第547页 / 共1294页

"A-ah! And do you remember, mother, I was in love and wanted to

get married?" he said suddenly, looking at his mother, who was

disconcerted by the sudden change of subject and the way he spoke

of it.

"Oh, yes, my dear."

Pulcheria Alexandrovna exchanged glances with Dounia and

Razumihin.

"H'm, yes. What shall I tell you? I don't remember much indeed.

She was such a sickly girl," he went on, growing dreamy and

looking down again. "Quite an invalid. She was fond of giving

alms to the poor, and was always dreaming of a nunnery, and once

she burst into tears when she began talking to me about it. Yes,

yes, I remember. I remember very well. She was an ugly little

thing. I really don't know what drew me to her then--I think it

was because she was always ill. If she had been lame or

hunchback, I believe I should have liked her better still," he

smiled dreamily. "Yes, it was a sort of spring delirium."

"No, it was not only spring delirium," said Dounia, with warm

feeling.