" I have forgiven all, and so I cannot deprive her of what is exacted by love in her--by her love for her son....
" "But is that love, my friend? Is it sincere? Admitting that you have forgiven--that you forgive--have we the right to work on the feelings of that angel? He looks on her as dead.
He prays for her, and beseeches God to have mercy on her sins.
And it is better so.
But now what will he think?" "I had not thought of that," said Alexey Alexandrovitch, evidently agreeing.