Siberia。Onthebanksofabroadsolitaryriverstandsatown，oneoftheadministrativecentresofRussia；inthetownthereisafortress，inthefortressthereisaprison。Intheprisonthesecond-classconvictRodionRaskolnikovhasbeenconfinedforninemonths。Almostayearandahalfhaspassedsincehiscrime。
Therehadbeenlittledifficultyabouthistrial。Thecriminaladheredexactly，firmly，andclearlytohisstatement。Hedidnotconfusenormisrepresentthefacts，norsoftentheminhisowninterest，noromitthesmallestdetail。Heexplainedeveryincidentofthemurder，thesecretofthepledgethepieceofwoodwithastripofmetalwhichwasfoundinthemurderedwoman’shand。Hedescribedminutelyhowhehadtakenherkeys，whattheywerelike，aswellasthechestanditscontents；heexplainedthemysteryofLizaveta’smurder；describedhowKochand，afterhim，thestudentknocked，andrepeatedalltheyhadsaidtooneanother；howheafterwardshadrundownstairsandheardNikolayandDmitrishouting；howhehadhiddenintheemptyflatandafterwardsgonehome。HeendedbyindicatingthestoneintheyardofftheVoznesenskyProspectunderwhichthepurseandthetrinketswerefound。Thewholething，infact，wasperfectlyclear。Thelawyersandthejudgeswereverymuchstruck，amongotherthings，bythefactthathehadhiddenthetrinketsandthepurseunderastone，withoutmakinguseofthem，andthat，whatwasmore，hedidnotnowrememberwhatthetrinketswerelike，orevenhowmanytherewere。Thefactthathehadneveropenedthepurseanddidnotevenknowhowmuchwasinitseemedincredible。Thereturnedouttobeinthepursethreehundredandseventeenroublesandsixtycopecks。Frombeingsolongunderthestone，someofthemostvaluablenoteslyinguppermosthadsufferedfromthedamp。Theywerealongwhiletryingtodiscoverwhytheaccusedmanshouldtellalieaboutthis，whenabouteverythingelsehehadmadeatruthfulandstraightforwardconfession。Finallysomeofthelawyersmoreversedinpsychologyadmittedthatitwaspossiblehehadreallynotlookedintothepurse，andsodidn’tknowwhatwasinitwhenhehiditunderthestone。Buttheyimmediatelydrewthedeductionthatthecrimecouldonlyhavebeencommittedthroughtemporarymentalderangement，throughhomicidalmania，withoutobjectorthepursuitofgain。Thisfellinwiththemostrecentfashionabletheoryoftemporaryinsanity，sooftenappliedinourdaysincriminalcases。MoreoverRaskolnikov’shypochondriacalconditionwasprovedbymanywitnesses，byDr。Zossimov，hisformerfellowstudents，hislandladyandherservant。AllthispointedstronglytotheconclusionthatRaskolnikovwasnotquitelikeanordinarymurdererandrobber，butthattherewasanotherelementinthecase。
Totheintenseannoyanceofthosewhomaintainedthisopinion，thecriminalscarcelyattemptedtodefendhimself。Tothedecisivequestionastowhatmotiveimpelledhimtothemurderandtherobbery，heansweredveryclearlywiththecoarsestfranknessthatthecausewashismiserableposition，hispovertyandhelplessness，andhisdesiretoprovideforhisfirststepsinlifebythehelpofthethreethousandroubleshehadreckonedonfinding。Hehadbeenledtothemurderthroughhisshallowandcowardlynature，exasperatedmoreoverbyprivationandfailure。Tothequestionwhatledhimtoconfess，heansweredthatitwashisheartfeltrepentance。Allthiswasalmostcoarse。…
Thesentencehoweverwasmoremercifulthancouldhavebeenexpected，perhapspartlybecausethecriminalhadnottriedtojustifyhimself，buthadrathershownadesiretoexaggeratehisguilt。Allthestrangeandpeculiarcircumstancesofthecrimeweretakenintoconsideration。Therecouldbenodoubtoftheabnormalandpoverty-strickenconditionofthecriminalatthetime。Thefactthathehadmadenouseofwhathehadstolenwasputdownpartlytotheeffectofremorse，partlytohisabnormalmentalconditionatthetimeofthecrime。IncidentallythemurderofLizavetaservedindeedtoconfirmthelasthypothesis:amancommitstwomurdersandforgetsthatthedoorisopen！Finally，theconfession，attheverymomentwhenthecasewashopelesslymuddledbythefalseevidencegivenbyNikolaythroughmelancholyandfanaticism，andwhen，moreover，therewerenoproofsagainsttherealcriminal，nosuspicionsevenPorfiryPetrovitchfullykepthisword—allthisdidmuchtosoftenthesentence。Othercircumstances，too，intheprisoner’sfavourcameoutquiteunexpectedly。RazumihinsomehowdiscoveredandprovedthatwhileRaskolnikovwasattheuniversityhehadhelpedapoorconsumptivefellowstudentandhadspenthislastpennyonsupportinghimforsixmonths，andwhenthisstudentdied，leavingadecrepitoldfatherwhomhehadmaintainedalmostfromhisthirteenthyear，Raskolnikovhadgottheoldmanintoahospitalandpaidforhisfuneralwhenhedied。Raskolnikov’slandladyborewitness，too，thatwhentheyhadlivedinanotherhouseatFiveCorners，Raskolnikovhadrescuedtwolittlechildrenfromahouseonfireandwasburntindoingso。Thiswasinvestigatedandfairlywellconfirmedbymanywitnesses。Thesefactsmadeanimpressioninhisfavour。
Andintheendthecriminalwas，inconsiderationofextenuatingcircumstances，condemnedtopenalservitudeinthesecondclassforatermofeightyearsonly。
AttheverybeginningofthetrialRaskolnikov’smotherfellill。DouniaandRazumihinfounditpossibletogetheroutofPetersburgduringthetrial。RazumihinchoseatownontherailwaynotfarfromPetersburg，soastobeabletofolloweverystepofthetrialandatthesametimetoseeAvdotyaRomanovnaasoftenaspossible。PulcheriaAlexandrovna’sillnesswasastrangenervousoneandwasaccompaniedbyapartialderangementofherintellect。
WhenDouniareturnedfromherlastinterviewwithherbrother，shehadfoundhermotheralreadyill，infeverishdelirium。ThateveningRazumihinandsheagreedwhatanswerstheymustmaketohermother’squestionsaboutRaskolnikovandmadeupacompletestoryforhermother’sbenefitofhishavingtogoawaytoadistantpartofRussiaonabusinesscommission，whichwouldbringhimintheendmoneyandreputation。
ButtheywerestruckbythefactthatPulcheriaAlexandrovnaneveraskedthemanythingonthesubject，neitherthennorthereafter。Onthecontrary，shehadherownversionofherson’ssuddendeparture；shetoldthemwithtearshowhehadcometosaygood-byetoher，hintingthatshealoneknewmanymysteriousandimportantfacts，andthatRodyahadmanyverypowerfulenemies，sothatitwasnecessaryforhimtobeinhiding。Asforhisfuturecareer，shehadnodoubtthatitwouldbebrilliantwhencertainsinisterinfluencescouldberemoved。SheassuredRazumihinthathersonwouldbeonedayagreatstatesman，thathisarticleandbrilliantliterarytalentprovedit。Thisarticleshewascontinuallyreading，sheevenreaditaloud，almosttookittobedwithher，butscarcelyaskedwhereRodyawas，thoughthesubjectwasobviouslyavoidedbytheothers，whichmighthavebeenenoughtoawakenhersuspicions。
TheybegantobefrightenedatlastatPulcheriaAlexandrovna’sstrangesilenceoncertainsubjects。Shedidnot，forinstance，complainofgettingnolettersfromhim，thoughinpreviousyearsshehadonlylivedonthehopeoflettersfromherbelovedRodya。ThiswasthecauseofgreatuneasinesstoDounia；theideaoccurredtoherthathermothersuspectedthattherewassomethingterribleinherson’sfateandwasafraidtoask，forfearofhearingsomethingstillmoreawful。Inanycase，Douniasawclearlythathermotherwasnotinfullpossessionofherfaculties。
Ithappenedonceortwice，however，thatPulcheriaAlexandrovnagavesuchaturntotheconversationthatitwasimpossibletoanswerherwithoutmentioningwhereRodyawas，andonreceivingunsatisfactoryandsuspiciousanswersshebecameatoncegloomyandsilent，andthismoodlastedforalongtime。Douniasawatlastthatitwashardtodeceiveherandcametotheconclusionthatitwasbettertobeabsolutelysilentoncertainpoints；butitbecamemoreandmoreevidentthatthepoormothersuspectedsomethingterrible。Douniarememberedherbrother’stellingherthathermotherhadoverheardhertalkinginhersleeponthenightafterherinterviewwithSvidrigailovandbeforethefataldayoftheconfession:hadnotshemadeoutsomethingfromthat？Sometimesdaysandevenweeksofgloomysilenceandtearswouldbesucceededbyaperiodofhystericalanimation，andtheinvalidwouldbegintotalkalmostincessantlyofherson，ofherhopesofhisfuture。…Herfanciesweresometimesverystrange。Theyhumouredher，pretendedtoagreewithhershesawperhapsthattheywerepretending，butshestillwentontalking。
FivemonthsafterRaskolnikov’sconfession，hewassentenced。RazumihinandSoniasawhiminprisonasoftenasitwaspossible。Atlastthemomentofseparationcame。Douniasworetoherbrotherthattheseparationshouldnotbeforever，Razumihindidthesame。Razumihin，inhisyouthfulardour，hadfirmlyresolvedtolaythefoundationsatleastofasecurelivelihoodduringthenextthreeorfouryears，andsavingupacertainsum，toemigratetoSiberia，acountryrichineverynaturalresourceandinneedofworkers，activemenandcapital。TheretheywouldsettleinthetownwhereRodyawasandalltogetherwouldbeginanewlife。Theyallweptatparting。
Raskolnikovhadbeenverydreamyforafewdaysbefore。Heaskedagreatdealabouthismotherandwasconstantlyanxiousabouther。HeworriedsomuchaboutherthatitalarmedDounia。Whenheheardabouthismother’sillnesshebecameverygloomy。WithSoniahewasparticularlyreservedallthetime。WiththehelpofthemoneylefttoherbySvidrigailov，SoniahadlongagomadeherpreparationstofollowthepartyofconvictsinwhichhewasdespatchedtoSiberia。NotawordpassedbetweenRaskolnikovandheronthesubject，butbothknewitwouldbeso。Atthefinalleave-takinghesmiledstrangelyathissister’sandRazumihin’sferventanticipationsoftheirhappyfuturetogetherwhenheshouldcomeoutofprison。Hepredictedthattheirmother’sillnesswouldsoonhaveafatalending。Soniaandheatlastsetoff。
TwomonthslaterDouniawasmarriedtoRazumihin。Itwasaquietandsorrowfulwedding；PorfiryPetrovitchandZossimovwereinvitedhowever。DuringallthisperiodRazumihinworeanairofresolutedetermination。Douniaputimplicitfaithinhiscarryingouthisplansandindeedshecouldnotbutbelieveinhim。Hedisplayedararestrengthofwill。Amongotherthingshebeganattendinguniversitylecturesagaininordertotakehisdegree。Theywerecontinuallymakingplansforthefuture；bothcountedonsettlinginSiberiawithinfiveyearsatleast。TillthentheyrestedtheirhopesonSonia。
PulcheriaAlexandrovnawasdelightedtogiveherblessingtoDounia’smarriagewithRazumihin；butafterthemarriageshebecameevenmoremelancholyandanxious。TogiveherpleasureRazumihintoldherhowRaskolnikovhadlookedafterthepoorstudentandhisdecrepitfatherandhowayearagohehadbeenburntandinjuredinrescuingtwolittlechildrenfromafire。ThesetwopiecesofnewsexcitedPulcheriaAlexandrovna’sdisorderedimaginationalmosttoecstasy。Shewascontinuallytalkingaboutthem，evenenteringintoconversationwithstrangersinthestreet，thoughDouniaalwaysaccompaniedher。Inpublicconveyancesandshops，wherevershecouldcapturealistener，shewouldbeginthediscourseaboutherson，hisarticle，howhehadhelpedthestudent，howhehadbeenburntatthefire，andsoon！Douniadidnotknowhowtorestrainher。Apartfromthedangerofhermorbidexcitement，therewastheriskofsomeone’srecallingRaskolnikov’snameandspeakingoftherecenttrial。PulcheriaAlexandrovnafoundouttheaddressofthemotherofthetwochildrenhersonhadsavedandinsistedongoingtoseeher。
Atlastherrestlessnessreachedanextremepoint。Shewouldsometimesbegintocrysuddenlyandwasoftenillandfeverishlydelirious。OnemorningshedeclaredthatbyherreckoningRodyaoughtsoontobehome，thatsherememberedwhenhesaidgood-byetoherhesaidthattheymustexpecthimbackinninemonths。Shebegantoprepareforhiscoming，begantodoupherroomforhim，tocleanthefurniture，towashandputupnewhangingsandsoon。Douniawasanxious，butsaidnothingandhelpedhertoarrangetheroom。Afterafatiguingdayspentincontinualfancies，injoyfulday-dreamsandtears，PulcheriaAlexandrovnawastakenillinthenightandbymorningshewasfeverishanddelirious。Itwasbrainfever。Shediedwithinafortnight。Inherdeliriumshedroppedwordswhichshowedthatsheknewagreatdealmoreaboutherson’sterriblefatethantheyhadsupposed。
ForalongtimeRaskolnikovdidnotknowofhismother’sdeath，thougharegularcorrespondencehadbeenmaintainedfromthetimehereachedSiberia。ItwascarriedonbymeansofSonia，whowroteeverymonthtotheRazumihinsandreceivedananswerwithunfailingregularity。AtfirsttheyfoundSonia’slettersdryandunsatisfactory，butlaterontheycametotheconclusionthattheletterscouldnotbebetter，forfromtheseletterstheyreceivedacompletepictureoftheirunfortunatebrother’slife。Sonia’sletterswerefullofthemostmatter-of-factdetail，thesimplestandclearestdescriptionofallRaskolnikov’ssurroundingsasaconvict。Therewasnowordofherownhopes，noconjectureastothefuture，nodescriptionofherfeelings。Insteadofanyattempttointerprethisstateofmindandinnerlife，shegavethesimplefacts—thatis，hisownwords，anexactaccountofhishealth，whatheaskedforattheirinterviews，whatcommissionhegaveherandsoon。Allthesefactsshegavewithextraordinaryminuteness。Thepictureoftheirunhappybrotherstoodoutatlastwithgreatclearnessandprecision。Therecouldbenomistake，becausenothingwasgivenbutfacts。
ButDouniaandherhusbandcouldgetlittlecomfortoutofthenews，especiallyatfirst。Soniawrotethathewasconstantlysullenandnotreadytotalk，thathescarcelyseemedinterestedinthenewsshegavehimfromtheirletters，thathesometimesaskedafterhismotherandthatwhen，seeingthathehadguessedthetruth，shetoldhimatlastofherdeath，shewassurprisedtofindthathedidnotseemgreatlyaffectedbyit，notexternallyatanyrate。Shetoldthemthat，althoughheseemedsowrappedupinhimselfand，asitwere，shuthimselfofffromeveryone—hetookaverydirectandsimpleviewofhisnewlife；thatheunderstoodhisposition，expectednothingbetterforthetime，hadnoill-foundedhopesasissocommoninhispositionandscarcelyseemedsurprisedatanythinginhissurroundings，sounlikeanythinghehadknownbefore。Shewrotethathishealthwassatisfactory；hedidhisworkwithoutshirkingorseekingtodomore；hewasalmostindifferentaboutfood，butexceptonSundaysandholidaysthefoodwassobadthatatlasthehadbeengladtoacceptsomemoneyfromher，Sonia，tohavehisownteaeveryday。Hebeggedhernottotroubleaboutanythingelse，declaringthatallthisfussabouthimonlyannoyedhim。Soniawrotefurtherthatinprisonhesharedthesameroomwiththerest，thatshehadnotseentheinsideoftheirbarracks，butconcludedthattheywerecrowded，miserableandunhealthy；thathesleptonaplankbedwitharugunderhimandwasunwillingtomakeanyotherarrangement。Butthathelivedsopoorlyandroughly，notfromanyplanordesign，butsimplyfrominattentionandindifference。
Soniawrotesimplythathehadatfirstshownnointerestinhervisits，hadalmostbeenvexedwithherindeedforcoming，unwillingtotalkandrudetoher。Butthatintheendthesevisitshadbecomeahabitandalmostanecessityforhim，sothathewaspositivelydistressedwhenshewasillforsomedaysandcouldnotvisithim。Sheusedtoseehimonholidaysattheprisongatesorintheguard-room，towhichhewasbroughtforafewminutestoseeher。Onworkingdaysshewouldgotoseehimatworkeitherattheworkshopsoratthebrickkilns，orattheshedsonthebanksoftheIrtish。
Aboutherself，Soniawrotethatshehadsucceededinmakingsomeacquaintancesinthetown，thatshedidsewing，and，astherewasscarcelyadressmakerinthetown，shewaslookeduponasanindispensablepersoninmanyhouses。Butshedidnotmentionthattheauthoritieswere，throughher，interestedinRaskolnikov；thathistaskwaslightenedandsoon。
AtlastthenewscameDouniahadindeednoticedsignsofalarmanduneasinessintheprecedinglettersthatheheldalooffromeveryone，thathisfellowprisonersdidnotlikehim，thathekeptsilentfordaysatatimeandwasbecomingverypale。InthelastletterSoniawrotethathehadbeentakenveryseriouslyillandwasintheconvictwardofthehospital。
Hewasillalongtime。Butitwasnotthehorrorsofprisonlife，notthehardlabour，thebadfood，theshavenhead，orthepatchedclothesthatcrushedhim。Whatdidhecareforallthosetrialsandhardships！hewasevengladofthehardwork。Physicallyexhausted，hecouldatleastreckononafewhoursofquietsleep。Andwhatwasthefoodtohim—thethincabbagesoupwithbeetlesfloatinginit？Inthepastasastudenthehadoftennothadeventhat。Hisclotheswerewarmandsuitedtohismanneroflife。Hedidnotevenfeelthefetters。Washeashamedofhisshavenheadandparti-colouredcoat？Beforewhom？BeforeSonia？Soniawasafraidofhim，howcouldhebeashamedbeforeher？AndyethewasashamedevenbeforeSonia，whomhetorturedbecauseofitwithhiscontemptuousroughmanner。Butitwasnothisshavenheadandhisfettershewasashamedof:hispridehadbeenstungtothequick。Itwaswoundedpridethatmadehimill。Oh，howhappyhewouldhavebeenifhecouldhaveblamedhimself！Hecouldhaveborneanythingthen，evenshameanddisgrace。Buthejudgedhimselfseverely，andhisexasperatedconsciencefoundnoparticularlyterriblefaultinhispast，exceptasimpleblunderwhichmighthappentoanyone。Hewasashamedjustbecausehe，Raskolnikov，hadsohopelessly，stupidlycometogriefthroughsomedecreeofblindfate，andmusthumblehimselfandsubmitto“theidiocy”ofasentence，ifhewereanyhowtobeatpeace。
Vagueandobjectlessanxietyinthepresent，andinthefutureacontinualsacrificeleadingtonothing—thatwasallthatlaybeforehim。Andwhatcomfortwasittohimthatattheendofeightyearshewouldonlybethirty-twoandabletobeginanewlife！Whathadhetolivefor？Whathadhetolookforwardto？Whyshouldhestrive？Toliveinordertoexist？Why，hehadbeenreadyathousandtimesbeforetogiveupexistenceforthesakeofanidea，forahope，evenforafancy。Mereexistencehadalwaysbeentoolittleforhim；hehadalwayswantedmore。Perhapsitwasjustbecauseofthestrengthofhisdesiresthathehadthoughthimselfamantowhommorewaspermissiblethantoothers。
Andifonlyfatewouldhavesenthimrepentance—burningrepentancethatwouldhavetornhisheartandrobbedhimofsleep，thatrepentance，theawfulagonyofwhichbringsvisionsofhangingordrowning！Oh，hewouldhavebeengladofit！Tearsandagonieswouldatleasthavebeenlife。Buthedidnotrepentofhiscrime。
Atleasthemighthavefoundreliefinragingathisstupidity，ashehadragedatthegrotesqueblundersthathadbroughthimtoprison。Butnowinprison，infreedom，hethoughtoverandcriticisedallhisactionsagainandbynomeansfoundthemsoblunderingandsogrotesqueastheyhadseemedatthefataltime。
“Inwhatway，”heaskedhimself，“wasmytheorystupiderthanothersthathaveswarmedandclashedfromthebeginningoftheworld？Onehasonlytolookatthethingquiteindependently，broadly，anduninfluencedbycommonplaceideas，andmyideawillbynomeansseemso…strange。Oh，scepticsandhalfpennyphilosophers，whydoyouhalthalf-way！”
“Whydoesmyactionstrikethemassohorrible？”hesaidtohimself。“Isitbecauseitwasacrime？Whatismeantbycrime？Myconscienceisatrest。Ofcourse，itwasalegalcrime，ofcourse，theletterofthelawwasbrokenandbloodwasshed。Well，punishmefortheletterofthelaw…andthat’senough。Ofcourse，inthatcasemanyofthebenefactorsofmankindwhosnatchedpowerforthemselvesinsteadofinheritingitoughttohavebeenpunishedattheirfirststeps。Butthosemensucceededandsotheywereright，andIdidn’t，andsoIhadnorighttohavetakenthatstep。”
Itwasonlyinthatthatherecognisedhiscriminality，onlyinthefactthathehadbeenunsuccessfulandhadconfessedit。
Hesufferedtoofromthequestion:whyhadhenotkilledhimself？Whyhadhestoodlookingattheriverandpreferredtoconfess？Wasthedesiretolivesostrongandwasitsohardtoovercomeit？HadnotSvidrigailovovercomeit，althoughhewasafraidofdeath？
Inmiseryheaskedhimselfthisquestion，andcouldnotunderstandthat，attheverytimehehadbeenstandinglookingintotheriver，hehadperhapsbeendimlyconsciousofthefundamentalfalsityinhimselfandhisconvictions。Hedidn’tunderstandthatthatconsciousnessmightbethepromiseofafuturecrisis，ofanewviewoflifeandofhisfutureresurrection。
Hepreferredtoattributeittothedeadweightofinstinctwhichhecouldnotstepover，againthroughweaknessandmeanness。Helookedathisfellowprisonersandwasamazedtoseehowtheyalllovedlifeandprizedit。Itseemedtohimthattheylovedandvaluedlifemoreinprisonthaninfreedom。Whatterribleagoniesandprivationssomeofthem，thetrampsforinstance，hadendured！Couldtheycaresomuchforarayofsunshine，fortheprimevalforest，thecoldspringhiddenawayinsomeunseenspot，whichthetramphadmarkedthreeyearsbefore，andlongedtoseeagain，ashemighttoseehissweetheart，dreamingofthegreengrassrounditandthebirdsinginginthebush？Ashewentonhesawstillmoreinexplicableexamples。
Inprison，ofcourse，therewasagreatdealhedidnotseeanddidnotwanttosee；helivedasitwerewithdowncasteyes。Itwasloathsomeandunbearableforhimtolook。Butintheendtherewasmuchthatsurprisedhimandhebegan，asitwereinvoluntarily，tonoticemuchthathehadnotsuspectedbefore。Whatsurprisedhimmostofallwastheterribleimpossiblegulfthatlaybetweenhimandalltherest。Theyseemedtobeadifferentspecies，andhelookedatthemandtheyathimwithdistrustandhostility。Hefeltandknewthereasonsofhisisolation，buthewouldneverhaveadmittedtillthenthatthosereasonsweresodeepandstrong。ThereweresomePolishexiles，politicalprisoners，amongthem。Theysimplylookeddownuponalltherestasignorantchurls；butRaskolnikovcouldnotlookuponthemlikethat。HesawthattheseignorantmenwereinmanyrespectsfarwiserthanthePoles。ThereweresomeRussianswhowerejustascontemptuous，aformerofficerandtwoseminarists。Raskolnikovsawtheirmistakeasclearly。Hewasdislikedandavoidedbyeveryone；theyevenbegantohatehimatlast—why，hecouldnottell。Menwhohadbeenfarmoreguiltydespisedandlaughedathiscrime。
“You’reagentleman，”theyusedtosay。“Youshouldn’thackaboutwithanaxe；that’snotagentleman’swork。”
ThesecondweekinLent，histurncametotakethesacramentwithhisgang。Hewenttochurchandprayedwiththeothers。Aquarrelbrokeoutoneday，hedidnotknowhow。Allfellonhimatonceinafury。
“You’reaninfidel！Youdon’tbelieveinGod，”theyshouted。“Yououghttobekilled。”
HehadnevertalkedtothemaboutGodnorhisbelief，buttheywantedtokillhimasaninfidel。Hesaidnothing。Oneoftheprisonersrushedathiminaperfectfrenzy。Raskolnikovawaitedhimcalmlyandsilently；hiseyebrowsdidnotquiver，hisfacedidnotflinch。Theguardsucceededininterveningbetweenhimandhisassailant，ortherewouldhavebeenbloodshed。
Therewasanotherquestionhecouldnotdecide:whyweretheyallsofondofSonia？Shedidnottrytowintheirfavour；sherarelymetthem，sometimesonlyshecametoseehimatworkforamoment。Andyeteverybodyknewher，theyknewthatshehadcomeouttofollowhim，knewhowandwhereshelived。Shenevergavethemmoney，didthemnoparticularservices。OnlyonceatChristmasshesentthemallpresentsofpiesandrolls。ButbydegreescloserrelationssprangupbetweenthemandSonia。Shewouldwriteandpostlettersforthemtotheirrelations。Relationsoftheprisonerswhovisitedthetown，attheirinstructions，leftwithSoniapresentsandmoneyforthem。Theirwivesandsweetheartsknewherandusedtovisither。AndwhenshevisitedRaskolnikovatwork，ormetapartyoftheprisonersontheroad，theyalltookofftheirhatstoher。“LittlemotherSofyaSemyonovna，youareourdear，goodlittlemother，”coarsebrandedcriminalssaidtothatfraillittlecreature。Shewouldsmileandbowtothemandeveryonewasdelightedwhenshesmiled。Theyevenadmiredhergaitandturnedroundtowatchherwalking；theyadmiredhertooforbeingsolittle，and，infact，didnotknowwhattoadmirehermostfor。Theyevencametoherforhelpintheirillnesses。
HewasinthehospitalfromthemiddleofLenttillafterEaster。Whenhewasbetter，herememberedthedreamshehadhadwhilehewasfeverishanddelirious。HedreamtthatthewholeworldwascondemnedtoaterriblenewstrangeplaguethathadcometoEuropefromthedepthsofAsia。Allweretobedestroyedexceptaveryfewchosen。Somenewsortsofmicrobeswereattackingthebodiesofmen，butthesemicrobeswereendowedwithintelligenceandwill。Menattackedbythembecameatoncemadandfurious。Butneverhadmenconsideredthemselvessointellectualandsocompletelyinpossessionofthetruthasthesesufferers，neverhadtheyconsideredtheirdecisions，theirscientificconclusions，theirmoralconvictionssoinfallible。Wholevillages，wholetownsandpeopleswentmadfromtheinfection。Allwereexcitedanddidnotunderstandoneanother。Eachthoughtthathealonehadthetruthandwaswretchedlookingattheothers，beathimselfonthebreast，wept，andwrunghishands。Theydidnotknowhowtojudgeandcouldnotagreewhattoconsiderevilandwhatgood；theydidnotknowwhomtoblame，whomtojustify。Menkilledeachotherinasortofsenselessspite。Theygatheredtogetherinarmiesagainstoneanother，butevenonthemarchthearmieswouldbeginattackingeachother，therankswouldbebrokenandthesoldierswouldfalloneachother，stabbingandcutting，bitinganddevouringeachother。Thealarmbellwasringingalldaylonginthetowns；menrushedtogether，butwhytheyweresummonedandwhowassummoningthemnooneknew。Themostordinarytradeswereabandoned，becauseeveryoneproposedhisownideas，hisownimprovements，andtheycouldnotagree。Thelandtoowasabandoned。Menmetingroups，agreedonsomething，sworetokeeptogether，butatoncebeganonsomethingquitedifferentfromwhattheyhadproposed。Theyaccusedoneanother，foughtandkilledeachother。Therewereconflagrationsandfamine。Allmenandallthingswereinvolvedindestruction。Theplaguespreadandmovedfurtherandfurther。Onlyafewmencouldbesavedinthewholeworld。Theywereapurechosenpeople，destinedtofoundanewraceandanewlife，torenewandpurifytheearth，butnoonehadseenthesemen，noonehadheardtheirwordsandtheirvoices。
Raskolnikovwasworriedthatthissenselessdreamhauntedhismemorysomiserably，theimpressionofthisfeverishdeliriumpersistedsolong。ThesecondweekafterEasterhadcome。Therewerewarmbrightspringdays；intheprisonwardthegratingwindowsunderwhichthesentinelpacedwereopened。Soniahadonlybeenabletovisithimtwiceduringhisillness；eachtimeshehadtoobtainpermission，anditwasdifficult。Butsheoftenusedtocometothehospitalyard，especiallyintheevening，sometimesonlytostandaminuteandlookupatthewindowsoftheward。
Oneevening，whenhewasalmostwellagain，Raskolnikovfellasleep。Onwakinguphechancedtogotothewindow，andatoncesawSoniainthedistanceatthehospitalgate。Sheseemedtobewaitingforsomeone。Somethingstabbedhimtotheheartatthatminute。Heshudderedandmovedawayfromthewindow。NextdaySoniadidnotcome，northedayafter；henoticedthathewasexpectingheruneasily。Atlasthewasdischarged。OnreachingtheprisonhelearntfromtheconvictsthatSofyaSemyonovnawaslyingillathomeandwasunabletogoout。
Hewasveryuneasyandsenttoinquireafterher；hesoonlearntthatherillnesswasnotdangerous。Hearingthathewasanxiousabouther，Soniasenthimapencillednote，tellinghimthatshewasmuchbetter，thatshehadaslightcoldandthatshewouldsoon，verysooncomeandseehimathiswork。Hisheartthrobbedpainfullyashereadit。
Againitwasawarmbrightday。Earlyinthemorning，atsixo’clock，hewentofftoworkontheriverbank，wheretheyusedtopoundalabasterandwheretherewasakilnforbakingitinashed。Therewereonlythreeofthemsent。Oneoftheconvictswentwiththeguardtothefortresstofetchatool；theotherbegangettingthewoodreadyandlayingitinthekiln。Raskolnikovcameoutoftheshedontotheriverbank，satdownonaheapoflogsbytheshedandbegangazingatthewidedesertedriver。Fromthehighbankabroadlandscapeopenedbeforehim，thesoundofsingingfloatedfaintlyaudiblefromtheotherbank。Inthevaststeppe，bathedinsunshine，hecouldjustsee，likeblackspecks，thenomads’tents。Theretherewasfreedom，thereothermenwereliving，utterlyunlikethosehere；theretimeitselfseemedtostandstill，asthoughtheageofAbrahamandhisflockshadnotpassed。Raskolnikovsatgazing，histhoughtspassedintoday-dreams，intocontemplation；hethoughtofnothing，butavaguerestlessnessexcitedandtroubledhim。SuddenlyhefoundSoniabesidehim；shehadcomeupnoiselesslyandsatdownathisside。Itwasstillquiteearly；themorningchillwasstillkeen。Sheworeherpooroldburnousandthegreenshawl；herfacestillshowedsignsofillness，itwasthinnerandpaler。Shegavehimajoyfulsmileofwelcome，butheldoutherhandwithherusualtimidity。Shewasalwaystimidofholdingoutherhandtohimandsometimesdidnotofferitatall，asthoughafraidhewouldrepelit。Healwaystookherhandasthoughwithrepugnance，alwaysseemedvexedtomeetherandwassometimesobstinatelysilentthroughouthervisit。Sometimesshetrembledbeforehimandwentawaydeeplygrieved。Butnowtheirhandsdidnotpart。Hestolearapidglanceatheranddroppedhiseyesonthegroundwithoutspeaking。Theywerealone，noonehadseenthem。Theguardhadturnedawayforthetime。
Howithappenedhedidnotknow。Butallatoncesomethingseemedtoseizehimandflinghimatherfeet。Heweptandthrewhisarmsroundherknees。Forthefirstinstantshewasterriblyfrightenedandsheturnedpale。Shejumpedupandlookedathimtrembling。Butatthesamemomentsheunderstood，andalightofinfinitehappinesscameintohereyes。Sheknewandhadnodoubtthathelovedherbeyondeverythingandthatatlastthemomenthadcome。…
Theywantedtospeak，butcouldnot；tearsstoodintheireyes。Theywerebothpaleandthin；butthosesickpalefaceswerebrightwiththedawnofanewfuture，ofafullresurrectionintoanewlife。Theywererenewedbylove；theheartofeachheldinfinitesourcesoflifefortheheartoftheother。
Theyresolvedtowaitandbepatient。Theyhadanothersevenyearstowait，andwhatterriblesufferingandwhatinfinitehappinessbeforethem！Buthehadrisenagainandheknewitandfeltitinallhisbeing，whileshe—sheonlylivedinhislife。
Ontheeveningofthesameday，whenthebarrackswerelocked，Raskolnikovlayonhisplankbedandthoughtofher。Hehadevenfanciedthatdaythatalltheconvictswhohadbeenhisenemieslookedathimdifferently；hehadevenenteredintotalkwiththemandtheyansweredhiminafriendlyway。Herememberedthatnow，andthoughtitwasboundtobeso。Wasn’teverythingnowboundtobechanged？
Hethoughtofher。Herememberedhowcontinuallyhehadtormentedherandwoundedherheart。Herememberedherpaleandthinlittleface。Buttheserecollectionsscarcelytroubledhimnow；heknewwithwhatinfinitelovehewouldnowrepayallhersufferings。Andwhatwereall，alltheagoniesofthepast！Everything，evenhiscrime，hissentenceandimprisonment，seemedtohimnowinthefirstrushoffeelinganexternal，strangefactwithwhichhehadnoconcern。Buthecouldnotthinkforlongtogetherofanythingthatevening，andhecouldnothaveanalysedanythingconsciously；hewassimplyfeeling。Lifehadsteppedintotheplaceoftheoryandsomethingquitedifferentwouldworkitselfoutinhismind。
UnderhispillowlaytheNewTestament。Hetookitupmechanically。ThebookbelongedtoSonia；itwastheonefromwhichshehadreadtheraisingofLazarustohim。Atfirsthewasafraidthatshewouldworryhimaboutreligion，wouldtalkaboutthegospelandpesterhimwithbooks。ButtohisgreatsurpriseshehadnotonceapproachedthesubjectandhadnotevenofferedhimtheTestament。Hehadaskedherforithimselfnotlongbeforehisillnessandshebroughthimthebookwithoutaword。Tillnowhehadnotopenedit。
Hedidnotopenitnow，butonethoughtpassedthroughhismind:“Canherconvictionsnotbeminenow？Herfeelings，heraspirationsatleast。…”
Shetoohadbeengreatlyagitatedthatday，andatnightshewastakenillagain。Butshewassohappy—andsounexpectedlyhappy—thatshewasalmostfrightenedofherhappiness。Sevenyears，onlysevenyears！Atthebeginningoftheirhappinessatsomemomentstheywerebothreadytolookonthosesevenyearsasthoughtheyweresevendays。Hedidnotknowthatthenewlifewouldnotbegivenhimfornothing，thathewouldhavetopaydearlyforit，thatitwouldcosthimgreatstriving，greatsuffering。
Butthatisthebeginningofanewstory—thestoryofthegradualrenewalofaman，thestoryofhisgradualregeneration，ofhispassingfromoneworldintoanother，ofhisinitiationintoanewunknownlife。Thatmightbethesubjectofanewstory，butourpresentstoryisended。