no, no. I believe you. I'll tell you what it is: you go to Grushenka yourself, or see her somehow; make haste and ask her; see for yourself, which she means to choose, him or me. Eh? What? Can you?"

  "If I see her I'll ask her," Alyosha muttered, embarrassed.

  "No, she won't tell you," the old man interrupted, "she's a rogue. She'll begin kissing you and say that it's you she wants. She's a deceitful, shameless hussy. You mustn't go to her, you mustn't!"

  "No father, and it wouldn't be suitable, it wouldn't be right at all."

  "Where was he sending you just now? He shouted 'Go' as he ran away."

  "For money? To ask her for money?"

  "No. Not for money."

  "He's no money; not a farthing. I'll settle down for the night, and think things over, and you can go. Perhaps you'll meet her… . Only be sure to come to me to-morrow in the morning. Be sure to. I have a word to say to you to-morrow. Will you come?"

  "When you come, pretend you've come of your own accord to ask after me. Don't tell anyone I told you to. Don't say a word to Ivan."

  "Very well."

  "Good-bye, my angel. You stood up for me, just now. I shall never forget it. I've a word to say to you to-morrow- but I must think about it."

  "And how do you feel now?"

  "I shall get up to-morrow and go out, perfectly well, perfectly well!"

  Crossing the yard Alyosha found Ivan sitting on the bench at the gateway. He was sitting writing something in pencil in his notebook. Alyosha told Ivan that their father had waked up, was conscious, and had let him go back to sleep at the monastery.

  "Alyosha, I should be very glad to meet you to-morrow morning," said Ivan cordially, standing up. His cordiality was a complete surprise to Alyosha.

  "I shall be at the Hohlakovs' to-morrow," answered Alyosha, "I may be at Katerina Ivanovna's, too, if I don't find her now."

  "But you're going to her now, anyway? For that 'compliments and farewell,'" said Ivan smiling. Alyosha was disconcerted.

  "I think I quite understand his exclamations just now, and part of what went before. Dmitri has asked you to go to her and say that he- well, in fact- takes his leave of her?"

  "Brother, how will all this horror end between father and Dmitri?" exclaimed Alyosha.

  "One can't tell for certain. Perhaps in nothing: it may all fizzle out. That woman is a beast. In any case we must keep the old man indoors and not let Dmitri in the house."

  "Brother, let me ask one thing more: has any man a right to look at other men and decide which is worthy to live?"

  "Why bring in the question of worth? The matter is most often decided in men's hearts on other grounds much more natural. And as for rights- who has not the right to wish?"

  "Not for another man's death?"

  "What even if for another man's death? Why lie to oneself since all men live so and perhaps cannot help living so. Are you referring to what I said just now- that one reptile will devour the other? In that case let me ask you, do you think me like Dmitri capable of shedding Aesop's blood, murdering him, eh?"

  "What are you saying, Ivan? Such an idea never crossed my mind. I don't think Dmitri is capable of it, either."

  "Thanks, if only for that," smiled Ivan. "Be sure, I should always defend him. But in my wishes I reserve myself full latitude in this case. Good-bye till to-morrow. Don't condemn me, and don't look on me as a villain," he added with a smile.

  They shook hands warmly as they had never done before. Alyosha felt that his brother had taken the first step towards him, and that he had certainly done this with some definite motive.

  Chapter 10 Both Together

  widower, he has written, he is coming here, and, do you know, we've loved him, none but him, all this time, and we've loved him all our life! He will come, and Grushenka will be happy again. For the last five years she's been wretched. But who can reproach her, who can boast of her favour? Only that bedridden old merchant, but he is more like her father, her friend, her protector. He found her then in despair, in agony, deserted by the man she loved. She was ready to drown herself then, but the old merchant saved her- saved her!"

  "You defend me very kindly, dear young lady. You are in a great hurry about everything," Grushenka drawled again.

  "Defend you! Is it for me to defend you? Should I dare to defend you? Grushenka, angel, give me your hand. Look at that charming soft little hand, Alexey Fyodorovitch! Look at it! It has brought me happiness and has lifted me up, and I'm going to kiss it, outside and inside, here, here, here!"

  And three times she kissed the certainly charming, though rather fat, hand of Grushenka in a sort of rapture. She held out her hand with a charming musical, nervous little laugh, watched the "sweet young lady," and obviously liked having her hand kissed.

  "Perhaps there's rather too much rapture," thought Alyosha. He blushed. He felt a peculiar uneasiness at heart the whole time.

  "You won't make me blush, dear young lady, kissing my hand like this before Alexey Fyodorovitch."

  "Do you think I meant to make you blush?" said Katerina Ivanovna, somewhat surprised. "Ah my dear, how little you understand me!

  "Yes, and you too perhaps quite misunderstand me, dear young lady. Maybe I'm not so good as I seem to you. I've a bad heart; I will have my own way. I fascinated poor Dmitri Fyodorovitch that day simply for fun."

  "But now you'll save him. You've given me your word. You'll explain it all to him. You'll break to him that you have long loved another man, who is now offering you his hand."

  "Oh, no I didn't give you my word to do that. It was you kept talking about that. I didn't give you my word."

  "Then I didn't quite understand you," said Katerina Ivanovna slowly, turning a little pale. "You promised-"

  "Oh no, angel lady, I've promised nothing," Grushenka interrupted softly and evenly, still with the same gay and simple expression. "You see at once, dear young lady, what a wilful wretch I am compared with you. If I want to do a thing I do it. I may have made you some promise just now. But now again I'm thinking: I may take Mitya again. I liked him very much once- liked him for almost a whole hour. Now maybe I shall go and tell him to stay with me from this day forward. You see, I'm so changeable."

  "Just now you said- something quite different," Katerina Ivanovna whispered faintly.

  "Ah, just now! But, you know, I'm such a soft-hearted, silly creature. Only think what he's gone through on my account! What if when I go home I feel sorry for him? What then?"

  "I never expected-"

  "Ah, young lady, how good and generous you are compared with me! Now perhaps you won't care for a silly creature like me, now you know my character. Give me your sweet little hand, angelic lady," she said tenderly, and with a sort of reverence took Katerina Ivanovna's hand.

  "Here, dear
young lady, I'll take your hand and kiss it as you did mine. You kissed mine three times, but I ought to kiss yours three hundred times to be even with you. Well, but let that pass. And then it shall be as God wills. Perhaps I shall be your slave entirely and want to do your bidding like a slave. Let it be as God wills, without any agreements and promises. What a sweet hand- what a sweet hand you have! You sweet young lady, you incredible beauty!"

  She slowly raised the hands to her lips, with the strange object indeed of "being even" with her in kisses.

  Katerina Ivanovna did not take her hand away. She listened with timid hope to the last words, though Grushenka's promise to do her bidding like a slave was very strangely expressed. She looked intently into her eyes; she still saw in those eyes the same simple-hearted, confiding expression, the same bright gaiety.

  "She's perhaps too naive," thought Katerina Ivanovna, with a gleam of hope.

  Grushenka meanwhile seemed enthusiastic over the "sweet hand." She raised it deliberately to her lips. But she held it for two or three minutes near her lips, as though reconsidering something.

  "Do you know, angel lady," she suddenly drawled in an even more soft and sugary voice, "do you know, after all, I think I won't kiss your hand?" And she laughed a little merry laugh.

  "As you please. What's the matter with you?" said Katerina Ivanovna, starting suddenly.

  "So that you may be left to remember that you kissed my hand, but I didn't kiss yours."

  There was a sudden gleam in her eyes. She looked with awful intentness at Katerina Ivanovna.

  "Insolent creature!" cried Katerina Ivanovna, as though suddenly grasping something. She flushed all over and leapt up from her seat.

  Grushenka too got up, but without haste.

  "So I shall tell Mitya how you kissed my hand, but I didn't kiss yours at all. And how he will laugh!"

  "Vile slut! Go away!"

  "Ah, for shame, young lady! Ah, for shame! That's unbecoming for you, dear young lady, a word like that."

  "Go away! You're a creature for sale" screamed Katerina Ivanovna. Every feature was working in her utterly distorted face.

  "For sale indeed! You used to visit gentlemen in the dusk for money once; you brought your beauty for sale. You see, I know."

  Katerina Ivanovna shrieked, and would have rushed at her, but Alyosha held her with all his strength.

  "Not a step, not a word! Don't speak, don't answer her. She'll go away- she'll go at once."

  At that instant Katerina Ivanovna's two aunts ran in at her cry, and with them a maid-servant. All hurried to her.

  "I will go away," said Grushenka, taking up her mantle from the sofa. "Alyosha, darling, see me home!"

  "Go away- go away, make haste!" cried Alyosha, clasping his hands imploringly.

  "Dear little Alyosha, see me home! I've got a pretty little story to tell you on the way. I got up this scene for your benefit, Alyosha. See me home, dear, you'll be glad of it afterwards."

  Alyosha turned away, wringing his hands. Grushenka ran out of the house, laughing musically.

  Katerina Ivanovna went into a fit of hysterics. She sobbed, and was shaken with convulsions. Everyone fussed round her.

  "I warned you," said the elder of her aunts. "I tried to prevent your doing this. You're too impulsive. How could you do such a thing? You don't know these creatures, and they say she's worse than any of them. You are too self-willed."

  "She's a tigress!" yelled Katerina Ivanovna. "Why did you hold me, Alexey Fyodorovitch? I'd have beaten her- beaten her!"

  She could not control herself before Alyosha; perhaps she did not care to, indeed.

  "She ought to be flogged in public on a scaffold!"

  Alyosha withdrew towards the door.

  "But, my God!" cried Katerina Ivanovna, clasping her hands. "He! He! He could be so dishonourable, so inhuman! Why, he told that creature what happened on that fatal, accursed day! 'You brought your beauty for sale, dear young lady.' She knows it! Your brother's a scoundrel, Alexey Fyodorovitch."

  Alyosha wanted to say something, but he couldn't find a word. His heart ached.

  "Go away, Alexey Fyodorovitch! It's shameful, it's awful for me! To-morrow, I beg you on my knees, come to-morrow. Don't condemm me. Forgive me. I don't know what I shall do with myself now!"

  Alyosha walked out into the street reeling. He could have wept as she did. Suddenly he was overtaken by the maid.

  "The young lady forgot to give you this letter from Madame Hohlakov; it's been left with us since dinner-time."

  Alyosha took the little pink envelope mechanically and put it, almost unconsciously, into his pocket.

  Chapter 11 Another Reputation Ruined

  IT was not much more than three-quarters of a mile from the town to the monastery. Alyosha walked quickly along the road, at that hour deserted. It was almost night, and too dark to see anything clearly at thirty paces ahead. There were cross-roads half-way. A figure came into sight under a solitary willow at the cross-roads. As soon as Alyosha reached the cross-roads the figure moved out and rushed at him, shouting savagely:

  "Your money or your life!"

  "So it's you, Mitya," cried Alyosha, in surprise, violently startled however.

  "Ha ha ha! You didn't expect me? I wondered where to wait for you. By her house? There are three ways from it, and I might have missed you. At last I thought of waiting here, for you had to pass here, there's no other way to the monastery. Come, tell me the truth. Crush me like a beetle. But what's the matter?"

  "Nothing, brother- it's the fright you gave me. Oh, Dmitri! Father's blood just now." (Alyosha began to cry, he had been on the verge of tears for a long time, and now something seemed to snap in his soul.) "You almost killed him- cursed him- and now- here- you're making jokes- 'Your money or your life!'"

  "Well, what of that? It's not seemly- is that it? Not suitable in my position?"

  "No- I only-"

  "Stay. Look at the night. You see what a dark night, what clouds, what a wind has risen. I hid here under the willow waiting for you. And as God's above, I suddenly thought, why go on in misery any longer, what is there to wait for? Here I have a willow, a handkerchief, a shirt, I can twist them into a rope in a minute, and braces besides, and why go on burdening the earth, dishonouring it with my vile presence? And then I heard you coming- Heavens, it was as though something flew down to me suddenly. So there is a man, then, whom I love. Here he is, that man, my dear little brother, whom I love more than anyone in the world, the only one I love in the world. And I loved you so much, so much at that moment that I thought, 'I'll fall on his neck at once.' Then a stupid idea struck me, to have a joke with you and scare you. I shouted, like a fool, 'Your money!' Forgive my foolery- it was only nonsense, and there's nothing unseemly in my soul… . Damn it all, tell me what's happened. What did she say? Strike me, crush me, don't spare me! Was she furious?"

  "No, not that… . There was nothing like that, Mitya. There- I found them both there."

  "Both? Whom?"

  "Grushenka at Katerina Ivanovna's."

  Dmitri was struck dumb.

  "Impossible!" he cried. "You're raving! Grushenka with her?"

  Alyosha described all that had happened from the moment he went in to Katerina Ivanovna's. He was ten minutes telling his story. can't be said to have told it fluently and consecutively, but he seemed to make it clear, not omitting any word or action of significance, and vividly describing, often in one word, his own sensations. Dmitri listened in silence, gazing at him with a terrible fixed stare, but it was clear to Alyosha that he understood it all, and had grasped every point. But as the story went on, his face became not merely gloomy, but menacing. He scowled, he clenched his teeth, and his fixed stare became still more rigid, more concentrated, more terrible, when suddenly, with incredible rapidity, his wrathful, savage face changed, his tightly compressed lips parted, and Dmitri Fyodorovitch broke into uncontrolled, spontaneous laughter. He literally shook with laughter. For a long time he could n
ot speak.

  "So she wouldn't kiss her hand! So she didn't kiss it; so she ran away!" he kept exclaiming with hysterical delight; insolent delight it might had been called, if it had not been so spontaneous. "So the other one called her tigress! And a tigress she is! So she ought to be flogged on a scaffold? Yes, yes, so she ought. That's just what I think; she ought to have been long ago. It's like this, brother, let her be punished, but I must get better first. I understand the queen of impudence. That's her all over! You saw her all over in that hand-kissing, the she-devil! She's magnificent in her own line! So she ran home? I'll go- ah- I'll run to her! Alyosha, don't blame me, I agree that hanging is too good for her."

  "But Katerina Ivanovna!" exclaimed Alyosha sorrowfully.

  "I see her, too! I see right through her, as I've never done before! It's a regular discovery of the four continents of the world, that is, of the five! What a thing to do! That's just like Katya, who was not afraid to face a coarse, unmannerly officer and risk a deadly insult on a generous impulse to save her father! But the pride, the recklessness, the defiance of fate, the unbounded defiance! You say that aunt tried to stop her? That aunt, you know, is overbearing, herself. She's the sister of the general's widow in Moscow, and even more stuck-up than she. But her husband was caught stealing government money. He lost everything, his estate and all, and the proud wife had to lower her colours, and hasn't raised them since. So she tried to prevent Katya, but she wouldn't listen to her! She thinks she can overcome everything, that everything will give way to her. She thought she could bewitch Grushenka if she liked, and she believed it herself: she plays a part to herself, and whose fault is it? Do you think she kissed Grushenka's hand first, on purpose, with a motive? No, she really was fascinated by Grushenka, that's to say, not by Grushenka, but by her own dream, her own delusion- because it was her dream, her delusion! Alyosha, darling, how did you escape from them, those women? Did you pick up your cassock and run? Ha ha ha!"

  "Brother, you don't seem to have noticed how you've insulted Katerina Ivanovna by telling Grushenka about that day. And she flung it in her face just now that she had gone to gentlemen in secret to sell her beauty! Brother, what could be worse than that insult?"