The Brothers Karamazov

Chapter 1

At Grushenka’s

A

LYOSHA went towards the cathedral square to the wid-

ow Morozov’s house to see Grushenka, who had sent

Fenya to him early in the morning with an urgent message

begging him to come. Questioning Fenya, Alyosha learned

that her mistress had been particularly distressed since the

previous day. During the two months that had passed since

Mitya’s arrest, Alyosha had called frequently at the widow

Morozov’s house, both from his own inclination and to take

messages for Mitya. Three days after Mitya’s arrest, Grush-

enka was taken very ill and was ill for nearly five weeks. For

one whole week she was unconscious. She was very much

changed — thinner and a little sallow, though she had for

the past fortnight been well enough to go out. But to Alyo-

sha her face was even more attractive than before, and he

liked to meet her eyes when he went in to her. A look of

firmness and intelligent purpose had developed in her face.

There were signs of a spiritual transformation in her, and

a steadfast, fine and humble determination that nothing

could shake could be discerned in her. There was a small

vertical line between her brows which gave her charming