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him. And thats how it must have been, though I say it was Grigory. It certainly was Dmitri Fyodorovitch, and thats better, ever so much better! Oh, not better that a son should have killed his father, I dont defend that. Children ought to honour their parents, and yet it would be better if it were he, as youd have nothing to cry over then, for he did it when he was unconscious or rather when he was conscious, but did not know what he was doing. Let them acquit himthats so humane, and would show what a blessing reformed law courts are. I knew nothing about it, but they say they have been so a long time. And when I heard it yesterday, I was so struck by it that I wanted to send for you at once. And if he is acquitted, make him come straight from the law courts to dinner with me, and Ill have a party of friends, and well drink to the reformed law courts. I dont believe hed be dangerous; besides, Ill invite a great many friends, so that he could always be led out if he did anything. And then he might be made a justice of the peace or something in another town, for those who have been in trouble themselves make the best judges. And, besides, who isnt suffering from aberration, nowadays?you, I, all of us are in a state of aberration, and there are ever so many examples of it: a man sits singing a song, suddenly something annoys him, he takes a pistol and shoots the first person he comes across, and no one blames him for it. I read that lately, and all the doctors confirm it. The doctors are always confirming; they confirm anything. Why, my Lise is in a state of aberration. She made me cry again yesterday, and the day before, too, and today I suddenly realised that its all due to aberration. Oh, Lise grieves me so! I believe shes quite mad. Why did she send for you? Did she send for you or did you come of yourself? Yes, she sent for me, and I am just going to her. Alyosha got up resolutely. Oh, my dear, dear Alexey Fyodorovitch, perhaps thats whats most important, Madame Hohlakov cried, suddenly bursting into tears. God knows I trust Lise to you with all my heart, and its no matter her sending for you on the sly, without telling her mother. But forgive me, I cant trust my daughter so easily to your brother Ivan Fyodorovitch, though I still consider him the most chivalrous young man. But only fancy, hes been to see Lise and I knew nothing about it! How? What? When? Alyosha was exceedingly surprised. He had not sat down again and listened standing. I will tell you, thats perhaps why I asked you to come, for I dont know now why I did ask you to come. Well, Ivan Fyodorovitch has been to see me twice, since he came back from Moscow. First time he came as a friend to call on me, and the second time Katya was here and he came because he heard she was here. I didnt, of course, expect him to come often, knowing what a lot he has to do as it is, vous comprenez, cette affaire et la mort terrible de votre papa. But I suddenly heard hed been here again, not to see me but to see Lise. Thats six days ago now. He came, stayed five minutes, and went away. And I didnt hear of it till three days afterwards, from Glafira, so it was a great shock to me. I sent for Lise directly. She laughed. He thought you were asleep, she said, and came in to me to ask after your health. Of course, thats how it happened. But Lise, Lise, mercy on us, how she distresses me! Would you believe it, one night, four days ago, just after you saw her last time, and had gone away, she suddenly had a fit, screaming, shrieking, hysterics! Why is it I never have hysterics? Then, next day another fit and the same thing on the third, and yesterday too, and then yesterday that aberration. She suddenly screamed out, I hate Ivan Fyodorovitch. I insist on your never letting him come to the house again. I was struck dumb at these amazing words, and answered, On what grounds could I refuse to see such an excellent young man, a young man of such learning too, and so unfortunate, for all this business is a misfortune, isnt it? She suddenly burst out laughing at my words, and so rudely, you know. Well, I was pleased, I thought I had amused her and the fits would pass off, especially as I wanted to refuse to see Ivan Fyodorovitch any way on account of his strange visits without my knowledge, and meant to ask him for an explanation. But early this morning Lise waked and flew into a passion with Yulia and, would you believe it, slapped her in the face. Thats monstrous, I am always polite to my servants. And an hour later she was hugging Yulias feet and kissing them. She sent a message to me, that she wasnt coming to me at all, and would never come and see me again, and when I dragged myself down to her, she rushed to kiss me, crying, and as she kissed me, she pushed me out of the room without saying a word, so I couldnt find out what was the mater. Now, dear Alexey Fyodorovitch, |
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