Page 1296 - the-brothers-karamazov

‘Katya,’ cried Mitya suddenly, ‘do you believe I murdered
him? I know you don’t believe it now, but then... when you
gave evidence.... Surely, surely you did not believe it!’
‘I did not believe it even then. I’ve never believed it. I
hated you, and for a moment I persuaded myself. While
I was giving evidence I persuaded myself and believed it,
but when I’d finished speaking I left off believing it at once.
Don’t doubt that! I have forgotten that I came here to pun-
ish myself,’ she said, with a new expression in her voice,
quite unlike the loving tones of a moment before.
‘Woman, yours is a heavy burden,’ broke, as it were, in-
voluntarily from Mitya.
‘Let me go,’ she whispered. ‘I’ll come again. It’s more
than I can bear now.’
She was getting up from her place, but suddenly uttered
a loud scream and staggered back. Grushenka walked sud-
denly and noiselessly into the room. No one had expected
her. Katya moved swiftly to the door, but when she reached
Grushenka, she stopped suddenly, turned as white as chalk
and moaned softly, almost in a whisper:
‘Forgive me!’
Grushenka stared at her and, pausing for an instant, in a
vindictive, venomous voice, answered:
‘We are full of hatred, my girl, you and I! We are both full
of hatred! As though we could forgive one another! Save
him, and I’ll worship you all my life.’
‘You won’t forgive her!’ cried Mitya, with frantic re-
proach.
‘Don’t be anxious, I’ll save him for you!’ Katya whispered

1