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thought of them； though the news that they had started； were on
their way and would arrive immediately； had been repeated to him
only that day？ They had spent that hour and a half plying Nastasya
with questions。 She was standing before them and had told them
everything by now。 They were beside themselves with alarm when they
heard of his 〃running away〃 to…day； ill and； as they understood from
her story； delirious！ 〃Good Heavens； what had become of him？〃 Both had
been weeping； both had been in anguish for that hour and a half。
A cry of joy； of ecstasy； greeted Raskolnikov's entrance。 Both
rushed to him。 But he stood like one dead； a sudden intolerable
sensation struck him like a thunderbolt。 He did not lift his arms to
embrace them； he could not。 His mother and sister clasped him in their
arms； kissed him； laughed and cried。 He took a step； tottered and fell
to the ground； fainting。
Anxiety； cries of horror； moans。。。 Razumihin who was standing in the
doorway flew into the room； seized the sick man in his strong arms and
in a moment had him on the sofa。
〃It's nothing； nothing！〃 he cried to the mother and sister… 〃it's
only a faint； a mere trifle！ Only just now the doctor said he was much
better； that he is perfectly well！ Water！ See； he is coming to
himself； he is all right again！〃
And seizing Dounia by the arm so that he almost dislocated it； he
made her bend down to see that 〃he is all right again。〃 The mother and
sister looked on him with emotion and gratitude； as their
Providence。 They had heard already from Nastasya all that had been
done for their Rodya during his illness； by this 〃very competent young
man；〃 as Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikov called him that evening in
conversation with Dounia。
PART THREE
Chapter One
RASKOLNIKOV got up； and sat down on the sofa。 He waved his hand
weakly to Razumihin to cut short the flow of warm and incoherent
consolations he was addressing to his mother and sister； took them
both by the hand and for a minute or two gazed from one to the other
without speaking。 His mother was alarmed by his expression。 It
revealed an emotion agonisingly poignant； and at the same time
something immovable； almost insane。 Pulcheria Alexandrovna began to
cry。
Avdotya Romanovna was pale； her hand trembled in her brother's。
〃Go home。。。 with him；〃 he said in a broken voice； pointing to
Razumihin； 〃good…bye till to…morrow； to…morrow everything。。。 Is it
long since you arrived？〃
〃This evening； Rodya；〃 answered Pulcheria Alexandrovna； 〃the train
was awfully late。 But； Rodya； nothing would induce me to leave you
now！ I will spend the night here； near you。。。〃
〃Don't torture me！〃 he said with a gesture of irritation。
〃I will stay with him；〃 cried Razumihin； 〃I won't leave him for a
moment。 Bother all my visitors！ Let them rage to their hearts'
content！ My uncle is presiding there。〃
〃How； how can I thank you！〃 Pulcheria Alexandrovna was beginning；
once more pressing Razumihin's hands； but Raskolnikov interrupted
her again。
〃I can't have it！ I can't have it！〃 he repeated irritably； 〃don't
worry me！ Enough； go away。。。 I can't stand it！〃
〃Come； mamma； come out of the room at least for a minute；〃 Dounia
whispered in dismay； 〃we are distressing him； that's evident。〃
〃Mayn't I look at him after three years？〃 wept Pulcheria
Alexandrovna。
〃Stay；〃 he stopped them again； 〃you keep interrupting me； and my
ideas get muddled。。。。 Have you seen Luzhin？〃
〃No； Rodya； but he knows already of our arrival。 We have heard；
Rodya； that Pyotr Petrovitch was so kind as to visit you today；〃
Pulcheria Alexandrovna added somewhat timidly。
〃Yes。。。 he was so kind。。。 Dounia； I promised Luzhin I'd throw him
downstairs and told him to go to hell。。。。〃
〃Rodya； what are you saying！ Surely； you don't mean to tell us。。。〃
Pulcheria Alexandrovna began in alarm； but she stopped； looking at
Dounia。
Avdotya Romanovna was looking attentively at her brother； waiting
for what would come next。 Both of them had heard of the quarrel from
Nastasya； so far as she had succeeded in understanding and reporting
it； and were in painful perplexity and suspense。
〃Dounia；〃 Raskolnikov continued with an effort； 〃I don't want that
marriage； so at the first opportunity to…morrow you must refuse
Luzhin； so that we may never hear his name again。〃
〃Good Heavens！〃 cried Pulcheria Alexandrovna。
〃Brother； think what you are saying！〃 Avdotya Romanovna began
impetuously； but immediately checked herself。 〃You are not fit to talk
now； perhaps； you are tired；〃 she added gently。
〃You think I am delirious？ No。。。 You are marrying Luzhin for my
sake。 But I won't accept the sacrifice。 And so write a letter before
to…morrow； to refuse him。。。 Let me read it in the morning and that
will be the end of it！〃
〃That I can't do！〃 the girl cried； offended； 〃what right have
you。。。〃
〃Dounia； you are hasty； too； be quiet； to…morrow。。。 Don't you
see。。。〃 the mother interposed in dismay。 〃Better come away！〃
〃He is raving；〃 Razumihin cried tipsily； 〃or how would he dare！
To…morrow all this nonsense will be over。。。 to…day he certainly did
drive him away。 That was so。 And Luzhin got angry； too。。。 He made
speeches here； wanted to show off his learning and he went out
crest…fal