It had begun to get dusk when Rakitin, crossing the pine copse from the hermitage to the monastery, suddenly noticed Alyosha, lying face downwards on the ground under a tree, not moving and apparently asleep. He went up and called him by his name.
“ You here, Alexey? Can you have—” he began wondering but broke off. He had meant to say, “Can you have come to this?”
Alyosha did not look at him, but from a slight movement Rakitin at once saw that he heard and understood him.
“ What’s the matter?” he went on; but the surprise in his face gradually passed into a smile that became more and more ironical.
“ I say, I’ve been looking for you for the last two hours. You suddenly disappeared. What are you about? What foolery is this? You might just look at me...”
Alyosha raised his head, s
