resurrection(复活)-第86章

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daughter　and　the　ex…director　of　the　Government　department　in
Petersburg。　The　conversation　at　dinner　was　carried　on　by　fits　and
starts；　now　it　was　India　that　the　Englishman　talked　about；　now
the　Tonkin　expedition　that　the　General　strongly　disapproved　of；
now　the　universal　bribery　and　corruption　in　Siberia。　All　these
topics　did　not　interest　Nekhludoff　much。

But　after　dinner；　over　their　coffee；　Nekhludoff　and　the
Englishman　began　a　very　interesting　conversation　about　Gladstone；
and　Nekhludoff　thought　he　had　said　many　clever　things　which　were
noticed　by　his　interlocutor。　And　Nekhludoff　felt　it　more　and　more
pleasant　to　be　sipping　his　coffee　seated　in　an　easy…chair　among
amiable；　well…bred　people。　And　when　at　the　Englishman's　request
the　hostess　went　up　to　the　piano　with　the　ex…director　of　the
Government　department；　and　they　began　to　play　in　well…practised
style　Beethoven's　fifth　symphony；　Nekhludoff　fell　into　a　mental
state　of　perfect　self…satisfaction　to　which　he　had　long　been　a
stranger；　as　though　he　had　only　just　found　out　what　a　good　fellow
he　was。

The　grand　piano　was　a　splendid　instrument；　the　symphony　was　well
performed。　At　least；　so　it　seemed　to　Nekhludoff；　who　knew　and
liked　that　symphony。　Listening　to　the　beautiful　andante；　he　felt
a　tickling　in　his　nose；　he　was　so　touched　by　his　many　virtues。

Nekhludoff　thanked　his　hostess　for　the　enjoyment　that　he　had　been
deprived　of　for　so　long；　and　was　about　to　say　goodbye　and　go　when
the　daughter　of　the　house　came　up　to　him　with　a　determined　look
and　said；　with　a　blush；　〃You　asked　about　my　children。　Would　you
like　to　see　them？〃

〃She　thinks　that　everybody　wants　to　see　her　children；〃　said　her
mother；　smiling　at　her　daughter's　winning　tactlessness。　〃The
Prince　is　not　at　all　interested。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　I　am　very　much　interested；〃　said　Nekhludoff；
touched　by　this　overflowing；　happy　mother…love。　〃Please　let　me
see　them。〃

〃She's　taking　the　Prince　to　see　her　babies；〃　the　General　shouted；
laughing　from　the　card…table；　where　he　sat　with　his　son…in…law；
the　mine　owner　and　the　aide…de…camp。　〃Go；　go；　pay　your　tribute。〃

The　young　woman；　visibly　excited　by　the　thought　that　judgment　was
about　to　be　passed　on　her　children；　went　quickly　towards　the
inner　apartments；　followed　by　Nekhludoff。　In　the　third；　a　lofty
room；　papered　with　white　and　lit　up　by　a　shaded　lamp；　stood　two
small　cots；　and　a　nurse　with　a　white　cape　on　her　shoulders　sat
between　the　cots。　She　had　a　kindly；　true　Siberian　face；　with　its
high　cheek…bones。

The　nurse　rose　and　bowed。　The　mother　stooped　over　the　first　cot；
in　which　a　two…year…old　little　girl　lay　peacefully　sleeping　with
her　little　mouth　open　and　her　long；　curly　hair　tumbled　over　the
pillow。

〃This　is　Katie；〃　said　the　mother；　straightening　the　white　and
blue　crochet　coverlet；　from　under　which　a　little　white　foot
pushed　itself　languidly　out。

〃Is　she　not　pretty？　She's　only　two　years　old；　you　know。〃

〃Lovely。〃

〃And　this　is　Vasiuk；　as　'grandpapa'　calls　him。　Quite　a　different
type。　A　Siberian；　is　he　not？〃

〃A　splendid　boy；〃　said　Nekhludoff；　as　he　looked　at　the　little
fatty　lying　asleep　on　his　stomach。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　mother；　with　a　smile　full　of　meaning。

Nekhludoff　recalled　to　his　mind　chains；　shaved　heads；　fighting
debauchery；　the　dying　Kryltzoff；　Katusha　and　the　whole　of　her
past；　and　he　began　to　feel　envious　and　to　wish　for　what　he　saw
here；　which　now　seemed　to　him　pure　and　refined　happiness。

After　having　repeatedly　expressed　his　admiration　of　the　children；
thereby　at　least　partially　satisfying　their　mother；　who　eagerly
drank　in　this　praise；　he　followed　her　back　to　the　drawing…room；
where　the　Englishman　was　waiting　for　him　to　go　and　visit　the
prison；　as　they　had　arranged。　Having　taken　leave　of　their　hosts；
the　old　and　the　young　ones；　the　Englishman　and　Nekhludoff　went
out　into　the　porch　of　the　General's　house。

The　weather　had　changed。　It　was　snowing；　and　the　snow　fell
densely　in　large　flakes；　and　already　covered　the　road；　the　roof
and　the　trees　in　the　garden；　the　steps　of　the　porch；　the　roof　of
the　trap　and　the　back　of　the　horse。

The　Englishman　had　a　trap　of　his　own；　and　Nekhludoff；　having　told
the　coachman　to　drive　to　the　prison；　called　his　isvostchik　and
got　in　with　the　heavy　sense　of　having　to　fulfil　an　unpleasant
duty；　and　followed　the　Englishman　over　the　soft　snow；　through
which　the　wheels　turned　with　difficulty。


CHAPTER　XXV。

MASLOVA'S　DECISION。

The　dismal　prison　house；　with　its　sentinel　and　lamp　burning　under
the　gateway；　produced　an　even　more　dismal　impression；　with　its
long　row　of　lighted　windows；　than　it　had　done　in　the　morning；　in
spite　of　the　white　covering　that　now　lay　over　everythingthe
porch；　the　roof　and　the　walls。

The　imposing　inspector　came　up　to　the　gate　and　read　the　pass　that
had　been　given　to　Nekhludoff　and　the　Englishman　by　the　light　of
the　lamp；　shrugged　his　fine　shoulders　in　surprise；　but；　in
obedience　to　the　order；　asked　the　visitors　to　follow　him　in。　He
led　them　through　the　courtyard　and　then　in　at　a　door　to　the　right
and　up　a　staircase　into　the　office。　He　offered　them　a　seat　and
asked　what　he　could　do　for　them；　and　when　he　heard　that
Nekhludoff　would　like　to　see　Maslova　at　once；　he　sent　a　jailer　to
fetch　her。　Then　he　prepared　himself　to　answer　the　questions　which
the　Englishman　began　to　put　to　him；　Nekhludoff　acting　as
interpreter。

〃How　many　persons　is　the　prison　built　to　hold？〃　the　Englishman
asked。　〃How　many　are　confined　in　it？　How　many　men？　How　many
women？　Children？　How　many　sentenced　to　the　mines？　How　many
exiles？　How　many　sick　persons？〃

Nekhludoff　translated　the　Englishman's　and　the　inspector's　words
without　paying　any　attention　to　their　meaning；　and　felt　an
awkwardness　he　had　not　in　the　least　expected　at　the　thought　of
the　impending　interview。　When；　in　the　midst　of　a　sentence　he　was
translating　for　the　Englishman；　he　heard　the　sound　of　approaching
footsteps；　and　the　office　door　opened；　and；　as　had　happened　many
times　before；　a　jailer　came　in；　followed　by　Katusha；　and　he　saw
her　with　a　kerchief　tied　round　her　head；　and　in　a　prison　jacket　a
heavy　sensation　came　over　him。　〃I　wish　to　live；　I　want　a　family；
children；　I　want　a　human　life。〃　These　thoughts　flashed　through
his　mind　as　she　entered　the　room　with　rapid　steps　and　blinking
her　eyes。

He　rose　and　made　a　few　steps　to　meet　her；　and　her　face　appeared
hard　and　unpleasant　to　him。　It　was　again　as　it　had　been　at　the
time　when　she　reproached　him。　She　flushed　and　turned　pale；　her
fingers　nervously　twisting　a　corner　of　her　jacket。　She　looked　up
at　him；　then　cast　down　her　eyes。

〃You　know　that　a　mitigation　has　come？〃

〃Yes；　the　jailer　told　me。〃

〃So　that　as　soon　as　the　original　document　arrives　you　may　come
away　and　settle　where　you　like。　We　shall　consider〃

She　interrupted　him　hurriedly。　〃What　have　I　to　consider？　Where
Valdemar　Simonson　goes；　there　I　shall　follow。〃　In　spite　of　the
excitement　she　was　in　she　raised　her　eyes　to　Nekhludoff's　and
pronounced　these　words　quickly　and　distinctly；　as　if　she　had
prepared　what　she　had　to　say。

〃Indeed！〃

〃Well；　Dmitri　Ivanovitch；　you　see　he　wishes　me　to　live　with
him〃　and　she　stopped；　quite　frightened；　and　corrected　herself。
〃He　wishes　me　to　be　near　him。　What　more　can　I　desire？　I　must　look
upon　it　as　happiness。　What　else　is　there　for　me〃

〃One　of　two　things；〃　thought　he。　〃Either　she　loves　Simonson　and
does　not　in　the　least　require　the　sacrifice　I　imagined　I　was
bringing　her；　or　she　still　loves　me　and　refuses　me　for　my　own
sake；　and　is　burning　her　ships　by　uniting　her　fate　with
Simonson。〃　And　Nekhludoff　felt　ashamed　and　knew　that　he　was
blushing。

〃And　you　yourself；　do　you　love　him？〃　he　asked。

〃Loving　or　not　loving；　what　does　it　matter？　I　have　given　up　all
that。　And　then　Valdemar　Simonson　is　quite　an　exceptional　man。〃

〃Yes；　of　course；〃　Nekhludoff　began。　〃He　is　a　splendid　man；　and　I
think〃

But　she　again　interrupted　him；　as　if　afraid　that　he　might　say　too
much　or　that　she　should　not　say　all。　〃No；　Dmitri　Ivanovitch；　you
must　forgive　me　if　I　am　not　doing　what　you　wish；〃　and　she　looked
at　him　with　those　unfathomable；　squinting　eyes　of　hers。　〃Yes；　it
evidently　must　be　so。　You　must　live；　too。〃

She　said　just　what　he　had　been　telling　himself　a　few　moments
before；　but　he　no　longer　thought　so　now　and　felt　very
differently。　He　was　not　only　ashamed；　but　felt　sorry　to　lose　all
he　was　losing　with　her。　〃I　did　not　expect　this；〃　he　said。

〃Why　should　you　live　here　and　suffer？　You　have　suffered　enough。〃

〃I　have　not　suffered。　It　was　good　for　me；　and　I　should　like　to　go
on　serving　you　if　I　could。〃

〃We　do　not　want　anything；〃　she　said；　and　looked　at　him。

〃You　have　done　so　much　for　me　as　it　is。　If　it　had　not　been　for
you〃　She　wished　to　say　more；　but　her　voice　trembled。

〃You　certainly　have　no　reason　to　thank　me；〃　Nekhludoff　said。

〃Where　is　the　use　of　our　reckoning？　God　will　make　up　our
accounts；〃　she　said；　and　her　black　eyes　began　to　glisten　with　the
tears　that　filled　them。

〃What　a　good　woman　you　are；〃　he　said。

〃I　good？〃　she　said　through　her　tears；　and　a　pathetic　smile　lit　up
her　face。

〃Are　you　ready？〃　the　Englishman　asked。

〃Directly；〃　replied　Nekhludoff　and　asked　her　about　Kryltzoff。

She　got　over　her　emotion　and　quietly　told　him　all　she　knew。
Kryltzoff　was　very　weak　and　had　been　sent　into　the　infirmary。
Mary　Pavlovna　was　very　anxious；　and　had　asked　to　be　allowed　to　go
to　the　infirmary　as　a　nurse；　but　could　not　get　the　permission。

〃Am　I　to　go？〃　she　asked；　noticing　that　the　Englishman　was
waiting。

〃I　will　not　say　good…bye；　I　shall　see　you　again；〃　said
Nekhludoff；　holding　out　his　hand。

〃Forgive　me；〃　she　said　so　low　that　he　could　hardly　hear　her。
Their　eyes　met；　and　Nekhludoff　knew　by　the　strange　look　of　her
squinting　eyes　and　the　pathetic　smile　with　which　she　said　not
〃Good…bye〃　but　〃Forgive　me；〃　that　of　the　two　reasons　that　might
have　led　to　her　resolution；　the　second　was　the　real　one。　She
loved　him；　and　thought　that　by　uniting　herself　to　him　she　would
be　spoiling　his　life。　By　going　with　Simonson　she　thought　she
would　be　setting　Nekhludoff　free；　and　felt　glad　that　she　had　done
what　she　meant　to　do；　and　yet　she　suffered　at　parting　from　him。

She　pressed　his　hand；　turned　quickly　and　left　the　room。

Nekhludoff　was　ready　to　go；　but　saw　that　the　Englishman　was
noting　something　down；　and　did　not　disturb　him；　but　sat　down　on　a
wooden　seat　by　the　wall；　and　suddenly　a　feeling　of　terrible
weariness　came　over　him。　It　was　not　a　sleepless　night　that　had
tired　him；　not　the　journey；　not　the　excitement；　but　he　felt
terribly　tired　of　living。　He　leaned　against　the　back　of　the
bench；　shut　his　eyes　and　in　a　moment　fell　into　a　deep；　heavy
sleep。

〃Well；　would　you　like　to　look　round　the　cells　now？〃　the　inspector
asked。

Nekhludoff　looked　up　and　was　surprised　to　find　himself　where　he
was。　The　Englishman　had　finished　his　notes　and　expressed　a　wish
to　see　the　cells。

Nekhludoff；　tired　and　indifferent；　followed　him。


CHAPTER　XXVI。

THE　ENGLISH　VISITOR。

When　they　had　passed　the　anteroom　and　the　sickening；　stinking
corridor；　the　Englishman　and　Nekhludoff；　accompanied　by　the
inspector；　entered　the　first　cell；　where　those　sentenced　to　hard
l