The Brothers Karamazov

Chapter 6

A Laceration in the Cottage

H

E certainly was really grieved in a way he had seldom
been before. He had rushed in like a fool, and med-
dled in what? In a love-affair. ‘But what do I know about
it? What can I tell about such things?’ he repeated to him-
self for the hundredth time, flushing crimson. ‘Oh, being
ashamed would be nothing; shame is only the punishment
I deserve. The trouble is I shall certainly have caused more
unhappiness.... And Father Zossima sent me to reconcile
and bring them together. Is this the way to bring them to-
gether?’ Then he suddenly remembered how he had tried
to join their hands, and he felt fearfully ashamed again.
‘Though I acted quite sincerely, I must be more sensible in
the future,’ he concluded suddenly, and did not even smile
at his conclusion.
Katerina Ivanovna’s commission took him to Lake Street,
and his brother Dmitri lived close by, in a turning out of
Lake Street. Alyosha decided to go to him in any case before
going to the captain, though he had a presentiment that he
would not find his brother. He suspected that he would in-
tentionally keep out of his way now, but he must find him