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- CRIME AND PUNISHMENT 17$
the children kneel in front of her. The little girl was still trem-
bling; but the boy, kneeling on his little bare knees, lifted his
hand rhythmically, crossing himself with precision and bowed
down, touching the floor with his forehead, which seemed to
afford him especial satisfaction. Katerina Ivanovna bit her lips
and held back her tears; she prayed, too, now and then pulling
straight the boy's shirt, and managed to cover the girl's bare
shoulders with a kerchief, which she took from the chest with-
out rising from her knees or ceasing to pray. Meanwhile the door
from the inner rooms was opened inquisitively again. In
the passage the crowd of spectators from all the flats on the
staircase grew denser and denser, but they did not venture be-
yond the threshold. A single candle-end lighted up the scene.
At that moment Polenka forced her way through the crowd
at the door. She came in panting from running so fast, took off
her kerchief, looked for her mother, went up to her and said,
"She's coming, I met her in the street." Her mother made herkneel beside her.
Timidly and noiselessly a young girl made her way through
the crowd, and strange was her appearance in that room, in the
midst of want, rags, death and despair. She, too, was in rags,
her attire was all of the cheapest, but decked out in gutter finery
of a special stamp, unmistakably betraying its shameful purpose.
Sonia stopped short in the doorway and looked about her be-
wildered, unconscious of everything. She forgot her fourth-
hand, gaudy silk dress, so unseemly here with its ridiculous long
train, and her immense crinoline that filled up the whole door-
way, and her light-coloured shoes, and the parasol she brought
with her, though it was no use at night, and the absurd round
straw hat with its flaring flame-coloured feather. Under this
rakishly-tilted hat was a pale, frightened little face with lips
parted and eyes staring in terror. Sonia was a small thin girl of
eighteen with fair hair, rather pretty, with wonderful blue eyes.
She looked intently at the bed and the priest; she too was out
of breath with running. At last whispers, some words in the
crowd probably, reached her. She looked down and took a step
forward into the room, still keeping close to the door.
The service was over. Katerina Ivanovna went up to her
husband again. The priest stepped back and turned to say a few
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