resurrection(复活)-第70章

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Pougatcheff　in　the　18th　century＇　are　terrible。　These　are　a
thousand　times　more　terrible；〃　he　continued；　in　his　thoughts。　〃If
a　psychological　problem　were　set　to　find　means　of　making　men　of
our　timeChristian；　humane；　simple；　kind　peopleperform　the
most　horrible　crimes　without　feeling　guilty；　only　one　solution
could　be　devised：　to　go　on　doing　what　is　being　done。　It　is　only
necessary　that　these　people　should　he　governors；　inspectors；
policemen；　that　they　should　be　fully　convinced　that　there　is　a
kind　of　business；　called　government　service；　which　allows　men　to
treat　other　men　as　things；　without　human　brotherly　relations　with
them；　and　also　that　these　people　should　be　so　linked　together　by
this　government　service　that　the　responsibility　for　the　results
of　their　actions　should　not　fall　on　any　one　of　them　separately。
Without　these　conditions；　the　terrible　acts　I　witnessed　to…day
would　be　impossible　in　our　times。　It　all　lies　in　the　fact　that
men　think　there　are　circumstances　in　which　one　may　deal　with
human　beings　without　love；　and　there　are　no　such　circumstances。
One　may　deal　with　things　without　love。　one　may　cut　down　trees；
make　bricks；　hammer　iron　without　love；　but　you　cannot　deal　with
men　without　it；　just　as　one　cannot　deal　with　bees　without　being
careful。　If　you　deal　carelessly　with　bees　you　will　injure　them；
and　will　yourself　be　injured。　And　so　with　men。　It　cannot　be
otherwise；　because　natural　love　is　the　fundamental　law　of　human
life。　It　is　true　that　a　man　cannot　force　another　to　love　him；　as
he　can　force　him　to　work　for　him；　but　it　does　not　follow　that　a
man　may　deal　with　men　without　love；　especially　to　demand　anything
from　them。　　If　you　feel　no　love；　sit　still；〃　Nekhludoff　thought；
〃occupy　yourself　with　things；　with　yourself；　with　anything　you
like；　only　not　with　men。　You　can　only　eat　without　injuring
yourself　when　you　feel　inclined　to　eat；　so　you　can　only　deal　with
men　usefully　when　you　love。　Only　let　yourself　deal　with　a　man
without　love；　as　I　did　yesterday　with　my　brother…in…law；　and
there　are　no　limits　to　the　suffering　you　will　bring　on　yourself；
as　all　my　life　proves。　　Yes；　yes；　it　is　so；〃　thought　Nekhludoff；
〃it　is　good；　yes；　it　is　good；〃　he　repeated；　enjoying　the
freshness　after　the　torturing　heat；　and　conscious　of　having
attained　to　the　fullest　clearness　on　a　question　that　had　long
occupied　him。


CHAPTER　XLI。

TARAS'S　STORY。

The　carriage　in　which　Nekhludoff　had　taken　his　place　was　half
filled　with　people。　There　were　in　it　servants；　working　men；
factory　hands；　butchers；　Jews；　shopmen；　workmen's　wives；　a
soldier；　two　ladies；　a　young　one　and　an　old　one　with　bracelets　on
her　arm；　and　a　severe…looking　gentleman　with　a　cockade　on　his
black　cap。　All　these　people　were　sitting　quietly；　the　bustle　of
taking　their　places　was　long　over；　some　sat　cracking　and　eating
sunflower　seeds；　some　smoking；　some　talking。

Taras　sat；　looking　very　happy；　opposite　the　door；　keeping　a　place
for　Nekhludoff；　and　carrying　on　an　animated　conversation　with　a
man　in　a　cloth　coat　who　sat　opposite　to　him；　and　who　was；　as
Nekhludoff　afterwards　found　out；　a　gardener　going　to　a　new
situation。　Before　reaching　the　place　where　Taras　sat　Nekhludoff
stopped　between　the　seats　near　a　reverend…looking　old　man　with　a
white　beard　and　nankeen　coat；　who　was　talking　with　a　young　woman
in　peasant　dress。　A　little　girl　of　about　seven；　dressed　in　a　new
peasant　costume；　sat；　her　little　legs　dangling　above　the　floor；
by　the　side　of　the　woman；　and　kept　cracking　seeds。

The　old　man　turned　round；　and；　seeing　Nekhludoff；　he　moved　the
lappets　of　his　coat　off　the　varnished　seat　next　to　him；　and　said；
in　a　friendly　manner：

〃Please；　here's　a　seat。〃

Nekhludoff　thanked　him；　and　took　the　seat。　As　soon　as　he　was
seated　the　woman　continued　the　interrupted　conversation。

She　was　returning　to　her　village；　and　related　how　her　husband；
whom　she　had　been　visiting；　had　received　her　in　town。

〃I　was　there　during　the　carnival；　and　now；　by　the　Lord's　help；
I've　been　again；〃　she　said。　〃Then；　God　willing；　at　Christmas　I'll
go　again。〃

〃That's　right；〃　said　the　old　man；　with　a　look　at　Nekhludoff；
〃it's　the　best　way　to　go　and　see　him；　else　a　young　man　can　easily
go　to　the　bad；　living　in　a　town。〃

〃Oh；　no；　sir；　mine　is　not　such　a　man。　No　nonsense　of　any　kind
about　him；　his　life　is　as　good　as　a　young　maiden's。　The　money　he
earns　he　sends　home　all　to　a　copeck。　And；　as　to　our　girl　here；　he
was　so　glad　to　see　her；　there　are　no　words　for　it；〃　said　the
woman；　and　smiled。

The　little　girl；　who　sat　cracking　her　seeds　and　spitting　out　the
shells；　listened　to　her　mother's　words；　and；　as　if　to　confirm
them；　looked　up　with　calm；　intelligent　eyes　into　Nekhludoff's　and
the　old　man's　faces。

〃Well；　if　he's　good；　that's　better　still；〃　said　the　old　man。
〃And　none　of　that　sort　of　thing？〃　he　added；　with　a　look　at　a
couple；　evidently　factory　hands；　who　sat　at　the　other　side　of　the
carriage。　The　husband；　with　his　head　thrown　back；　was　pouring
vodka　down　his　throat　out　of　a　bottle；　and　the　wife　sat　holding　a
bag；　out　of　which　they　had　taken　the　bottle；　and　watched　him
intently。

〃No；　mine　neither　drinks　nor　smokes；〃　said　the　woman　who　was
conversing　with　the　old　man；　glad　of　the　opportunity　of　praising
her　husband　once　more。　〃No；　sir；　the　earth　does　not　hold　many
such。〃　And；　turning　to　Nekhludoff；　she　added；　〃That's　the　sort
of　man　he　is。〃

〃What　could　be　better；〃　said　the　old　man；　looking　at　the　factory
worker；　who　had　had　his　drink　and　had　passed　the　bottle　to　his
wife。　The　wife　laughed；　shook　her　head；　and　also　raised　the
bottle　to　her　lips。

Noticing　Nekhludoff's　and　the　old　man's　look　directed　towards
them；　the　factory　worker　addressed　the　former。

〃What　is　it；　sir？　That　we　are　drinking？　Ah；　no　one　sees　how　we
work；　but　every　one　sees　how　we　drink。　I　have　earned　it；　and　I　am
drinking　and　treating　my　wife；　and　no　one　else。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Nekhludoff；　not　knowing　what　to　say。

〃True；　sir。　My　wife　is　a　steady　woman。　I　am　satisfied　with　my
wife；　because　she　can　feel　for　me。　Is　it　right　what　I'm　saying；
Mavra？〃

〃There　you　are；　take　it；　I　don't　want　any　more；〃　said　the　wife；
returning　the　bottle　to　him。　〃And　what　are　you　jawing　for　like
that？〃　she　added。

〃There　now！　She's　goodthat　good；　and　suddenly　she'll　begin
squeaking　like　a　wheel　that's　not　greased。　Mavra；　is　it　right
what　I'm　saying？〃

Mavra　laughed　and　moved　her　hand　with　a　tipsy　gesture。

〃Oh；　my；　he's　at　it　again。〃

〃There　now；　she's　that　goodthat　good；　but　let　her　get　her　tail
over　the　reins；　and　you　can't　think　what　she'll　be　up　to。　。　。　。
Is　it　right　what　I'm　saying？　You　must　excuse　me；　sir；　I've　had　a
drop！　What's　to　be　done？〃　said　the　factory　worker；　and；　preparing
to　go　to　sleep；　put　his　head　in　his　wife's　lap。

Nekhludoff　sat　a　while　with　the　old　man；　who　told　him　all　about
himself。　The　old　man　was　a　stove　builder；　who　had　been　working
for　53　years；　and　had　built　so　many　stoves　that　he　had　lost
count；　and　now　he　wanted　to　rest；　but　had　no　time。　He　had　been　to
town　and　found　employment　for　the　young　ones；　and　was　now　going
to　the　country　to　see　the　people　at　home。　After　hearing　the　old
man's　story；　Nekhludoff　went　to　the　place　that　Taras　was　keeping
for　him

〃It's　all　right；　sir；　sit　down；　we'll　put　the　bag　here；　said　the
gardener；　who　sat　opposite　Taras；　in　a　friendly　tone；　looking　up
into　Nekhludoff's　face。

〃Rather　a　tight　fit；　but　no　matter　since　we　are　friends；〃　said
Taras；　smiling；　and　lifting　the　bag；　which　weighed　more　than　five
stone；　as　if　it　were　a　feather；　he　carried　it　across　to　the
window。

〃Plenty　of　room；　besides；　we　might　stand　up　a　bit；　and　even　under
the　seat　it's　as　comfortable　as　you　could　wish。　What's　the　good
of　humbugging？〃　he　said；　beaming　with　friendliness　and　kindness。

Taras　spoke　of　himself　as　being　unable　to　utter　a　word　when　quite
sober；　but　drink；　he　said；　helped　him　to　find　the　right　words；
and　then　he　could　express　everything。　And　in　reality；　when　he　was
sober　Taras　kept　silent；　but　when　he　had　been　drinking；　which
happened　rarely　and　only　on　special　occasions；　he　became　very
pleasantly　talkative。　Then　he　spoke　a　great　deal；　spoke　well　and
very　simply　and　truthfully；　and　especially　with　great　kindliness；
which　shone　in　his　gentle；　blue　eyes　and　in　the　friendly　smile
that　never　left　his　lips。　He　was　in　such　a　state　to…day。
Nekhludoff's　approach　interrupted　the　conversation；　but　when　he
had　put　the　bag　in　its　place；　Taras　sat　down　again；　and　with　his
strong　hands　folded　in　his　lap；　and　looking　straight　into　the
gardener's　face；　continued　his　story。　He　was　telling　his　new
acquaintance　about　his　wife　and　giving　every　detail：　what　she　was
being　sent　to　Siberia　for；　and　why　he　was　now　following　her。
Nekhludoff　had　never　heard　a　detailed　account　of　this　affair；　and
so　he　listened　with　interest。　When　he　came　up；　the　story　had
reached　the　point　when　the　attempt　to　poison　was　already　an
accomplished　fact；　and　the　family　had　discovered　that　it　was
Theodosia's　doing。

〃It's　about　my　troubles　that　I'm　talking；〃　said　Taras；　addressing
Nekhludoff　with　cordial　friendliness。　〃I　have　chanced　to　come
across　such　a　hearty　man；　and　we've　got　into　conversation；　and
I'm　telling　him　all。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Nekhludoff。

〃Well；　then　in　this　way；　my　friend；　the　business　became　known。
Mother；　she　takes　that　cake。　'I'm　going；'　says　she；　'to　the
police　officer。'　My　father　is　a　just　old　man。　'Wait；　wife；'　says
he；　'the　little　woman　is　a　mere　child；　and　did　not　herself　know
what　she　was　doing。　We　must　have　pity。　She　may　come　to　her
senses。'　But；　dear　me；　mother　would　not　hear　of　it。　'While　we
keep　her　here；'　she　says；　'she　may　destroy　us　all　like
cockroaches。'　Well；　friend；　so　she　goes　off　for　the　police
officer。　He　bounces　in　upon　us　at　once。　Calls　for　witnesses。〃

〃Well；　and　you？〃　asked　the　gardener。

〃Well；　I；　you　see；　friend；　roll　about　with　the　pain　in　my
stomach；　and　vomit。　All　my　inside　is　turned　inside　out；　I　can't
even　speak。　Well；　so　father　he　goes　and　harnesses　the　mare；　and
puts　Theodosia　into　the　cart；　and　is　off　to　the　police…station；
and　then　to　the　magistrate's。　And　she；　you　know；　just　as　she　had
done　from　the　first；　so　also　there；　confesses　all　to　the
magistratewhere　she　got　the　arsenic；　and　how　she　kneaded　the
cake。　'Why　did　you　do　it？'　says　he。　'Why；'　says　she；　'because
he's　hateful　to　me。　I　prefer　Siberia　to　a　life　with　him。'　That's
me；〃　and　Taras　smiled。

〃Well；　so　she　confessed　all。　Then；　naturallythe　prison；　and
father　returns　alone。　And　harvest　time　just　coming；　and　mother
the　only　woman　at　home；　and　she　no　longer　strong。　So　we　think
what　we　are　to　do。　Could　we　not　bail　her　out？　So　father　went　to
see　an　official。　No　go。　Then　another。　I　think　he　went　to　five　of
them；　and　we　thought　of　giving　it　up。　Then　we　happened　to　come
across　a　clerksuch　an　artful　one　as　you　don't　often　find。　'You
give　me　five　roubles；　and　I'll　get　her　out；'　says　he。　He　agreed
to　do　it　for　three。　Well；　and　what　do　you　think；　friend？　I　went
and　pawned　the　linen　she　herself　had　woven；　and　gave　him　the
money。　As　soon　as　he　had　written　that　paper；〃　drawled　out　Taras；
just　as　if　he　were　speaking　of　a　shot　being　fired；　〃we　succeeded
at　once。　I　went　to　fetch　he