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he will begin hoping. There’s nothing for you to do here,
you needn’t stay. Is that betrothed of his, Katerina Ivanovna,
whom he has kept so carefully hidden from me all this time,
going to marry him or not? You went to see her yesterday, I
believe?’
‘Nothing will induce her to abandon him.’
‘There you see how dearly these fine young ladies love
a rake and a scoundrel. They are poor creatures I tell you,
those pale young ladies, very different from — Ah, if I had
his youth and the looks I had then (for I was better-look-
ing than he at eight and twenty) I’d have been a conquering
hero just as he is. He is a low cad! But he shan’t have Grush-
enka, anyway, he shan’t! I’ll crush him!’
His anger had returned with the last words.
‘You can go. There’s nothing for you to do here to-day,’ he
snapped harshly.
Alyosha went up to say good-bye to him, and kissed him
on the shoulder.
‘What’s that for?’ The old man was a little surprised. ‘We
shall see each other again, or do you think we shan’t?’
‘Not at all, I didn’t mean anything.’
‘Nor did I, I did not mean anything,’ said the old man,
looking at him. ‘Listen, listen,’ he shouted after him, ‘make
haste and come again and I’ll have a fish soup for you, a fine
one, not like to-day. Be sure to come! Come to-morrow, do
you hear, to-morrow!’
And as soon as Alyosha had gone out of the door, he went
to the cupboard again and poured out another half-glass.
‘I won’t have more!’ he muttered, clearing his throat, and