Page 307 - the-brothers-karamazov

‘Mamma, take him away quickly. Alexey Fyodorovitch,
don’t trouble to come and see me afterwards, but go straight
back to your monastery and a good riddance. I want to sleep,
I didn’t sleep all night.’
‘Ah, Lise, you are only making fun, but how I wish you
would sleep!’ cried Madame Hohlakov.
‘I don’t know what I’ve done.... I’ll stay another three
minutes, five if you like,’ muttered Alyosha.
‘Even five! Do take him away quickly, mamma, he is a
monster.’
‘Lise, you are crazy. Let us go, Alexey Fyodorovitch, she
is too capricious to-day. I am afraid to cross her. Oh, the
trouble one has with nervous girls! Perhaps she really will
be able to sleep after seeing you. How quickly you have
made her sleepy, and how fortunate it is!’
‘Ah, mamma, how sweetly you talk! I must kiss you for
it, mamma.’
‘And I kiss you too, Lise. Listen, Alexey Fyodorovitch,’
Madame Hohlakov began mysteriously and importantly,
speaking in a rapid whisper. ‘I don’t want to suggest any-
thing, I don’t want to lift the veil, you will see for yourself
what’s going on. It’s appalling. It’s the most fantastic farce.
She loves your brother, Ivan, and she is doing her utmost to
persuade herself she loves your brother, Dmitri. It’s appall-
ing! I’ll go in with you, and if they don’t turn me out, I’ll
stay to the end.’

0 The Brothers Karamazov