crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第102章
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Lebeziatnikov had spoken was not there； at least Raskolnikov did not
see it。 But instead of rapping on the pan； Katerina Ivanovna began
clapping her wasted hands； when she made Lida and Kolya dance and
Polenka sing。 She too joined in the singing； but broke down at the
second note with a fearful cough； which made her curse in despair
and even shed tears。 What made her most furious was the weeping and
terror of Kolya and Lida。 Some effort had been made to dress the
children up as street singers are dressed。 The boy had on a turban
made of something red and white to look like a Turk。 There had been no
costume for Lida； she simply had a red knitted cap； or rather a
night cap that had belonged to Marmeladov； decorated with a broken
piece of white ostrich feather； which had been Katerina Ivanovna's
grandmother's and had been preserved as a family possession。 Polenka
was in her everyday dress； she looked in timid perplexity at her
mother； and kept at her side； hiding her tears。 She dimly realised her
mother's condition； and looked uneasily about her。 She was terribly
frightened of the street and the crowd。 Sonia followed Katerina
Ivanovna； weeping and beseeching her to return home； but Katerina
Ivanovna was not to be persuaded。
〃Leave off； Sonia； leave off；〃 she shouted； speaking fast； panting
and coughing。 〃You don't know what you ask； you are like a child！ I've
told you before that I am not coming back to that drunken German。
Let every one； let all Petersburg see the children begging in the
streets； though their father was an honourable man who served all
his life in truth and fidelity； and one may say died in the
service。〃 （Katerina Ivanovna had by now invented this fantastic
story and thoroughly believed it。） 〃Let that wretch of a general see
it！ And you are silly； Sonia： what have we to eat？ Tell me that。 We
have worried you enough； I won't go on so！ Ah； Rodion Romanovitch；
is that you？〃 she cried； seeing Raskolnikov and rushing up to him。
〃Explain to this silly girl； please； that nothing better could be
done！ Even organ…grinders earn their living； and every one will see at
once that we are different； that we are an honourable and bereaved
family reduced to beggary。 And that general will lose his post； you'll
see！ We shall perform under his windows every day； and if the Tsar
drives by； I'll fall on my knees； put the children before me； show
them to him； and say 'Defend us； father。' He is the father of the
fatherless； he is merciful； he'll protect us； you'll see； and that
wretch of a general。。。。 Lida； tenez vous droite！ Kolya； you'll dance
again。 Why are you whimpering？ Whimpering again！ What are you afraid
of； stupid？ Goodness； what am I to do with them； Rodion Romanovitch？
If you only knew how stupid they are！ What's one to do with such
children？〃
And she； almost crying herself… which did not stop her
uninterrupted； rapid flow of talk… pointed to the crying children。
Raskolnikov tried to persuade her to go home； and even said； hoping to
work on her vanity； that it was unseemly for her to be wandering about
the streets like an organ…grinder； as she was intending to become
the principal of a boarding…school。
〃A boarding…school； ha…ha…ha！ A castle in the air；〃 cried Katerina
Ivanovna； her laugh ending in a cough。 〃No； Rodion Romanovitch； that
dream is over！ All have forsaken us！。。。 And that general。。。。 You know；
Rodion Romanovitch； I threw an inkspot at him… it happened to be
standing in the waiting…room by the paper where you sign your name。
I wrote my name； threw it at him and ran away。 Oh the scoundrels；
the scoundrels！ But enough of them； now I'll provide for the
children myself； I won't bow down to anybody！ She has had to bear
enough for us！〃 she pointed to Sonia。 〃Polenka； how much have you got？
Show me！ What； only two farthings！ Oh； the mean wretches！ They give us
nothing； only run after us； putting their tongues out。 There； what
is that blockhead laughing at？〃 （She pointed to a man in the crowd。）
〃It's all because Kolya here is so stupid； I have such a bother with
him。 What do you want； Polenka？ Tell me in French； parlez moi
francais。 Why； I've taught you； you know some phrases。 Else how are
you to show that you are of good family； well brought…up children； and
not at all like other organ…grinders？ We aren't going to have a
Punch and Judy show in the street； but to sing a genteel song。。。。
Ah； yes；。。。 What are we to sing？ You keep putting me out； but we。。。
you see； we are standing here； Rodion Romanovitch； to find something
to sing and get money； something Kolya can dance to。。。。 For； as you
can fancy； our performance is all impromptu。。。。 We must talk it over
and rehearse it all thoroughly； and then we shall go to Nevsky；
where there are far more people of good society； and we shall be
noticed at once。 Lida knows 'My Village' only； nothing but 'My
Village；' and every one sings that。 We must sing something far more
genteel。。。。 Well； have you thought of anything； Polenka？ If only you'd
help your mother！ My memory's quite gone； or I should have thought
of something。 We really can't sing 'An Hussar。' Ah； let us sing in
French； 'Cinq sous；' I have taught it you； I have taught it you。 And
as it is in French； people will see at once that you are children of
good family； and that will be much more touching。。。。 You might sing
'Marlborough s'en va…t…en guerre；' for that's quite a child's song and
is sung as a lullaby in all the aristocratic houses。
…
Marlborough s'en va…t…en guerre
Ne sait quand reviendra。。。
…
she began singing。 〃But no； better sing 'Cinq sous。' Now； Kolya；
your hands on your hips； make haste； and you； Lida； keep turning the
other way； and Polenka and I will sing and clap our hands！
…
Cinq sous； cinq sous
Pour monter notre menage。
…
（Cough…cough…cough！） Set your dress straight； Polenka； it's
slipped down on your shoulders；〃 she observed； panting from
coughing。 〃Now it's particularly necessary to behave nicely and
genteelly； that all may see that you are well…born children。 I said at
the time that the bodice should be cut longer； and made of two widths。
It was your fault； Sonia； with your advice to make it shorter； and now
you see the child is quite deformed by it。。。。 Why； you're all crying
again！ What's the matter； stupids？ Come； Kolya； begin。 Make haste；
make haste！ Oh； what an unbearable child！
…
Cinq sous； cinq sous。
…
A policeman again！ What do you want？〃
A policeman was indeed forcing his way through the crowd。 But at
that moment a gentleman in civilian uniform and an overcoat… a
solid…looking official of about fifty with a decoration on his neck
（which delighted Katerina Ivanovna and had its effect on the
policeman）… approached and without a word handed her a green
three…rouble note。 His face wore a look of genuine sympathy。
Katerina Ivanovna took it and gave him a polite； even ceremonious；
bow。
〃I thank you； honoured sir；〃 she began loftily。 〃The causes that
have induced us （take the money； Polenka： you see there are generous
and honourable people who are ready to help a poor gentlewoman in
distress）。 You see； honoured sir； these orphans of good family… I
might even say of aristocratic connections… and that wretch of a
general sat eating grouse。。。 and stamped at my disturbing him。 'Your
excellency；' I said； 'protect the orphans； for you knew my late
husband； Semyon Zaharovitch； and on the very day of his death the
basest of scoundrels slandered his only daughter。'。。。 That policeman
again！ Protect me；〃 she cried to the official。 〃Why is that
policeman edging up to me？ We have only just run away from one of
them。 What do you want； fool？〃
〃It's forbidden in the streets。 You mustn't make a disturbance。〃
〃It's you're making a disturbance。 It's just the same as if I were
grinding an organ。 What business is it of yours？〃
〃You have to get a licence for an organ； and you haven't got one；
and in that way you collect a crowd。 Where do you lodge？〃
〃What； a license？〃 wailed Katerina Ivanovna。 〃I buried my husband
to…day。 What need of a license？〃
〃Calm yourself； madam； calm yourself；〃 began the official。 〃Come
along； I will escort you。。。。 This is no place for you in the crowd。
You are ill。〃
〃Honoured sir； honoured sir； you don't know；〃 screamed Katerina
Ivanovna。 〃We are going to the Nevsky。。。。 Sonia； Sonia！ Where is
she？ She is crying too！ What's the matter with you all？ Kolya； Lida；
where are you going？〃 she cried suddenly in alarm。 〃Oh； silly
children！ Kolya； Lida； where are they off to？。。。〃
Kolya and Lida； scared out of their wits by the crowd； and their
mother's mad pranks； suddenly seized each other by the hand； and ran
off at the sight of the policeman who wanted to take them away
somewhere。 Weeping and wailing； poor Katerina Ivanovna
