Chapter 4 At the Hohlakovs’

Alyosha arrives at Madame Hohlakov’s grand house amid town gossip over Father Zossima’s impending death and a rumored miracle. Madame Hohlakov anxiously mentions that Katerina Ivanovna is inside with Ivan, calling their situation tragic, then frets over Lise’s hysterics.

When Alyosha reveals his bleeding finger, Lise bursts from her room, takes charge, and has it washed and bandaged, scolding her mother’s dithering. During the brief privacy as her mother fetches supplies, Lise demands the return of the flirtatious letter she sent and presses Alyosha about the boy who bit him.

Lise jokes about marriage, but Alyosha, guided by Zossima’s counsel that he should wed after leaving the monastery, accepts the idea solemnly and imagines a future with Lise despite her invalidism. Lise, flustered, calls it nonsense and insists on getting her letter back, while continuing to tease him as childish.

Madame Hohlakov returns, alternately panicking and fussing over the bandage, then urges Alyosha to see Katerina Ivanovna, who is desperate to meet him. As Alyosha prepares to go, Madame confides that Katerina truly loves Ivan yet tries to convince herself she loves Dmitri, calling it a farcical tragedy.

Alyosha, eager to return to the monastery because Zossima is dying, agrees to see Katerina at once and promises Lise he may return briefly. Lise abruptly dismisses him, masking agitation with mockery, while her mother praises the calming effect of his visit.