crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第148节
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〃She's dying；〃 some one shouted。
〃She's gone out of her mind；〃 said another。
〃Lord have mercy upon us；〃 said a woman； crossing herself。 〃Have
they caught the little girl and the boy？ They're being brought back；
the elder one's got them。。。。 Ah； the naughty imps！〃
When they examined Katerina Ivanovna carefully； they saw that she
had not cut herself against a stone； as Sonia thought； but that the
blood that stained the pavement red was from her chest。
〃I've seen that before；〃 muttered the official to Raskolnikov and
Lebeziatnikov； 〃that's consumption； the blood flows and chokes the
patient。 I saw the same thing with a relative of my own not long
ago。。。 nearly a pint of blood； all in a minute。。。。 What's to be done
though？ She is dying。〃
〃This way； this way； to my room！〃 Sonia implored。 〃I live here！。。。
See； that house； the second from here。。。。 Come to me； make haste；〃 she
turned from one to the other。 〃Send for the doctor！ Oh； dear！〃
Thanks to the official's efforts； this plan was adopted； the
policeman even helping to carry Katerina Ivanovna。 She was carried
to Sonia's room； almost unconscious； and laid on the bed。 The blood
was still flowing； but she seemed to be coming to herself。
Raskolnikov； Lebeziatnikov； and the official accompanied Sonia into
the room and were followed by the policeman； who first drove back
the crowd which followed to the very door。 Polenka came in holding
Kolya and Lida； who were trembling and weeping。 Several persons came
in too from the Kapernaumovs' room； the landlord； a lame one…eyed
man of strange appearance with whiskers and hair that stood up like
a brush； his wife； a woman with an everlastingly scared expression；
and several open…mouthed children with wonder…struck faces。 Among
these； Svidrigailov suddenly made his appearance。 Raskolnikov looked
at him with surprise； not understanding where he had come from and not
having noticed him in the crowd。 A doctor and priest wore spoken of。
The official whispered to Raskolnikov that he thought it was too
late now for the doctor； but he ordered him to be sent for。
Kapernaumov ran himself。
Meanwhile Katerina Ivanovna had regained her breath。 The bleeding
ceased for a time。 She looked with sick but intent and penetrating
eyes at Sonia； who stood pale and trembling； wiping the sweat from her
brow with a handkerchief。 At last she asked to be raised。 They sat her
up on the bed； supporting her on both sides。
〃Where are the children？〃 she said in a faint voice。 〃You've brought
them； Polenka？ Oh the sillies！ Why did you run away。。。。 Och！〃
Once more her parched lips were covered with blood。 She moved her
eyes； looking about her。
〃So that's how you live； Sonia！ Never once have I been in your
room。〃
She looked at her with a face of suffering。
〃We have been your ruin； Sonia。 Polenka； Lida； Kolya； come here！
Well； here they are； Sonia； take them all！ I hand them over to you；
I've had enough！ The ball is over。 （Cough！） Lay me down； let me die in
peace。〃
They laid her back on the pillow。
〃What； the priest？ I don't want him。 You haven't got a rouble to
spare。 I have no sins。 God must forgive me without that。 He knows
how I have suffered。。。。 And if He won't forgive me； I don't care！〃
She sank more and more into uneasy delirium。 At times she shuddered；
turned her eyes from side to side； recognised every one for a
minute； but at once sank into delirium again。 Her breathing was hoarse
and difficult； there was a sort of rattle in her throat。
〃I said to him； your excellency；〃 she ejaculated； gasping after each
word。 〃That Amalia Ludwigovna； ah！ Lida； Kolya； hands on your hips；
make haste！ Glissez； glissez！ pas de basque！ Tap with your heels； be a
graceful child！
…
Du hast Diamanten und Perlen
…
What next？ That's the thing to sing。
…
Du hast die schonsten Augen
Madchen； was willst du mehr？
…
〃What an idea！ Was willst du mehr。 What things the fool invents！ Ah；
yes！
…
In the heat of midday in the vale of Dagestan。
…
〃Ah； how I loved it！ I loved that song to distraction； Polenka！ Your
father； you know； used to sing it when we were engaged。。。。 Oh those
days！ Oh that's the thing for us to sing！ How does it go？ I've
forgotten。 Remind me！ How was it？〃
She was violently excited and tried to sit up。 At last； in a
horribly hoarse； broken voice； she began； shrieking and gasping at
every word； with a look of growing terror。
〃In the heat of midday！。。。 in the vale！。。。 of Dagestan！。。。 With lead
in my breast！。。。〃
〃Your excellency！〃 she wailed suddenly with a heartrending scream
and a flood of tears； 〃protect the orphans！ You have been their
father's guest。。。 one may say aristocratic。。。。〃 She started； regaining
consciousness； and gazed at all with a sort of terror； but at once
recognised Sonia。
〃Sonia； Sonia！〃 she articulated softly and caressingly； as though
surprised to find her there。 〃Sonia darling； are you here； too？〃
They lifted her up again。
〃Enough！ It's over！ Farewell； poor thing！ I am done for！ I am
broken！〃 she cried with vindictive despair； and her head fell
heavily back on the pillow。
She sank into unconsciousness again； but this time it did not last
long。 Her pale； yellow； wasted face dropped back； her mouth fell open；
her leg moved convulsively； she gave a deep； deep sigh and died。
Sonia fell upon her； flung her arms about her； and remained
motionless with her head pressed to the dead woman's wasted bosom。
Polenka threw herself at her mother's feet； kissing them and weeping
violently。 Though Kolya and Lida did not understand what had happened；
they had a feeling that it was something terrible； they put their
hands on each other's little shoulders； stared straight at one another
and both at once opened their mouths and began screaming。 They were
both still in their fancy dress； one in a turban； the other in the cap
with the ostrich feather。
And how did 〃the certificate of merit〃 come to be on the bed
beside Katerina Ivanovna？ It lay there by the pillow： Raskolnikov
saw it。
He walked away to the window。 Lebeziatnikov skipped up to him。
〃She is dead；〃 he said。
〃Rodion Romanovitch； I must have two words with you；〃 said
Svidrigailov； coming up to them。
Lebeziatnikov at once made room for him and delicately withdrew。
Svidrigailov drew Raskolnikov further away。
〃I will undertake all the arrangements； the funeral and that。 You
know it's a question of money and； as I told you； I have plenty to
spare。 I will put those two little ones and Polenka into some good
orphan asylum； and I will settle f
