Chapter 8

           WhenhewentintoSonia’sroom,itwasalreadygettingdark.AlldaySoniahadbeenwaitingforhiminterribleanxiety.Douniahadbeenwaitingwithher.Shehadcometoherthatmorning,rememberingSvidrigaïlov’swordsthatSoniaknew.Wewillnotdescribetheconversationandtearsofthetwogirls,andhowfriendlytheybecame.Douniagainedonecomfortatleastfromthatinterview,thatherbrotherwouldnotbealone.Hehadgonetoher,Sonia,firstwithhisconfession;hehadgonetoherforhumanfellowshipwhenheneededit;shewouldgowithhimwhereverfatemightsendhim.Douniadidnotask,butsheknewitwasso.ShelookedatSoniaalmostwithreverenceandatfirstalmostembarrassedherbyit.Soniawasalmostonthepointoftears.Shefeltherself,onthecontrary,hardlyworthytolookatDounia.Dounia’sgraciousimagewhenshehadbowedtohersoattentivelyandrespectfullyattheirfirstmeetinginRaskolnikov’sroomhadremainedinhermindasoneofthefairestvisionsofherlife.

           Douniaatlastbecameimpatientand,leavingSonia,wenttoherbrother’sroomtoawaithimthere;shekeptthinkingthathewouldcometherefirst.Whenshehadgone,Soniabegantobetorturedbythedreadofhiscommittingsuicide,andDouniatoofearedit.Buttheyhadspentthedaytryingtopersuadeeachotherthatthatcouldnotbe,andbothwerelessanxiouswhiletheyweretogether.Assoonastheyparted,eachthoughtofnothingelse.