第74章

第74章allsteppedback.theconfessionwassoonover.thedyingmanprobablyunderstoodlittle;hecouldonlyutterindistinctbrokensounds.katerinaivanovnatooklittlelida,liftedtheboyfromthechair,kneltdowninthecornerbythestoveandmadethechildrenkneelinfrontofher.thelittlegirlwasstilltrembling;buttheboy,kneelingonhislittlebareknees,liftedhishandrhythmically,crossinghimselfwithprecisionandboweddown,touchingthefloorwithhisforehead,whichseemedtoaffordhimespecialsatisfaction.katerinaivanovnabitherlipsandheldbackhertears;sheprayed,too,nowandthenpullingstraighttheboy’sshirt,andmanagedtocoverthegirl’sbareshoulderswithakerchief,whichshetookfromthechestwithoutrisingfromherkneesorceasingtopray.meanwhilethedoorfromtheinnerroomswasopenedinquisitivelyagain.inthepassagethecrowdofspectatorsfromalltheflatsonthestaircasegrewdenseranddenser,buttheydidnotventurebeyondthethreshold.asinglecandle-endlightedupthescene.

atthatmomentpolenkaforcedherwaythroughthecrowdatthedoor.shecameinpantingfromrunningsofast,tookoffherkerchief,lookedforhermother,wentuptoherandsaid,“she’scoming,imetherinthestreet.”hermothermadeherkneelbesideher.

timidlyandnoiselesslyayounggirlmadeherwaythroughthecrowd,andstrangewasherappearanceinthatroom,inthemidstofwant,rags,deathanddespair.she,too,wasinrags,herattirewasallofthecheapest,butdeckedoutingutterfineryofaspecialstamp,unmistakablybetrayingitsshamefulpurpose.soniastoppedshortinthedoorwayandlookedaboutherbewildered,unconsciousofeverything.sheforgotherfourth-hand,gaudysilkdress,sounseemlyherewithitsridiculouslongtrain,andherimmensecrinolinethatfilledupthewholedoorway,andherlight-colouredshoes,andtheparasolshebroughtwithher,thoughitwasnouseatnight,andtheabsurdroundstrawhatwithitsflaringflame-colouredfeather.underthisrakishly-tiltedhatwasapale,frightenedlittlefacewithlipspartedandeyesstaringinterror.soniawasasmallthingirlofeighteenwithfairhair,ratherpretty,withwonderfulblueeyes.shelookedintentlyatthebedandthepriest;shetoowasoutofbreathwithrunning.atlastwhispers,somewordsinthecrowdprobably,reachedher.shelookeddownandtookastepforwardintotheroom,stillkeepingclosetothedoor.

theservicewasover.katerinaivanovnawentuptoherhusbandagain.theprieststeppedbackandturnedtosayafewwordsofadmonitionandconsolationtokaterinaivanovnaonleaving.

“whatamitodowiththese?”sheinterruptedsharplyandirritably,pointingtothelittleones.

“godismerciful;looktothemosthighforour,”thepriestbegan.

“ach!heismerciful,butnottous.”

“that’sasin,asin,madam,”observedthepriest,shakinghishead.

“andisn’tthatasin?”criedkaterinaivanovna,pointingtothedyingman.

“perhapsthosewhohaveinvoluntarilycausedtheaccidentwillagreetocompensateyou,atleastforthelossofhisearnings.”

“youdon’tunderstand!”criedkaterinaivanovnaangrilywavingherhand.“andwhyshouldtheycompensateme?why,hewasdrunkandthrewhimselfunderthehorses!whatearnings?hebroughtusinnothingbutmisery.hedrankeverythingaway,thedrunkard!herobbedustogetdrink,hewastedtheirlivesandminefordrink!andthankgodhe’sdying!onelesstokeep!”

“youmustforgiveinthehourofdeath,that’sasin,madam,suchfeelingsareagreatsin.”

katerinaivanovnawasbusywiththedyingman;shewasgivinghimwater,wipingthebloodandsweatfromhishead,settinghispillowstraight,andhadonlyturnednowandthenforamomenttoaddressthepriest.nowsheflewathimalmostinafrenzy.

“ah,father!that’swordsandonlywords!forgive!ifhe’dnotbeenrunover,he’dhavecomehometo-daydrunkandhisonlyshirtdirtyandinragsandhe’dhavefallenasleeplikealog,andishouldhavebeensousingandrinsingtilldaybreak,washinghisragsandthechildren’sandthendryingthembythewindowandassoonasitwasdaylightishouldhavebeendarningthem.that’showispendmynights!…what’stheuseoftalkingofforgiveness!ihaveforgivenasitis!”

aterriblehollowcoughinterruptedherwords.sheputherhandkerchieftoherlipsandshowedittothepriest,pressingherotherhandtoherachingchest.thehandkerchiefwascoveredwithblood.thepriestbowedhisheadandsaidnothing.

marmeladovwasinthelastagony;hedidnottakehiseyesoffthefaceofkaterinaivanovna,whowasbendingoverhimagain.hekepttryingtosaysomethingtoher;hebeganmovinghistonguewithdifficultyandarticulatingindistinctly,butkaterinaivanovna,understandingthathewantedtoaskherforgiveness,calledperemptorilytohim:

“besilent!noneed!iknowwhatyouwanttosay!”andthesickmanwassilent,butatthesameinstanthiswanderingeyesstrayedtothedoorwayandhesawsonia.

tillthenhehadnotnoticedher:shewasstandingintheshadowinacorner.

“who’sthat?who’sthat?”hesaidsuddenlyinathickgaspingvoice,inagitation,turninghiseyesinhorrortowardsthedoorwherehisdaughterwasstanding,andtryingtositup.

“liedown!liedo-own!”criedkaterinaivanovna.

withunnaturalstrengthhehadeededinproppinghimselfonhiselbow.helookedwildlyandfixedlyforsometimeonhisdaughter,asthoughnotrecognisingher.hehadneverseenherbeforeinsuchattire.suddenlyherecognisedher,crushedandashamedinherhumiliationandgaudyfinery,meeklyawaitingherturntosaygood-byetoherdyingfather.hisfaceshowedintensesuffering.