Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com ‘If I see her I’ll ask her,’ Alyosha muttered, embarrassed.
‘No, she won’t tell you,’ the old man interrupted, ‘she’s
a rogue. She’ll begin kissing you and say that it’s you she
wants. She’s a deceitful, shameless hussy. You mustn’t go to
her, you mustn’t!’
‘No father, and it wouldn’t be suitable, it wouldn’t be
right at all.’
‘Where was he sending you just now? He shouted ‘Go’ as
he ran away.’
‘For money? To ask her for money?’
‘No. Not for money.’
‘He’s no money; not a farthing. I’ll settle down for the
night, and think things over, and you can go. Perhaps you’ll
meet her.... Only be sure to come to me to-morrow in the
morning. Be sure to. I have a word to say to you to-morrow.
Will you come?’
‘When you come, pretend you’ve come of your own ac-
cord to ask after me. Don’t tell anyone I told you to. Don’t
say a word to Ivan.’
‘Very well.’
‘Good-bye, my angel. You stood up for me, just now. I
shall never forget it. I’ve a word to say to you to-morrow
— but I must think about it.’
‘And how do you feel now?’
‘I shall get up to-morrow and go out, perfectly well, per-
fectly well!’
Crossing the yard Alyosha found Ivan sitting on the
bench at the gateway. He was sitting writing something in
pencil in his notebook. Alyosha told Ivan that their father