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to enter。 Raskolnikov had at first shown her the place on the sofa
where Zossimov had been sitting； but feeling that the sofa which
served him as a bed； was too familiar a place； he hurriedly motioned
her to Razumihin's chair。
〃You sit here；〃 he said to Razumihin； putting him on the sofa。
Sonia sat down； almost shaking with terror； and looked timidly at
the two ladies。 It was evidently almost inconceivable to herself
that she could sit down beside them。 At the thought of it； she was
so frightened that she hurriedly got up again； and in utter
confusion addressed Raskolnikov。
〃I。。。 I。。。 have come for one minute。 Forgive me for disturbing you；〃
she began falteringly。 〃I come from Katerina Ivanovna； and she had
no one to send。 Katerina Ivanovna told me to beg you。。。 to be at the
service。。。 in the morning。。。 at Mitrofanievsky。。。 and then。。。 to us。。。
to her。。。 to do her the honour。。。 she told me to beg you。。。〃 Sonia
stammered and ceased speaking。
〃I will try； certainly； most certainly；〃 answered Raskolnikov。 He；
too； stood up； and he； too； faltered and could not finish his
sentence。 〃Please sit down；〃 he said； suddenly。 〃I want to talk to
you。 You are perhaps in a hurry； but please； be so kind； spare me
two minutes；〃 and he drew up a chair for her。
Sonia sat down again； and again timidly she took a hurried；
frightened look at the two ladies； and dropped her eyes。 Raskolnikov's
pale face flushed； a shudder passed over him； his eyes glowed。
〃Mother；〃 he said； firmly and insistently； 〃this is Sofya Semyonovna
Marmeladov； the daughter of that unfortunate Mr。 Marmeladov； who was
run over yesterday before my eyes； and of whom I was just telling
you。〃
Pulcheria Alexandrovna glanced at Sonia； and slightly screwed up her
eyes。 In spite of her embarrassment before Rodya's urgent and
challenging look； she could not deny herself that satisfaction。 Dounia
gazed gravely and intently into the poor girl's face； and
scrutinised her with perplexity。 Sonia； hearing herself introduced；
tried to raise her eyes again； but was more embarrassed than ever。
〃I wanted to ask you；〃 said Raskolnikov； hastily； 〃how things were
arranged yesterday。 You were not worried by the police； for instance？〃
〃No； that was all right。。。 it was too evident； the cause of death。。。
they did not worry us。。。 only the lodgers are angry。〃
〃Why？〃
〃At the body's remaining so long。 You see it is hot now。 So that；
to…day； they will carry it to the cemetery； into the chapel； until
to…morrow。 At first Katerina Ivanovna was unwilling； but now she
sees herself that it's necessary。。。〃
〃To…day； then？〃
〃She begs you to do us the honour to be in the church to…morrow
for the service； and then to be present at the funeral lunch。〃
〃She is giving a funeral lunch？〃
〃Yes。。。 just a little。。。。 She told me to thank you very much for
helping us yesterday。 But for you； we should have had nothing for
the funeral。〃
All at once her lips and chin began trembling； but； with an
effort； she controlled herself； looking down again。
During the conversation； Raskolnikov watched her carefully。 She
had a thin； very thin； pale little face； rather irregular and angular；
with a sharp little nose and chin。 She could not have been called
pretty； but her blue eyes were so clear； and when they lighted up；
there was such a kindliness and simplicity in her expression that
one could not help being attracted。 Her face； and her whole figure
indeed； had another peculiar characteristic。 In spite of her
eighteen years； she looked almost a little girl… almost a child。 And
in some of her gestures； this childishness seemed almost absurd。
〃But has Katerina Ivanovna been able to manage with such small
means？ Does she even mean to have a funeral lunch？〃 Raskolnikov asked；
persistently keeping up the conversation。
〃The coffin will be plain； of course。。。 and everything will be
plain； so it won't cost much。 Katerina Ivanovna and I have reckoned it
all out； so that there will be enough left。。。 and Katerina Ivanovna
was very anxious it should be so。 You know one can't。。。 it's a comfort
to her。。。 she is like that； you know。。。。〃
〃I understand； I understand。。。 of course。。。 why do you look at my
room like that？ My mother has just said it is like a tomb。〃
〃You gave us everything yesterday；〃 Sonia said suddenly； in reply；
in a loud rapid whisper； and again she looked down in confusion。 Her
lips and chin were trembling once more。 She had been struck at once by
Raskolnikov's poor surroundings； and now these words broke out
spontaneously。 A silence followed。 There was a light in Dounia's eyes；
and even Pulcheria Alexandrovna looked kindly at Sonia。
〃Rodya；〃 she said； getting up； 〃we shall have dinner together； of
course。 Come； Dounia。。。。 And you； Rodya； had better go for a little
walk； and then rest and lie down before you come to see us。。。。 I am
afraid we have exhausted you。。。。〃
〃Yes； yes； I'll come；〃 he answered； getting up fussily。 〃But I
have something to see to。〃
〃But surely you will have dinner together？〃 cried Razumihin； looking
in surprise at Raskolnikov。 〃What do you mean？〃
〃Yes； yes； I am coming。。。 of course； of course！ And you stay a
minute。 You do not want him just now； do you； mother？ Or perhaps I
am taking him from you？〃
〃Oh； no； no。 And will you； Dmitri Prokofitch； do us the favour of
dining with us？〃
〃Please do；〃 added Dounia。
Razumihin bowed； positively radiant。 For one moment； they were all
strangely embarrassed。
〃Good…bye； Rodya； that is till we meet。 I do not like saying
good…bye。 Good…bye； Nastasya。 Ah； I have said good…bye again。〃
Pulcheria Alexandrovna meant to greet Sonia； too； but it somehow
failed to come off； and she went in a flutter out of the room。
But Avdotya Romanovna seemed to await her turn； and following her
mother out； gave Sonia an attentive； courteous bow。 Sonia； in
confusion； gave a hurried； frightened curtsy。 There was a look of
poignant discomfort in her face； as though Avdotya Romanovna's
courtesy and attention were oppressive and painful to her。
〃Dounia； good…bye；〃 called Raskolnikov； in the passage。 〃Give me
your hand。〃
〃Why； I did give it to you。 Have you forgotten？〃 said Dounia；
turning warmly and awkwardly to him。
〃Never mind； give it to me again。〃 And he squeezed her fingers
warmly。
Dounia smiled； flushed； pulled her hand away； and went off quite
happy。
〃Come； that's capital；〃 he said to Sonia； going back and looking
brightly at her。 〃God give peace to the dead； the living have still to
live。 That is right； isn't it？〃
Sonia looked surprised at the sudden brightness of his face。 He
looked at her for some moments in silence。 The whole history of the
dead father floated before his memory in those moments。。。。
…
〃Heavens； Dounia；〃 Pulcheria Alexandrovna began； as soon as they
were in the street； 〃I really feel relieved myself at coming away…
more at ease。 How little did I thi