《resurrection(复活)》

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resurrection(复活)- 第28部分


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red…haired woman was crying because she had been abused and had
not got any of the vodka she wanted so badly; also because she
remembered how all her life she had been abused; mocked at;
offended; beaten。 Remembering this; she pitied herself; and;
thinking no one heard her; began crying as children cry; sniffing
with her nose and swallowing the salt tears。

〃I'm sorry for her;〃 said Maslova。

〃Of course one is sorry;〃 said Korableva; 〃but she shouldn't come
bothering。〃 Resurrection


CHAPTER XXXIII。

THE LEAVEN AT WORKNEKHLUDOFF'S DOMESTIC CHANGES。

The next morning Nekhludoff awoke; conscious that something had
happened to him; and even before he had remembered what it was he
knew it to be something important and good。

〃Katushathe trial!〃 Yes; he must stop lying and tell the whole
truth。

By a strange coincidence on that very morning he received the
long…expected letter from Mary Vasilievna; the wife of the
Marechal de Noblesse; the very letter he particularly needed。
She gave him full freedom; and wished him happiness in his
intended marriage。

〃Marriage!〃 he repeated with irony。 〃How far I am from all that
at present。〃

And he remembered the plans he had formed the day before; to tell
the husband everything; to make a clean breast of it; and express
his readiness to give him any kind of satisfaction。 But this
morning this did not seem so easy as the day before。 And; then;
also; why make a man unhappy by telling him what he does not
know? Yes; if he came and asked; he would tell him all; but to go
purposely and tellno! that was unnecessary。

And telling the whole truth to Missy seemed just as difficult
this morning。 Again; he could not begin to speak without offence。
As in many worldly affairs; something had to remain unexpressed。
Only one thing he decided on; i。e。; not to visit there; and to
tell the truth if asked。

But in connection with Katusha; nothing was to remain unspoken。
〃I shall go to the prison and shall tell her every thing; and ask
her to forgive me。 And if need beyes; if need be; I shall marry
her;〃 he thought。

This idea; that he was ready to sacrifice all on moral grounds;
and marry her; again made him feel very tender towards himself。
Concerning money matters he resolved this morning to arrange them
in accord with his conviction; that the holding of landed
property was unlawful。 Even if he should not be strong enough to
give up everything; he would still do what he could; not
deceiving himself or others。

It was long since he had met the coming day with so much energy。
When Agraphena Petrovna came in; he told her; with more firmness
than he thought himself capable of; that he no longer needed this
lodging nor her services。 There had been a tacit understanding
that he was keeping up so large and expensive an establishment
because he was thinking of getting married。 The giving up of the
house had; therefore; a special meaning。 Agraphena Petrovna
looked at him in surprise。

〃I thank you very much; Agraphena Petrovna; for all your care for
me; but I no longer require so large a house nor so many
servants。 If you wish to help me; be so good as to settle about
the things; put them away as it used to be done during mamma's
life; and when Natasha comes she will see to everything。〃 Natasha
was Nekhludoff's sister。

Agraphena Petrovna shook her head。 〃See about the things? Why;
they'll be required again;〃 she said。

〃No; they won't; Agraphena Petrovna; I assure you they won't be
required;〃 said Nekhludoff; in answer to what the shaking of her
head had expressed。 〃Please tell Corney also that I shall pay him
two months' wages; but shall have no further need of him。〃

〃It is a pity; Dmitri Ivanovitch; that you should think of doing
this;〃 she said。 〃Well; supposing you go abroad; still you'll
require a place of residence again。〃

〃You are mistaken in your thoughts; Agraphena Petrovna; I am not
going abroad。 If I go on a journey; it will be to quite a
different place。〃 He suddenly blushed very red。 〃Yes; I must tell
her;〃 he thought; 〃no hiding; everybody must be told。〃

〃A very strange and important thing happened to me yesterday。 Do
you remember my Aunt Mary Ivanovna's Katusha?〃

〃Oh; yes。 Why; I taught her how to sew。〃

〃Well; this Katusha was tried in the Court and I was on the
jury。〃

〃Oh; Lord! What a pity!〃 cried Agraphena Petrovna。 What was she
being tried for?〃

〃Murder; and it is I have done it all。〃

〃Well; now this is very strange; how could you do it all?〃

〃Yes; I am the cause of it all; and it is this that has altered
all my plans。〃

〃What difference can it make to you?〃

〃This difference: that I; being the cause of her getting on to
that path; must do all I can to help her。〃

〃That is just according to your own good pleasure; you are not
particularly in fault there。 It happens to every one; and if
one's reasonable; it all gets smoothed over and forgotten;〃 she
said; seriously and severely。 〃Why should you place it to your
account? There's no need。 I had already heard before that she had
strayed from the right path。 Well; whose fault is it?〃

〃Mine! that's why I want to put it right。〃

〃It is hard to put right。〃

〃That is my business。 But if you are thinking about yourself;
then I will tell you that; as mamma expressed the wish〃

〃I am not thinking about myself。 I have been so bountifully
treated by the dear defunct; that I desire nothing。 Lisenka〃 (her
married niece) 〃has been inviting me; and I shall go to her when
I am not wanted any longer。 Only it is a pity you should take
this so to heart; it happens to everybody。〃

〃Well; I do not think so。 And I still beg that you will help me
let this lodging and put away the things。 And please do not be
angry with me。 I am very; very grateful to you for all you have
done。〃

And; strangely; from the moment Nekhludoff realised that it was
he who was so bad and disgusting to himself; others were no
longer disgusting to him; on the contrary; he felt a kindly
respect for Agraphena Petrovna; and for Corney。

He would have liked to go and confess to Corney also; but
Corney's manner was so insinuatingly deferential that he had not
the resolution to do it。

On the way to the Law Courts; passing along the same streets with
the same isvostchik as the day before; he was surprised what a
different being he felt himself to be。 The marriage with Missy;
which only yesterday seemed so probable; appeared quite
impossible now。 The day before he felt it was for him to choose;
and had no doubts that she would be happy to marry him; to…day he
felt himself unworthy not only of marrying; but even of being
intimate with her。 〃If she only knew what I am; nothing would
induce her to receive me。 And only yesterday I was finding fault
with her because she flirted with N…。 Anyhow; even if she
consented to marry me; could I be; I won't say happy; but at
peace; knowing that the other was here in prison; and would
to…day or to…morrow he taken to Siberia with a gang of other
prisoners; while I accepted congratulations and made calls with
my young wife; or while I count the votes at the meetings; for
and against the motion brought forward by the rural inspection;
etc。; together with the Marechal de Noblesse; whom I abominably
deceive; and afterwards make appointments with his wife (how
abominable!) or while I continue to work at my picture; which
will certainly never get finished? Besides; I have no business to
waste time on such things。 I can do nothing of the kind now;〃 he
continued to himself; rejoicing at the change he felt within
himself。 〃The first thing now is to see the advocate and find out
his decision; and then 。 。 。 then go and see her and tell her
everything。〃

And when he pictured to himself how he would see her; and tell
her all; confess his sin to her; and tell her that he would do
all in his power to atone for his sin; he was touched at his own
goodness; and the tears came to his eyes。


CHAPTER XXXIV。

THE ABSURDITY OF LAWREFLECTIONS OF A JURYMAN。

On coming into the Law Courts Nekhludoff met the usher of
yesterday; who to…day seemed to him much to be pitied; in the
corridor; and asked him where those prisoners who had been
sentenced were kept; and to whom one had to apply for permission
to visit them。 The usher told him that the condemned prisoners
were kept in different places; and that; until they received
their sentence in its final form; the permission to visit them
depended on the president。 〃I'll come and call you myself; and
take you to the president after the session。 The president is not
even here at present。 After the session! And now please come in;
we are going to commence。〃

Nekhludoff thanked the usher for his kindness; and went into the
jurymen's room。 As he was approaching the room; the other jurymen
were just leaving it to go into the court。 The merchant had again
partaken of a little refreshment; and was as merry as the day
before; and greeted Nekhludoff like an old friend。 And to…day
Peter Gerasimovitch did not arouse any unpleasant feelings in
Nekhludoff by his familiarity and his loud laughter。 Nekhludoff
would have liked to tell all the jurymen about his relations t
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