The Brothers Karamazovscience, that’s what it is! You see, I love him with all my soul,
that’s how it is! Alyosha, do you believe I love you with all
my soul?’
‘Ah, you shameless woman! She is making you a declara-
tion, Alexey!’
‘Well, what of it, I love him!’
‘And what about your officer? And the priceless message
from Mokroe?’
‘That is quite different.’
‘That’s a woman’s way of looking at it!’
‘Don’t you make me angry, Rakitin.’ Grushenka caught
him up hotly. ‘This is quite different. I love Alyosha in a
different way. It’s true, Alyosha, I had sly designs on you be-
fore. For I am a horrid, violent creature. But at other times
I’ve looked upon you, Alyosha, as my conscience. I’ve kept
thinking ‘how anyone like that must despise a nasty thing
like me.’ I thought that the day before yesterday, as I ran
home from the young lady’s. I have thought of you a long
time in that way, Alyosha, and Mitya knows; I’ve 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 can’t say, I don’t remember...’
Fenya came in and put a tray with an uncorked bottle
and three glasses of champagne on the table.
‘Here’s the champagne!’ cried Rakitin. ‘You’re excited,
Agrafena Alexandrovna, and not yourself. When you’ve
had a glass of champagne, you’ll be ready to dance. Eh, they
can’t even do that properly,’ he added, looking at the bottle.