Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com him to get the money, how he had broken in, knocked his
father down, and after that had again specially and emphat-
ically begged him to take his compliments and farewell. ‘He
went to that woman,’ Alyosha added softly.
‘And do you suppose that I can’t put up with that woman?
Does he think I can’t? But he won’t marry her,’ she sudden-
ly laughed nervously. ‘Could such a passion last for ever in
a Karamazov? It’s passion, not love. He won’t marry her
because she won’t marry him.’ Again Katerina Ivanovna
laughed strangely.
‘He may marry her,’ said Alyosha mournfully, looking
down.
‘He won’t marry her, I tell you. That girl is an angel. Do
you know that? Do you know that?’ Katerina Ivanovna ex-
claimed suddenly with extraordinary warmth. ‘She is one
of the most fantastic of fantastic creatures. I know how be-
witching she is, but I know too that she is kind, firm, and
noble. Why do you look at me like that, Alexey Fyodoro-
vitch? Perhaps you are wondering at my words, perhaps
you don’t believe me? Agrafena Alexandrovna, my angel!’
she cried suddenly to someone, peeping into the next room,
‘come in to us. This is a friend. This is Alyosha. He knows all
about our affairs. Show yourself to him.’
‘I’ve only been waiting behind the curtain for you to call
me,’ said a soft, one might even say sugary, feminine voice.
The portiere was raised and Grushenka herself, smil-
ing and beaming, came up to the table. A violent revulsion
passed over Alyosha. He fixed his eyes on her and could
not take them off. Here she was, that awful woman, the