mistress darling, a messenger has galloped up,” she cried, breathless and joyful. “A carriage from Mokroe for you, Timofey the driver, with three horses, they are just putting in fresh horses. … A letter, here’s the letter, mistress.”
A letter was in her hand and she waved it in the air all the while she talked. Grushenka snatched the letter from her and carried it to the candle. It was only a note, a few lines. She read it in one instant.
“He has sent for me,” she cried, her face white and distorted, with a wan smile; “he whistles! Crawl back, little dog!”
But only for one instant she stood as though hesitating; suddenly the blood rushed to her head and sent a glow to her cheeks.
“I will go,” she cried; “five years of my life! Goodbye! Goodbye, Alyosha, my fate is sealed. Go, go, leave me all of you, don’t let me see you again! Grushenka is flying to a new life. … Don’t you remember evil against me either, Rakitin. I may be going to my death! Ugh! I feel as though I were drunk!”