Преступление и наказание

           “Didyourfatherloveyou?”

           “HelovedLidamost,”shewentonveryseriouslywithoutasmile,exactlylikegrown-uppeople,“helovedherbecausesheislittleandbecausesheisill,too.Andhealwaysusedtobringherpresents.Buthetaughtustoreadandmegrammarandscripture,too,”sheaddedwithdignity.“Andmotherneverusedtosayanything,butweknewthatshelikeditandfatherknewit,too.AndmotherwantstoteachmeFrench,forit’stimemyeducationbegan.”

           “Anddoyouknowyourprayers?”

           “Ofcourse,wedo!Weknewthemlongago.IsaymyprayerstomyselfasIamabiggirlnow,butKolyaandLidasaythemaloudwithmother.Firsttheyrepeatthe‘AveMaria’andthenanotherprayer:‘Lord,forgiveandblesssisterSonia,’andthenanother,‘Lord,forgiveandblessoursecondfather.’Forourelderfatherisdeadandthisisanotherone,butwedoprayfortheotheraswell.”

           “Polenka,mynameisRodion.Praysometimesforme,too.‘AndThyservantRodion,’nothingmore.”

           “I’llprayforyoualltherestofmylife,”thelittlegirldeclaredhotly,andsuddenlysmilingagainsherushedathimandhuggedhimwarmlyoncemore.

           Raskolnikovtoldherhisnameandaddressandpromisedtobesuretocomenextday.Thechildwentawayquiteenchantedwithhim.Itwaspasttenwhenhecameoutintothestreet.Infiveminuteshewasstandingonthebridgeatthespotwherethewomanhadjumpedin.

           “Enough,”hepronouncedresolutelyandtriumphantly.