an overstretched chord. Breath was deficient
in her oppressed bosom. Raskolnikoff partly explained to himself
Sonia's hesitation to obey him; and in proportion as he understood her
better, he insisted still more imperiously on her reading. He felt
what it must cost the girl to lay bare to him, to some extent, her
heart of hearts. She evidently could not, without difficulty, make up
her mind to confide to a stranger the sentiments which probably since
her teens had been her support, her _viaticum_--when, what with a
sottish father and a stepmother demented by misfortune, to say nothing
of starving children, she heard nothing but reproach and offensive
clamor. He saw all this, but he likewise saw that notwithstanding this
repugnance, she was most anxious to read,--to read to him, and that
now,--let the consequences be what they may! The girl's look, the
agitation to which she was a prey, told him as much, and by a violent
effort over herself Sonia conquered the spasm which parched her
throat, and continued to read the eleventh chapter of the Gospel
according to St. John. She thus reached the nineteenth verse:--

"And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort
them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she
heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him; but Mary sat
still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if
thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know
that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will
give it thee."

Here she paused, to overcome the emotion which once more caused her
voice to tremble.

"Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha
saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the
resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the
Resurrection and the Life; he that believeth in me, though
he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and
believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She
saith unto him,"--

and although she had difficulty in breathing, Sonia raised her voice,
as if in reading the words of Martha she was making her own confession
of faith:--

"Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of
God, which should come into the world."

She stopped, raised her eyes rapidly on him, but cast them down on her
book, and continued to read. Raskolnikoff listened without stirring,
without turning toward her,