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- 176 CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
words of admonition and consolation to Katerina Ivanovna on
leaving.
"What am I to do with these?" she interrupted sharply and
irritably, pointing to the little ones.
"God is merciful; look to the Most High for succour," the
priest began.
"^Ach! He is merciful, but not to us."
"That's a sin, a sin, madam," observed the priest, shaking hishead.
"And isn't that a sin?" cried Katerina Ivanovna, pointing
to the dying man.
"Perhaps those who have involuntarily caused the accident
will agree to compensate you, at least for the loss of his earn-
ings."
"You don't understand!" cried Katerina Ivanovna angrily
waving her hand. "And why should they compensate me? Why,
he was drunk and threw himself under the horses! What earn-
ings? He brought us in nothing but misery. He drank every-
thing away, the drunkard! He robbed us to get drink, he wasted
their lives and mine for drink! And thank God he's dying! One
less to keep!"
"You must forgive in the hour of death, that's a sin, madam,
such feelings are a great sin."
Katerina Ivanovna was busy with the dying man; she was giv-
ing him water, wiping the blood and sweat from his head,
setting his pillow straight, and had only turned now and then
for a moment to address the priest. Now she flew at him almost
in a frenzy.
"Ah, father! That's words and only words! Forgive! If he'd
not been run over, he'd have come home to-day drunk and his
only shirt dirty and in rags and he'd have fallen asleep like a
log, and I should have been sousing and rinsing till daybreak,
washing his rags and the children's and then drying them by the
window and as soon as it was daylight I should have been darn-
ing them. That's how I spend my nights! . . . What's the use of
talking of forgiveness! I have forgiven as it is!"
A terrible hollow cough interrupted her words. She put her
handkerchief to her lips and showed it to the priest, pressing her
other hand to her aching chest. The handkerchief was covered
with blood. The priest bowed his head and said nothing.
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