Page 1011 - the-brothers-karamazov

it in the air. The bits were scattered by the wind.
‘She’s not sixteen yet, I believe, and already offering
herself,’ he said contemptuously, striding along the street
again.
‘How do you mean, offering herself?’ exclaimed Alyosha.
‘As wanton women offer themselves, to be sure.’
‘How can you, Ivan, how can you?’ Alyosha cried warmly,
in a grieved voice. ‘She is a child; you are insulting a child!
She is ill; she is very ill, too. She is on the verge of insanity,
too, perhaps.... I had hoped to hear something from you...
that would save her.’
‘You’ll hear nothing from me. If she is a child, I am not
her nurse. Be quiet, Alexey. Don’t go on about her. I am not
even thinking about it.’
They were silent again for a moment.
‘She will be praying all night now to the Mother of God to
show her how to act to-morrow at the trial,’ he said sharply
and angrily again.
‘You... you mean Katerina Ivanovna?’
‘Yes. Whether she’s to save Mitya or ruin him. She’ll pray
for light from above. She can’t make up her mind for herself,
you see. She has not had time to decide yet. She takes me for
her nurse, too. She wants me to sing lullabies to her.’
‘Katerina Ivanovna loves you, brother,’ said Alyosha sad-
ly.
‘Perhaps; but I am not very keen on her.’
‘She is suffering. Why do you... sometimes say things to
her that give her hope?’ Alyosha went on, with timid re-
proach. ‘I know that you’ve given her hope. Forgive me for

1010 The Brothers Karamazov