“That’s what I thought! I can come with you, you know, if you need me. And Dounia, too; she loves you, she loves you dearly—and Sofya Semyonovna may come with us if you like. You see, I am glad to look upon her as a daughter even … Dmitri Prokofitch will help us to go together. But … where … are you going?”
“Goodbye, mother.”
“What, today?” she cried, as though losing him forever.
“I can’t stay, I must go now. …”
“And can’t I come with you?”
“No, but kneel down and pray to God for me. Your prayer perhaps will reach Him.”
“Let me bless you and sign you with the cross. That’s right, that’s right. Oh, God, what are we doing?”
Yes, he was glad, he was very glad that there was no one there, that he was alone with his mother. For the first time after all those awful months his heart was softened. He fell down before her, he kissed her feet and both wept, embracing.