Book 3, Chapter 4
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18991899

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Author : Leo Tolstoy

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Nekhludoff managed to see Maslova only twice between
Nijhni and Perm—once in Nijhni while the prisoners were
being placed on a net-covered lighter, and again in the office
of the Perm prison. On both occasions he found her
secretive and unkind. When he asked her about her
prison conditions, or whether she wanted anything, she
became confused and answered evasively and, as it seemed
to him, with that hostile feeling of reproach which she
had manifested before. And this gloomy temper, due
only to the persecutions to which she was being subjected
by the men, tormented him.

But at their very first meeting in Tomsk she became
again as she was before her departure. She no longer
frowned or became confused when she saw him, but, on
the contrary, met him cheerfully and simply, thanking him
for what he had done for her, especially for bringing her
in contact with her present company.

After two months of journey from prison to prison, this
change also manifested itself in her appearance. She became
thin, sun-burnt and apparently older; wrinkles appeared
on her temples and around her mouth; she no
longer curled her hair on her forehead, but wore a 'kerchief
on her head, and neither in her dress, coiffure, nor in
her conduct were there any signs of her former coquetry.
And this change called forth in Nekhludoff a particularly
joyous feeling. The feeling he now experienced toward
her was unlike any he had experienced before. It had
nothing in common with his first poetic impulse, nor with
that sentimental love which he felt afterwards, nor even
with that consciousness of a duty performed, coupled with
self-admiration, which impelled him, after the trial, to resolve
on marrying her. It was that same simple feeling
of pity and contrition which he experienced at their first
meeting in the prison and afterwards, with greater force,
when he conquered his disgust and forgave her conduct
with the physician's assistant in the hospital (the injustice
he had done her had subsequently become plain). It was
the same feeling with the difference that, while it was
temporary then, now it was permanent.

During this period, because of Maslova's transfer to
the politicals, Nekhludoff became acquainted with many
political prisoners. On closer acquaintance he was convinced
that they were not all villains, as many people
imagined them to be, nor all heroes, as some of them considered
the members of their party, but that they were
ordinary people, among whom, as in other parties, some
were good, some bad, the others indifferent.

He became particularly attached to a consumptive
young man who was on his way to a life term at hard labor.
The story of the young man was a very short one.
His father, a rich Southern landlord, died while he was
a child. He was the only son, and was brought up by his
mother. He was the best scholar in the university, making
his specialty mathematics. He was offered a chair in
the university and a course abroad. But he hesitated.
There was a girl of whom he became enamored, so he
contemplated marriage and political activity. He wished
everything, but resolved on nothing. At that time his
college chums asked him for money for a common cause.
He knew what that common cause was, and at the time
took no interest in it whatever, but from a feeling of fellowship
and egoism gave the money, that it might not be
thought that he was afraid. Those who took the money
were arrested; a note was found from which it was
learned that the money had been given by Kryltzoff. He
was arrested, taken to the police station, then to the
prison.

After his discharge he traveled now South, now to St.
Petersburg, then abroad, and again to Kieff and to Odessa.
He was denounced by a man in whom he placed
great faith. He was arrested, tried, kept in prison two
years and finally death sentence was imposed on him, but
was afterwards commuted to hard labor for life.

He was stricken with consumption while in prison, and
under the present circumstances had but a few months to
live, and he knew it.

(Source: The Awakening by graf Leo Tolstoy, Translated by Smith, William E., AKA: The Resurrection. Text from Gutenberg.org.)


     From : Gutenberg.org

Events :
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     Book 3, Chapter 4 -- Publication : November 30, 1898

     Book 3, Chapter 4 -- Added : February 13, 2017

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