PossiblyKaterinaIvanovnafeltobligedtohonourthememoryofthedeceased“suitably,”thatallthelodgers,andstillmoreAmaliaIvanovna,mightknow“thathewasinnowaytheirinferior,andperhapsverymuchtheirsuperior,”andthatnoonehadtheright“toturnuphisnoseathim.”
Perhapsthechiefelementwasthatpeculiar“poorman’spride,”whichcompelsmanypoorpeopletospendtheirlastsavingsonsometraditionalsocialceremony,simplyinordertodo“likeotherpeople,”andnotto“belookeddownupon.”
Itisveryprobable,too,thatKaterinaIvanovnalongedonthisoccasion,atthemomentwhensheseemedtobeabandonedbyeveryone,toshowthose“wretchedcontemptiblelodgers”thatsheknew“howtodothings,howtoentertain”andthatshehadbeenbroughtup“inagenteel,shemightalmostsayaristocraticcolonel’sfamily”andhadnotbeenmeantforsweepingfloorsandwashingthechildren’sragsatnight.
Eventhepoorestandmostbroken-spiritedpeoplearesometimesliabletotheseparoxysmsofprideandvanitywhichtaketheformofanirresistiblenervouscraving.
AndKaterinaIvanovnawasnotbroken-spirited;shemighthavebeenkilledbycircumstance,butherspiritcouldnothavebeenbroken,thatis,shecouldnothavebeenintimidated,herwillcouldnotbecrushed.
Besidesthetraditionalriceandhoney,therewerethreeorfourdishes,oneofwhichconsistedofpancakes,allpreparedinAmaliaIvanovna’skitchen.
KaterinaIvanovnahadherselfseentopurchasingtheprovisions,withthehelpofoneofthelodgers,anunfortunatelittlePolewhohadsomehowbeenstrandedatMadameLippevechsel’s.
HepromptlyputhimselfatKaterinaIvanovna’sdisposalandhadbeenallthatmorningandallthedaybeforerunningaboutasfastashislegscouldcarryhim,andveryanxiousthateveryoneshouldbeawareofit.
Shewasheartilysickofhimbeforetheend,thoughshehaddeclaredatfirstthatshecouldnothavegotonwithoutthis“serviceableandmagnanimousman.”
Herpraisesweresoexaggeratedassometimestobeembarrassing;shewouldinventvariouscircumstancestothecreditofhernewacquaintanceandquitegenuinelybelieveintheirreality.
Thenallofasuddenshewouldbedisillusionedandwouldrudelyandcontemptuouslyrepulsethepersonshehadonlyafewhoursbeforebeenliterallyadoring.
Shewasnaturallyofagay,livelyandpeace-lovingdisposition,butfromcontinualfailuresandmisfortunesshehadcometodesiresokeenlythatallshouldliveinpeaceandjoyandshouldnotdaretobreakthepeace,thattheslightestjar,thesmallestdisasterreducedheralmosttofrenzy,andshewouldpassinaninstantfromthebrightesthopesandfanciestocursingherfateandraving,andknockingherheadagainstthewall.
AmaliaIvanovna,too,suddenlyacquiredextraordinaryimportanceinKaterinaIvanovna’seyesandwastreatedbyherwithextraordinaryrespect,probablyonlybecauseAmaliaIvanovnahadthrownherselfheartandsoulintothepreparations.
Shehadundertakentolaythetable,toprovidethelinen,crockery,etc.,andtocookthedishesinherkitchen,andKaterinaIvanovnahadleftitallinherhandsandgoneherselftothecemetery.Everythinghadbeenwelldone.
Eventhetable-clothwasnearlyclean;thecrockery,knives,forksandglasseswere,ofcourse,ofallshapesandpatterns,lentbydifferentlodgers,butthetablewasproperlylaidatthetimefixed,andAmaliaIvanovna,feelingshehaddoneherworkwell,hadputonablacksilkdressandacapwithnewmourningribbonsandmetthereturningpartywithsomepride.
Thispride,thoughjustifiable,displeasedKaterinaIvanovnaforsomereason:“asthoughthetablecouldnothavebeenlaidexceptbyAmaliaIvanovna!”
“Couldshebestuckup,thestupidGerman,becauseshewasmistressofthehouse,andhadconsentedasafavourtohelpherpoorlodgers!Asafavour!Fancythat!
KaterinaIvanovna’sfatherwhohadbeenacolonelandalmostagovernorhadsometimeshadthetablesetforfortypersons,andthenanyonelikeAmaliaIvanovna,orratherLudwigovna,wouldnothavebeenallowedintothekitchen.”
KaterinaIvanovna,however,putoffexpressingherfeelingsforthetimeandcontentedherselfwithtreatinghercoldly,thoughshedecidedinwardlythatshewouldcertainlyhavetoputAmaliaIvanovnadownandsetherinherproperplace,forgoodnessonlyknewwhatshewasfancyingherself.
KaterinaIvanovnawasirritatedtoobythefactthathardlyanyofthelodgersinvitedhadcometothefuneral,exceptthePolewhohadjustmanagedtorunintothecemetery,whiletothememorialdinnerthepoorestandmostinsignificantofthemhadturnedup,thewretchedcreatures,manyofthemnotquitesober.
PyotrPetrovitchLuzhin,forinstance,whomightbesaidtobethemostrespectableofallthelodgers,didnotappear,thoughKaterinaIvanovnahadtheeveningbeforetoldalltheworld,thatisAmaliaIvanovna,Polenka,SoniaandthePole,thathewasthemostgenerous,noble-heartedmanwithalargepropertyandvastconnections,whohadbeenafriendofherfirsthusband’s,andaguestinherfather’shouse,andthathehadpromisedtouseallhisinfluencetosecureheraconsiderablepension.
ItmustbenotedthatwhenKaterinaIvanovnaexaltedanyone’sconnectionsandfortune,itwaswithoutanyulteriormotive,quitedisinterestedly,forthemerepleasureofaddingtotheconsequenceofthepersonpraised.
Probably“takinghiscue”fromLuzhin,“thatcontemptiblewretchLebeziatnikovhadnotturnedupeither.Whatdidhefancyhimself?
HewasonlyaskedoutofkindnessandbecausehewassharingthesameroomwithPyotrPetrovitchandwasafriendofhis,sothatitwouldhavebeenawkwardnottoinvitehim.”
Amongthosewhofailedtoappearwere“thegenteelladyandherold-maidishdaughter,”whohadonlybeenlodgersinthehouseforthelastfortnight,buthadseveraltimescomplainedofthenoiseanduproarinKaterinaIvanovna’sroom,especiallywhenMarmeladovhadcomebackdrunk.
KaterinaIvanovnaheardthisfromAmaliaIvanovnawho,quarrellingwithKaterinaIvanovna,andthreateningtoturnthewholefamilyoutofdoors,hadshoutedatherthatthey“werenotworththefoot”ofthehonourablelodgerswhomtheyweredisturbing.
KaterinaIvanovnadeterminednowtoinvitethisladyandherdaughter,“whosefootshewasnotworth,”andwhohadturnedawayhaughtilywhenshecasuallymetthem,sothattheymightknowthat“shewasmorenobleinherthoughtsandfeelingsanddidnotharbourmalice,”andmightseethatshewasnotaccustomedtoherwayofliving.
Shehadproposedtomakethiscleartothematdinnerwithallusionstoherlatefather’sgovernorship,andalsoatthesametimetohintthatitwasexceedinglystupidofthemtoturnawayonmeetingher.
Thefatcolonel-major(hewasreallyadischargedofficeroflowrank)wasalsoabsent,butitappearedthathehadbeen“nothimself”forthelasttwodays.
ThepartyconsistedofthePole,awretchedlookingclerkwithaspottyfaceandagreasycoat,whohadnotawordtosayforhimself,andsmeltabominably,adeafandalmostblindoldmanwhohadoncebeeninthepostofficeandwhohadbeenfromimmemorialagesmaintainedbysomeoneatAmaliaIvanovna’s.
Aretiredclerkofthecommissariatdepartmentcame,too;hewasdrunk,hadaloudandmostunseemlylaughandonlyfancy—waswithoutawaistcoat!
Finallyonepersonhavingnosuitappearedinhisdressing-gown,butthiswastoomuch,andtheeffortsofAmaliaIvanovnaandthePolesucceededinremovinghim.
ThePolebroughtwithhim,however,twootherPoleswhodidnotliveatAmaliaIvanovna’sandwhomnoonehadseenherebefore.
Tomakeroomforthevisitorsthechildrenhadnotevenbeenlaidforatthetable;butthetwolittleonesweresittingonabenchinthefurthestcornerwiththeirdinnerlaidonabox,whilePolenkaasabiggirlhadtolookafterthem,feedthem,andkeeptheirnoseswipedlikewell-bredchildren’s.
RushingtotheconclusionthatAmaliaIvanovnamustberesponsibleforthosewhowereabsent,shebegantreatingherwithextremenonchalance,whichthelatterpromptlyobservedandresented.
KaterinaIvanovnawasgreatlydelightedtoseehim,inthefirstplace,becausehewastheone“educatedvisitor,and,aseveryoneknew,wasintwoyearstotakeaprofessorshipintheuniversity,”andsecondlybecauseheimmediatelyandrespectfullyapologisedforhavingbeenunabletobeatthefuneral.
Inspiteofhercontinualanxietythatthedishesshouldbepassedroundcorrectlyandthateveryoneshouldtastethem,inspiteoftheagonisingcoughwhichinterruptedhereveryminuteandseemedtohavegrownworseduringthelastfewdays,shehastenedtopouroutinahalfwhispertoRaskolnikovallhersuppressedfeelingsandherjustindignationatthefailureofthedinner,interspersingherremarkswithlivelyanduncontrollablelaughterattheexpenseofhervisitorsandespeciallyofherlandlady.
“Lookather,she’smakingroundeyes,shefeelsthatwearetalkingaboutherandcan’tunderstand.Pfoo,theowl!Ha-ha!(Cough-cough-cough.)Andwhatdoessheputonthatcapfor?(Cough-cough-cough.)
Iaskedherlikeasensiblewomantoinvitepeople,especiallythosewhoknewmylatehusband,andlookatthesetoffoolsshehasbrought!Thesweeps!Lookatthatonewiththespottyface.AndthosewretchedPoles,ha-ha-ha!(Cough-cough-cough.)
shecriedsuddenlytooneofthem,“haveyoutastedthepancakes?Takesomemore!Havesomebeer!Won’tyouhavesomevodka?
sheaddressedhersuddenly,almostaloud,“ifyourspoonsshouldhappentobestolen,Iwon’tberesponsible,Iwarnyou!Ha-ha-ha!”
“Shedidn’tunderstand,shedidn’tunderstandagain!Lookhowshesitswithhermouthopen!Anowl,arealowl!Anowlinnewribbons,ha-ha-ha!”
SheshowedRaskolnikovthebloodinsilence,andassoonasshecouldgetherbreathbeganwhisperingtohimagainwithextremeanimationandahecticflushonhercheeks.
“Doyouknow,Igaveherthemostdelicateinstructions,sotospeak,forinvitingthatladyandherdaughter,youunderstandofwhomIamspeaking?
Itneededtheutmostdelicacy,thegreatestnicety,butshehasmanagedthingssothatthatfool,thatconceitedbaggage,thatprovincialnonentity,simplybecausesheisthewidowofamajor,andhascometotryandgetapensionandtofrayoutherskirtsinthegovernmentoffices,becauseatfiftyshepaintsherface(everybodyknowsit)...acreaturelikethatdidnotthinkfittocome,andhasnotevenansweredtheinvitation,whichthemostordinarygoodmannersrequired!
Ican’tunderstandwhyPyotrPetrovitchhasnotcome?Butwhere’sSonia?Wherehasshegone?Ah,theresheisatlast!whatisit,Sonia,wherehaveyoubeen?
Havesomeofthecoldentréewithjelly,that’sthebest.They’llbringthepancakesdirectly.Havetheygiventhechildrensome?Polenka,haveyougoteverything?(Cough-cough-cough.)That’sallright.
SoniahastenedtogiveherPyotrPetrovitch’sapologies,tryingtospeakloudenoughforeveryonetohearandcarefullychoosingthemostrespectfulphraseswhichsheattributedtoPyotrPetrovitch.
SheaddedthatPyotrPetrovitchhadparticularlytoldhertosaythat,assoonashepossiblycould,hewouldcomeimmediatelytodiscussbusinessalonewithherandtoconsiderwhatcouldbedoneforher,etc.,etc.
NeithershenorKaterinaIvanovnahadbeenabletogetmourning;Soniawaswearingdarkbrown,andKaterinaIvanovnahadonheronlydress,adarkstripedcottonone.
ListeningtoSoniawithdignity,KaterinaIvanovnainquiredwithequaldignityhowPyotrPetrovitchwas,thenatoncewhisperedalmostaloudtoRaskolnikovthatitcertainlywouldhavebeenstrangeforamanofPyotrPetrovitch’spositionandstandingtofindhimselfinsuch“extraordinarycompany,”inspiteofhisdevotiontoherfamilyandhisoldfriendshipwithherfather.
“That’swhyIamsogratefultoyou,RodionRomanovitch,thatyouhavenotdisdainedmyhospitality,eveninsuchsurroundings,”sheaddedalmostaloud.
Thenoncemorewithprideanddignityshescannedhervisitors,andsuddenlyinquiredaloudacrossthetableofthedeafman:“Wouldn’thehavesomemoremeat,andhadhebeengivensomewine?”
Theoldmanmadenoanswerandforalongwhilecouldnotunderstandwhathewasasked,thoughhisneighboursamusedthemselvesbypokingandshakinghim.
ButastoPyotrPetrovitch,Ialwayshadconfidenceinhim,”KaterinaIvanovnacontinued,“and,ofcourse,heisnotlike…”withanextremelysternfacesheaddressedAmaliaIvanovnasosharplyandloudlythatthelatterwasquitedisconcerted,“notlikeyourdressedupdraggletailswhommyfatherwouldnothavetakenascooksintohiskitchen,andmylatehusbandwouldhavedonethemhonourifhehadinvitedtheminthegoodnessofhisheart.”
“Yes,hewasfondofdrink,hewasfondofit,hediddrink!”criedthecommissariatclerk,gulpingdownhistwelfthglassofvodka.
“Mylatehusbandcertainlyhadthatweakness,andeveryoneknowsit,”KaterinaIvanovnaattackedhimatonce,“buthewasakindandhonourableman,wholovedandrespectedhisfamily.
Theworstofitwashisgoodnaturemadehimtrustallsortsofdisreputablepeople,andhedrankwithfellowswhowerenotworththesoleofhisshoe.
Wouldyoubelieveit,RodionRomanovitch,theyfoundagingerbreadcockinhispocket;hewasdeaddrunk,buthedidnotforgetthechildren!”
“Nodoubtyouthink,likeeveryone,thatIwastooseverewithhim,”shewenton,addressingRaskolnikov.“Butthat’snotso!
Hewouldsitinacornerandlookatme,Iusedtofeelsosorryforhim,Iusedtowanttobekindtohimandthenwouldthinktomyself:‘Bekindtohimandhewilldrinkagain,’itwasonlybyseveritythatyoucouldkeephimwithinbounds.”
“Yes,heusedtogethishairpulledprettyoften,”roaredthecommissariatclerkagain,swallowinganotherglassofvodka.
“Somefoolswouldbethebetterforagooddrubbing,aswellashavingtheirhairpulled.Iamnottalkingofmylatehusbandnow!”KaterinaIvanovnasnappedathim.
“Allowmetoaskwhatareyoualludingto,”begantheclerk,“thatistosay,whose…aboutwhom…didyousayjustnow…ButIdon’tcare!That’snonsense!Widow!Iforgiveyou….Pass!”
Heonlyatefrompoliteness,justtastingthefoodthatKaterinaIvanovnawascontinuallyputtingonhisplate,toavoidhurtingherfeelings.HewatchedSoniaintently.
ButSoniabecamemoreandmoreanxiousanddistressed;she,too,foresawthatthedinnerwouldnotendpeaceably,andsawwithterrorKaterinaIvanovna’sgrowingirritation.
Sheknewthatshe,Sonia,wasthechiefreasonforthe‘genteel’ladies’contemptuoustreatmentofKaterinaIvanovna’sinvitation.
ShehadheardfromAmaliaIvanovnathatthemotherwaspositivelyoffendedattheinvitationandhadaskedthequestion:“Howcouldsheletherdaughtersitdownbeside_thatyoungperson_?”
SoniahadafeelingthatKaterinaIvanovnahadalreadyheardthisandaninsulttoSoniameantmoretoKaterinaIvanovnathananinsulttoherself,herchildren,orherfather,SoniaknewthatKaterinaIvanovnawouldnotbesatisfiednow,“tillshehadshownthosedraggletailsthattheywereboth…”TomakemattersworsesomeonepassedSonia,fromtheotherendofthetable,aplatewithtwoheartspiercedwithanarrow,cutoutofblackbread.
AmaliaIvanovnawasforeseeingsomethingamiss,andatthesametimedeeplywoundedbyKaterinaIvanovna’shaughtiness,andtorestorethegood-humourofthecompanyandraiseherselfintheiresteemshebegan,aproposofnothing,tellingastoryaboutanacquaintanceofhers“Karlfromthechemist’s,”whowasdrivingonenightinacab,andthat“thecabmanwantedhimtokill,andKarlverymuchbeggedhimnottokill,andweptandclaspedhands,andfrightenedandfromfearpiercedhisheart.”
ThoughKaterinaIvanovnasmiled,sheobservedatoncethatAmaliaIvanovnaoughtnottotellanecdotesinRussian;thelatterwasstillmoreoffended,andsheretortedthather“VaterausBerlinwasaveryimportantman,andalwayswentwithhishandsinpockets.”
KaterinaIvanovnacouldnotrestrainherselfandlaughedsomuchthatAmaliaIvanovnalostpatienceandcouldscarcelycontrolherself.
“Listentotheowl!”KaterinaIvanovnawhisperedatonce,hergood-humouralmostrestored,“shemeanttosayhekepthishandsinhispockets,butshesaidheputhishandsinpeople’spockets.(Cough-cough.)
Andhaveyounoticed,RodionRomanovitch,thatallthesePetersburgforeigners,theGermansespecially,areallstupiderthanwe!
Canyoufancyanyoneofustellinghow‘Karlfromthechemist’s’‘piercedhisheartfromfear’andthattheidiot,insteadofpunishingthecabman,‘claspedhishandsandwept,andmuchbegged.’Ah,thefool!
Tomythinkingthatdrunkencommissariatclerkisagreatdealcleverer,anywayonecanseethathehasaddledhisbrainswithdrink,butyouknow,theseforeignersarealwayssowellbehavedandserious….Lookhowshesitsglaring!Sheisangry,ha-ha!(Cough-cough-cough.)”
Regaininghergood-humour,KaterinaIvanovnabeganatoncetellingRaskolnikovthatwhenshehadobtainedherpension,sheintendedtoopenaschoolforthedaughtersofgentlemeninhernativetownT——.
ItsuddenlyappearedthatKaterinaIvanovnahadinherhandstheverycertificateofhonourofwhichMarmeladovhadspokentoRaskolnikovinthetavern,whenhetoldhimthatKaterinaIvanovna,hiswife,haddancedtheshawldancebeforethegovernorandothergreatpersonagesonleavingschool.
ThiscertificateofhonourwasobviouslyintendednowtoproveKaterinaIvanovna’srighttoopenaboarding-school;butshehadarmedherselfwithitchieflywiththeobjectofoverwhelming“thosetwostuck-updraggletails”iftheycametothedinner,andprovingincontestablythatKaterinaIvanovnawasofthemostnoble,“shemightevensayaristocraticfamily,acolonel’sdaughterandwasfarsuperiortocertainadventuresseswhohavebeensomuchtotheforeoflate.”
Thecertificateofhonourimmediatelypassedintothehandsofthedrunkenguests,andKaterinaIvanovnadidnottrytoretainit,foritactuallycontainedthestatemententouteslettres,thatherfatherwasoftherankofamajor,andalsoacompanionofanorder,sothatshereallywasalmostthedaughterofacolonel.
Warmingup,KaterinaIvanovnaproceededtoenlargeonthepeacefulandhappylifetheywouldleadinT——,onthegymnasiumteacherswhomshewouldengagetogivelessonsinherboarding-school,oneamostrespectableoldFrenchman,oneMangot,whohadtaughtKaterinaIvanovnaherselfinolddaysandwasstilllivinginT——,andwouldnodoubtteachinherschoolonmoderateterms.
ThoughKaterinaIvanovnatriedtoappeartobedisdainfullyunawareofit,sheraisedhervoiceandbeganatoncespeakingwithconvictionofSonia’sundoubtedabilitytoassisther,of“hergentleness,patience,devotion,generosityandgoodeducation,”tappingSoniaonthecheekandkissingherwarmlytwice.
Soniaflushedcrimson,andKaterinaIvanovnasuddenlyburstintotears,immediatelyobservingthatshewas“nervousandsilly,thatshewastoomuchupset,thatitwastimetofinish,andasthedinnerwasover,itwastimetohandroundthetea.”
Atthatmoment,AmaliaIvanovna,deeplyaggrievedattakingnopartintheconversation,andnotbeinglistenedto,madeonelasteffort,andwithsecretmisgivingsventuredonanexceedinglydeepandweightyobservation,that“inthefutureboarding-schoolshewouldhavetopayparticularattentiontodieW�?
sche,andthattherecertainlymustbeagooddametolookafterthelinen,andsecondlythattheyoungladiesmustnotnovelsatnightread.”
KaterinaIvanovna,whocertainlywasupsetandverytired,aswellasheartilysickofthedinner,atoncecutshortAmaliaIvanovna,saying“sheknewnothingaboutitandwastalkingnonsense,thatitwasthebusinessofthelaundrymaid,andnotofthedirectressofahigh-classboarding-schooltolookafterdieWaesche,andasfornovel-reading,thatwassimplyrudeness,andshebeggedhertobesilent.”
AmaliaIvanovnafiredupandgettingangryobservedthatsheonly“meanthergood,”andthat“shehadmeantherverygood,”andthat“itwaslongsinceshehadpaidhergoldforthelodgings.”
KaterinaIvanovnaatonce“setherdown,”sayingthatitwasalietosayshewishedhergood,becauseonlyyesterdaywhenherdeadhusbandwaslyingonthetable,shehadworriedheraboutthelodgings.
TothisAmaliaIvanovnaveryappropriatelyobservedthatshehadinvitedthoseladies,but“thoseladieshadnotcome,becausethoseladiesareladiesandcannotcometoaladywhoisnotalady.”
AmaliaIvanovnaatoncedeclaredthather“VaterausBerlinwasavery,veryimportantman,andbothhandsinpocketswent,andalwaysusedtosay:‘Poof!poof!
’”andsheleaptupfromthetabletorepresentherfather,stickingherhandsinherpockets,puffinghercheeks,andutteringvaguesoundsresembling“poof!poof!”
ButthiswastoomuchforKaterinaIvanovna,andsheatoncedeclared,sothatallcouldhear,thatAmaliaIvanovnaprobablyneverhadafather,butwassimplyadrunkenPetersburgFinn,andhadcertainlyoncebeenacookandprobablysomethingworse.
AmaliaIvanovnaturnedasredasalobsterandsquealedthatperhapsKaterinaIvanovnaneverhadafather,“butshehadaVaterausBerlinandthatheworealongcoatandalwayssaidpoof-poof-poof!”
KaterinaIvanovnaobservedcontemptuouslythatallknewwhatherfamilywasandthatonthatverycertificateofhonouritwasstatedinprintthatherfatherwasacolonel,whileAmaliaIvanovna’sfather—ifshereallyhadone—wasprobablysomeFinnishmilkman,butthatprobablysheneverhadafatheratall,sinceitwasstilluncertainwhetherhernamewasAmaliaIvanovnaorAmaliaLudwigovna.
AtthisAmaliaIvanovna,lashedtofury,struckthetablewithherfist,andshriekedthatshewasAmaliaIvanovna,andnotLudwigovna,“thatherVaterwasnamedJohannandthathewasaburgomeister,andthatKaterinaIvanovna’sVaterwasquiteneveraburgomeister.”
KaterinaIvanovnarosefromherchair,andwithasternandapparentlycalmvoice(thoughshewaspaleandherchestwasheaving)observedthat“ifshedaredforonemomenttosethercontemptiblewretchofafatheronalevelwithherpapa,she,KaterinaIvanovna,wouldtearhercapoffherheadandtrampleitunderfoot.”
AmaliaIvanovnaranabouttheroom,shoutingatthetopofhervoice,thatshewasmistressofthehouseandthatKaterinaIvanovnashouldleavethelodgingsthatminute;thensherushedforsomereasontocollectthesilverspoonsfromthetable.
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