Page 905 - the-brothers-karamazov

tic instincts of the young. And sometimes these games are
much better than performances in the theatre; the only dif-
ference is that people go there to look at the actors, while in
these games the young people are the actors themselves. But
that’s only natural.’
‘You think so? Is that your idea?’ Kolya looked at him
intently. ‘Oh, you know, that’s rather an interesting view.
When I go home, I’ll think it over. I’ll admit I thought I
might learn something from you. I’ve come to learn of you,
Karamazov,’ Kolya concluded, in a voice full of spontane-
ous feeling.
‘And I of you,’ said Alyosha, smiling and pressing his
hand.
Kolya was much pleased with Alyosha. What struck him
most was that he treated him exactly like an equal and that
he talked to him just as if he were ‘quite grown up.’
‘I’ll show you something directly, Karamazov; it’s a theat-
rical performance, too,’ he said, laughing nervously. ‘That’s
why I’ve come.’
‘Let us go first to the people of the house, on the left. All
the boys leave their coats in there, because the room is small
and hot.’
‘Oh, I’m only coming in for a minute. I’ll keep on my
overcoat. Perezvon will stay here in the passage and be dead.
Ici, Perezvon, lie down and be dead! You see how he’s dead.
I’ll go in first and explore, then I’ll whistle to him when I
think fit, and you’ll see, he’ll dash in like mad. Only Smurov
must not forget to open the door at the moment. I’ll arrange
it all and you’ll see something.’

0 The Brothers Karamazov