How did you do it?
Water, water!
You must wash it first of all, simply hold it in cold water to stop the pain, and keep it there, keep it there.... Make haste, mamma, some water in a slop-basin.
But do make haste," she finished nervously.
She was quite frightened at the sight of Alyosha's wound.
"Shouldn't we send for Herzenstube?" cried Madame Hohlakov.
"Mamma, you'll be the death of me.
Your Herzenstube will come and say that he can make nothing of it!
Water, water!
Mamma, for goodness' sake go yourself and hurry Yulia, she is such a slowcoach and never can come quickly!
Make haste, mamma, or I shall die."
"Why, it's nothing much," cried Alyosha, frightened at this alarm.
Yulia ran in with water and Alyosha put his finger in it.
"Some lint, mamma, for mercy's sake, bring some lint and that muddy caustic lotion for wounds, what's it called?
We've got some. You know where the bottle is, mamma; it's in your bedroom in the right-hand cupboard, there's a big bottle of it there with the lint."
"I'll bring everything in a minute, Lise, only don't scream and don't fuss.
You see how bravely Alexey Fyodorovitch bears it.
Where did you get such a dreadful wound, Alexey Fyodorovitch?"
Madame Hohlakov hastened away.
This was all Lise was waiting for.
"First of all, answer the question, where did you get hurt like this?" she asked Alyosha, quickly.
"And then I'll talk to you about something quite different.
Well?"
Instinctively feeling that the time of her mother's absence was precious for her, Alyosha hastened to tell her of his enigmatic meeting with the school boys in the fewest words possible.
Lise clasped her hands at his story.
"How can you, and in that dress too, associate with schoolboys?" she cried angrily, as though she had a right to control him. "You are nothing but a boy yourself if you can do that, a perfect boy!
But you must find out for me about that horrid boy and tell me all about it, for there's some mystery in it.
Now for the second thing, but first a question: does the pain prevent you talking about utterly unimportant things, but talking sensibly?"
"Of course not, and I don't feel much pain now."
"That's because your finger is in the water.
It must be changed directly, for it will get warm in a minute.
Yulia, bring some ice from the cellar and another basin of water.
Now she is gone, I can speak; will you give me the letter I sent you yesterday, dear Alexey Fyodorovitch- be quick, for mamma will be back in a minute and I don't want- "
"I haven't got the letter."
"That's not true, you have.
I knew you would say that.
You've got it in that pocket.
I've been regretting that joke all night.
Give me back the letter at once, give it me."
"I've left it at home."
"But you can't consider me as a child, a little girl, after that silly joke!
I beg your pardon for that silliness, but you must bring me the letter, if you really haven't got it- bring to-day, you must, you must."
"To-day I can't possibly, for I am going back to the monastery and I shan't come and see you for the next two days- three or four perhaps- for Father Zossima- "
"Four days, what nonsense!
Listen. Did you laugh at me very much?"
"I didn't laugh at all."
"Why not?"
"Because I believed all you said."
"You are insulting me!"
"Not at all.