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"Yes, I see myself now that I am almost well," said Raskolnikov,

giving his mother and sister a kiss of welcome which made

Pulcheria Alexandrovna radiant at once. "And I don't say this _as

I did yesterday_," he said, addressing Razumihin, with a friendly

pressure of his hand.

"Yes, indeed, I am quite surprised at him to-day," began

Zossimov, much delighted at the ladies' entrance, for he had not

succeeded in keeping up a conversation with his patient for ten

minutes. "In another three or four days, if he goes on like this,

he will be just as before, that is, as he was a month ago, or

two... or perhaps even three. This has been coming on for a long

while.... eh? Confess, now, that it has been perhaps your own

fault?" he added, with a tentative smile, as though still afraid

of irritating him.

"It is very possible," answered Raskolnikov coldly.