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Chapter 8

Delirium

W

HAT followed was almost an orgy, a feast to which

all were welcome. Grushenka was the first to call for

wine.

‘I want to drink. I want to be quite drunk, as we were be-

fore. Do you remember, Mitya, do you remember how we

made friends here last time!’

Mitya himself was almost delirious, feeling that his hap-

piness was at hand. But Grushenka was continually sending

him away from her.

‘Go and enjoy yourself. Tell them to dance, to make mer-

ry, ‘let the stove and cottage dance’; as we had it last time,’

she kept exclaiming. She was tremendously excited. And

Mitya hastened to obey her. The chorus were in the next

room. The room in which they had been sitting till that

moment was too small, and was divided in two by cotton

curtains, behind which was a huge bed with a puffy feather

mattress and a pyramid of cotton pillows. In the four rooms

for visitors there were beds. Grushenka settled herself just

at the door. Mitya set an easy chair for her. She had sat in

the same place to watch the dancing and singing ‘the time