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But what is the matter with you? And what is this message may I ask, or is it a secret? Rakitin put in inquisitively, doing his best to pretend not to notice the snubs that were being continually aimed at him. Ech, its not a secret, and you know it, too, Grushenka said, in a voice suddenly anxious, turning her head towards Rakitin, and drawing a little away from Alyosha, though she still sat on his knee with her arm round his neck. My officer is coming, Rakitin, my officer is coming. I heard he was coming, but is he so near? He is at Mokroe now, hell send a messenger from there, so he wrote. I got a letter from him to-day. I am expecting the messenger every minute. You dont say so! Why at Mokroe? Thats a long story, Ive told you enough. Mityall be up to something nowI say! Does he know or doesnt he? He know! Of course he doesnt. If he knew, there would be murder. But I am not afraid of that now, I am not afraid of his knife. Be quiet, Rakitin, dont remind me of Dmitri Fyodorovitch, he has bruised my heart. And I dont want to think of that at this moment. I can think of Alyosha here, I can look at Alyosha smile at me, dear, cheer up, smile at my foolishness, at my pleasure. Ah, hes smiling, hes smiling! How kindly he looks at me! And you know, Alyosha, Ive been thinking all this time you were angry with me, because of the day before yesterday, because of that young lady. I was a cur, thats the truth. But its a good thing it happened so. It was a horrid thing, but a good thing too. Grushenka smiled dreamily, and a little cruel line showed in her smile. Mitya told me that she screamed out that I ought to be flogged. I did insult her dreadfully. She sent for me, she wanted to make a conquest of me, to win me over with her chocolate. No, its a good thing it did end like that. She smiled again. But I am still afraid of your being angry. Yes, thats really true, Rakitin put in suddenly with genuine surprise. Alyosha, she is really afraid of a chicken like you. He is a chicken to you, Rakitin because youve no conscience, thats what it is! You see, I love him with all my soul, thats how it is! Alyosha, do you believe I love you with all my soul? Ah, you shameless woman! She is making you a declaration, Alexey! Well, what of it, I love him! And what about your officer? And the priceless message from Mokroe? That is quite different. Thats a womans way of looking at it! Dont you make me angry, Rakitin. Grushenka caught him up hotly. This is quite different. I love Alyosha in a different way. Its true, Alyosha, I had sly designs on you before. For I am a horrid, violent creature. But at other times Ive looked upon you, Alyosha, as my conscience. Ive kept thinking how any one like that must despise a nasty thing like me. I thought that the day before yesterday, as I ran home from the young ladys. I have thought of you a long time in that way, Alyosha, and Mitya knows, Ive talked to him about it. Mitya understands. Would you believe it, I sometimes look at you and feel ashamed, utterly ashamed of myself. And how, and since when, I began to think about you like that, I cant say, I dont remember Fenya came in and put a tray with an uncorked bottle and three glasses of champagne on the table. |
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