Page 340 - the-brothers-karamazov

‘Yes, very much, and he was in a great fury. He was aveng-
ing you on me as a Karamazov, I see that now. But if only
you had seen how he was throwing stones at his schoolfel-
lows! It’s very dangerous. They might kill him. They are
children and stupid. A stone may be thrown and break
somebody’s head.’
‘That’s just what has happened. He has been bruised by a
stone to-day. Not on the head but on the chest, just above
the heart. He came home crying and groaning and now he
is ill.’
‘And you know he attacks them first. He is bitter against
them on your account. They say he stabbed a boy called
Krassotkin with a penknife not long ago.’
‘I’ve heard about that too, it’s dangerous. Krassotkin is an
official here, we may hear more about it.’
‘I would advise you,’ Alyosha went on warmly, ‘not to
send him to school at all for a time till he is calmer. and his
anger is passed.’
‘Anger!’ the captain repeated, ‘that’s just what it is. He is
a little creature, but it’s a mighty anger. You don’t know all,
sir. Let me tell you more. Since that incident all the boys
have been teasing him about the ‘wisp of tow.’ Schoolboys
are a merciless race, individually they are angels, but to-
gether, especially in schools, they are often merciless. Their
teasing has stiffed up a gallant spirit in Ilusha. An ordinary
boy, a weak son, would have submitted, have felt ashamed
of his father, sir, but he stood up for his father against them
all. For his father and for truth and justice. For what he suf-
fered when he kissed your brother’s hand and cried to him