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It was gashed； crushed and fractured； several ribs on the right side
were broken。 On the left side； just over the heart； was a large；
sinister…looking yellowish…black bruise… a cruel kick from the horse's
hoof。 The doctor frowned。 The policeman told him that he was caught in
the wheel and turned round with it for thirty yards on the road。
〃It's wonderful that he has recovered consciousness；〃 the doctor
whispered softly to Raskolnikov。
〃What do you think of him？〃 he asked。
〃He will die immediately。〃
〃Is there really no hope？〃
〃Not the faintest！ He is at the last gasp。。。。 His head is badly
injured； too。。。 Him。。。 I could bleed him if you like； but。。。 it
would be useless。 He is bound to die within the next five or ten
minutes。〃
〃Better bleed him then。〃
〃If you like。。。。 But I warn you it will be perfectly useless。〃
At that moment other steps were heard； the crowd in the passage
parted； and the priest； a little； grey old man； appeared in the
doorway bearing the sacrament。 A policeman had gone for him at the
time of the accident。 The doctor changed places with him； exchanging
glances with him。 Raskolnikov begged the doctor to remain a little
while。 He shrugged his shoulders and remained。
All stepped back。 The confession was soon over。 The dying man
probably understood little； he could only utter indistinct broken
sounds。 Katerina Ivanovna took little Lida； lifted the boy from the
chair； knelt down in the corner by the stove and made the children
kneel in front of her。 The little girl was still trembling； but the
boy； kneeling on his little bare knees； lifted his hand
rhythmically； crossing himself with precision and bowed down； touching
the floor with his forehead； which seemed to afford him especial
satisfaction。 Katerina Ivanovna bit her lips and held back her
tears； she prayed； too； now and then pulling straight the boy's shirt；
and managed to cover the girl's bare shoulders with a kerchief；
which she took from the chest without rising from her knees or ceasing
to pray。 Meanwhile the door from the inner rooms was opened
inquisitively again。 In the passage the crowd of spectators from all
the flats on the staircase grew denser and denser； but they did not
venture beyond the threshold。 A single candle…end lighted up the
scene。
At that moment Polenka forced her way through the crowd at the door。
She came in panting from running so fast； took off her kerchief；
looked for her mother； went up to her and said； 〃She's coming； I met
her in the street。〃 Her mother made her kneel beside her。
Timidly and noiselessly a young girl made her way through the crowd；
and strange was her appearance in that room； in the midst of want；
rags； death and despair。 She； too； was in rags； her attire was all
of the cheapest； but decked out in gutter finery of a special stamp；
unmistakably betraying its shameful purpose。 Sonia stopped short in
the doorway and looked about her bewildered； unconscious of
everything。 She forgot her fourth…hand； gaudy silk dress； so
unseemly here with its ridiculous long train； and her immense
crinoline that filled up the whole doorway； and her light…coloured
shoes； and the parasol she brought with her； though it was no use at
night； and the absurd round straw hat with its flaring
flame…coloured feather。 Under this rakishly…tilted hat was a pale；
frightened little face with lips parted and eyes staring in terror。
Sonia was a small thin girl of eighteen with fair hair； rather pretty；
with wonderful blue eyes。 She looked intently at the bed and the
priest； she too was out of breath with running。 At last whispers； some
words in the crowd probably； reached her。 She looked down and took a
step forward into the room； still keeping close to the door。
The service was over。 Katerina Ivanovna went up to her husband
again。 The priest stepped back and turned to say a few words of
admonition and consolation to Katerina Ivanovna on leaving。
〃What am I to do with these？〃 she interrupted sharply and irritably；
pointing to the little ones。
〃God is merciful； look to the Most High for succour；〃 the priest
began。
〃Ach！ He is merciful； but not to us。〃
〃That's a sin； a sin； madam；〃 observed the priest； shaking his head。
〃And isn't that a sin？〃 cried Katerina Ivanovna； pointing to the
dying man。
〃Perhaps those who have involuntarily caused the accident will agree
to compensate you； at least for the loss of his earnings。〃
〃You don't understand！〃 cried Katerina Ivanovna angrily waving her
hand。 〃And why should they compensate me？ Why； he was drunk and
threw himself under the horses！ What earnings？ He brought us in
nothing but misery。 He drank everything away； the drunkard！ He
robbed us to get drink； he wasted their lives and mine for drink！
And thank God he's dying！ One less to keep！〃
〃You must forgive in the hour of death； that's a sin； madam； such
feelings are a great sin。〃
Katerina Ivanovna was busy with the dying man； she was giving him
water； wiping the blood and sweat from his head； setting his pillow
straight； and had only turned now and then for a moment to address the
priest。 Now she flew at him almost in a frenzy。
〃Ah； father！ That's words and only words！ Forgive！ If he'd not
been run over； he'd have come home to…day drunk and his only shirt
dirty and in rags and he'd have fallen asleep like a log； and I should
have been sousing and rinsing till daybreak； washing his rags and
the children's and then drying them by the window and as soon as it
was daylight I should have been darning them。 That's how I spend my
nights！。。。 What's the use of talking of forgiveness！ I have forgiven
as it is！〃