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"It was not because of your dishonour and your sin I said that of

you, but because of your great suffering. But you are a great

sinner, that's true," he added almost solemnly, "and your worst

sin is that you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing.

Isn't that fearful? Isn't it fearful that you are living in this

filth which you loathe so, and at the same time you know yourself

(you've only to open your eyes) that you are not helping anyone

by it, not saving anyone from anything? Tell me," he went on

almost in a frenzy, "how this shame and degradation can exist in

you side by side with other, opposite, holy feelings? It would be

better, a thousand times better and wiser to leap into the water

and end it all!"

"But what would become of them?" Sonia asked faintly, gazing at

him with eyes of anguish, but not seeming surprised at his

suggestion.