resurrection(复活)-第14章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


there　were　two　beings：　one　the　spiritual；　seeking　only　that　kind
of　happiness　for　him　self　which　should　tend　towards　the　happiness
of　all；　the　other；　the　animal　man；　seeking　only　his　own
happiness；　and　ready　to　sacrifice　to　it　the　happiness　of　the　rest
of　the　world。　At　this　period　of　his　mania　of　self…love　brought　on
by　life　in　Petersburg　and　in　the　army；　this　animal　man　ruled
supreme　and　completely　crushed　the　spiritual　man　in　him。

But　when　he　saw　Katusha　and　experienced　the　same　feelings　as　he
had　had　three　years　before；　the　spiritual　man　in　him　raised　its
head　once　more　and　began　to　assert　its　rights。　And　up　to　Easter；
during　two　whole　days；　an　unconscious；　ceaseless　inner　struggle
went　on　in　him。

He　knew　in　the　depths　of　his　soul　that　he　ought　to　go　away；　that
there　was　no　real　reason　for　staying　on　with　his　aunts；　knew　that
no　good　could　come　of　it；　and　yet　it　was　so　pleasant；　so
delightful；　that　he　did　not　honestly　acknowledge　the　facts　to
himself　and　stayed　on。　On　Easter　eve；　the　priest　and　the　deacon
who　came　to　the　house　to　say　mass　had　had　（so　they　said）　the
greatest　difficulty　in　getting　over　the　three　miles　that　lay
between　the　church　and　the　old　ladies'　house；　coming　across　the
puddles　and　the　bare　earth　in　a　sledge。

Nekhludoff　attended　the　mass　with　his　aunts　and　the　servants；　and
kept　looking　at　Katusha；　who　was　near　the　door　and　brought　in　the
censers　for　the　priests。　Then　having　given　the　priests　and　his
aunts　the　Easter　kiss；　though　it　was　not　midnight　and　therefore
not　Easter　yet；　he　was　already　going　to　bed　when　he　heard　the　old
servant　Matrona　Pavlovna　preparing　to　go　to　the　church　to　get　the
koulitch　and　paski　＇Easter　cakes＇　blest　after　the　midnight
service。　〃I　shall　go　too；〃　he　thought。

The　road　to　the　church　was　impassable　either　in　a　sledge　or　on
wheels；　so　Nekhludoff；　who　behaved　in　his　aunts'　house　just　as　he
did　at　home；　ordered　the　old　horse；　〃the　brother's　horse；〃　to　be
saddled；　and　instead　of　going　to　bed　he　put　on　his　gay　uniform；　a
pair　of　tight…fitting　riding　breeches　and　his　overcoat；　and　got
on　the　old　over…fed　and　heavy　horse；　which　neighed　continually
all　the　way　as　he　rode　in　the　dark　through　the　puddles　and　snow
to　the　church。


CHAPTER　XV。

THE　EARLY　MASS。

For　Nekhludoff　this　early　mass　remained　for　ever　after　one　of　the
brightest　and　most　vivid　memories　of　his　life。　When　he　rode　out
of　the　darkness；　broken　only　here　and　there　by　patches　of　white
snow；　into　the　churchyard　illuminated　by　a　row　of　lamps　around
the　church；　the　service　had　already　begun。

The　peasants；　recognising　Mary　Ivanovna's　nephew；　led　his　horse；
which　was　pricking　up　its　cars　at　the　sight　of　the　lights；　to　a
dry　place　where　he　could　get　off；　put　it　up　for　him；　and　showed
him　into　the　church；　which　was　full　of　people。　On　the　right　stood
the　peasants；　the　old　men　in　home…spun　coats；　and　clean　white
linen　bands　＇long　strips　of　linen　are　worn　by　the　peasants　instead
of　stockings＇　wrapped　round　their　legs；　the　young　men　in　new
cloth　coats；　bright…coloured　belts　round　their　waists；　and
top…boots。

On　the　left　stood　the　women；　with　red　silk　kerchiefs　on　their
heads；　black　velveteen　sleeveless　jackets；　bright　red
shirt…sleeves；　gay…coloured　green；　blue；　and　red　skirts；　and
thick　leather　boots。　The　old　women；　dressed　more　quietly；　stood
behind　them；　with　white　kerchiefs；　homespun　coats；　old…fashioned
skirts　of　dark　home…spun　material；　and　shoes　on　their　feet。
Gaily…dressed　children；　their　hair　well　oiled；　went　in　and　out
among　them。

The　men；　making　the　sign　of　the　cross；　bowed　down　and　raised
their　heads　again；　shaking　back　their　hair。

The　women；　especially　the　old　ones；　fixed　their　eyes　on　an　icon
surrounded　with　candies　and　made　the　sign　of　the　cross；　firmly
pressing　their　folded　fingers　to　the　kerchief　on　their　foreheads；
to　their　shoulders；　and　their　stomachs；　and；　whispering
something；　stooped　or　knelt　down。　The　children；　imitating　the
grown…up　people；　prayed　earnestly　when　they　knew　that　they　were
being　observed。　The　gilt　case　containing　the　icon　glittered；
illuminated　on　all　sides　by　tall　candles　ornamented　with　golden
spirals。　The　candelabra　was　filled　with　tapers；　and　from　the
choir　sounded　most　merry　tunes　sung　by　amateur　choristers；　with
bellowing　bass　and　shrill　boys'　voices　among　them。

Nekhludoff　passed　up　to　the　front。　In　the　middle　of　the　church
stood　the　aristocracy　of　the　place：　a　landed　proprietor；　with　his
wife　and　son　（the　latter　dressed　in　a　sailor's　suit）；　the　police
officer；　the　telegraph　clerk；　a　tradesman　in　top…boots；　and　the
village　elder；　with　a　medal　on　his　breast；　and　to　the　right　of
the　ambo；　just　behind　the　landed　proprietor's　wife；　stood　Matrona
Pavlovna　in　a　lilac　dress　and　fringed　shawl　and　Katusha　in　a
white　dress　with　a　tucked　bodice；　blue　sash；　and　red　bow　in　her
black　hair。

Everything　seemed　festive；　solemn；　bright；　and　beautiful：　the
priest　in　his　silver　cloth　vestments　with　gold　crosses；　the
deacon；　the　clerk　and　chanter　in　their　silver　and　gold　surplices；
the　amateur　choristers　in　their　best　clothes；　with　their
well…oiled　hair；　the　merry　tunes　of　the　holiday　hymns　that
sounded　like　dance　music；　and　the　continual　blessing　of　the
people　by　the　priests；　who　held　candles　decorated　with　flowers；
and　repeated　the　cry　of　〃Christ　is　risen！〃　〃Christ　is　risen！〃　All
was　beautiful；　but；　above　all；　Katusha；　in　her　white　dress；　blue
sash；　and　the　red　bow　on　her　black　head；　her　eyes　beaming　with
rapture。

Nekhludoff　knew　that　she　felt　his　presence　without　looking　at
him。　He　noticed　this　as　he　passed　her；　walking　up　to　the　altar。
He　had　nothing　to　tell　her；　but　he　invented　something　to　say　and
whispered　as　he　passed　her：　〃Aunt　told　me　that　she　would　break
her　fast　after　the　late　mass。〃　The　young　blood　rushed　up　to
Katusha's　sweet　face；　as　it　always　did　when　she　looked　at　him。
The　black　eyes；　laughing　and　full　of　joy；　gazed　naively　up　and
remained　fixed　on　Nekhludoff。

〃I　know；〃　she　said；　with　a　smile。

At　this　moment　the　clerk　was　going　out　with　a　copper　coffee…pot　
＇coffee…pots　are　often　used　for　holding　holy　water　in　Russia＇　of
holy　water　in　his　hand；　and；　not　noticing　Katusha；　brushed　her
with　his　surplice。　Evidently　he　brushed　against　Katusha　through
wishing　to　pass　Nekhludoff　at　a　respectful　distance；　and
Nekhludoff　was　surprised　that　he；　the　clerk；　did　not　understand
that　everything　here；　yes；　and　in　all　the　world；　only　existed　for
Katusha；　and　that　everything　else　might　remain　unheeded；　only　not
she；　because　she　was　the　centre　of　all。　For　her　the　gold
glittered　round　the　icons；　for　her　all　these　candles　in
candelabra　and　candlesticks　were　alight；　for　her　were　sung　these
joyful　hymns；　〃Behold　the　Passover　of　the　Lord〃　〃Rejoice；　O　ye
people！〃　Allall　that　was　good　in　the　world　was　for　her。　And　it
seemed　to　him　that　Katusha　was　aware　that　it　was　all　for　her　when
he　looked　at　her　well…shaped　figure；　the　tucked　white　dress；　the
wrapt；　joyous　expression　of　her　face；　by　which　he　knew　that　just
exactly　the　same　that　was　singing　in　his　own　soul　was　also
singing　in　hers。

In　the　interval　between　the　early　and　the　late　mass　Nekhludoff
left　the　church。　The　people　stood　aside　to　let　him　pass；　and
bowed。　Some　knew　him；　others　asked　who　he　was。

He　stopped　on　the　steps。　The　beggars　standing　there　came
clamouring　round　him；　and　he　gave　them　all　the　change　he　had　in
his　purse　and　went　down。　It　was　dawning；　but　the　sun　had　not　yet
risen。　The　people　grouped　round　the　graves　in　the　churchyard。
Katusha　had　remained　inside。　Nekhludoff　stood　waiting　for　her。

The　people　continued　coming　out；　clattering　with　their　nailed
boots　on　the　stone　steps　and　dispersing　over　the　churchyard。　A
very　old　man　with　shaking　head；　his　aunts'　cook；　stopped
Nekhludoff　in　order　to　give　him　the　Easter　kiss；　his　old　wife
took　an　egg；　dyed　yellow；　out　of　her　handkerchief　and　gave　it　to
Nekhludoff；　and　a　smiling　young　peasant　in　a　new　coat　and　green
belt　also　came　up。

〃Christ　is　risen；〃　he　said；　with　laughing　eyes；　and　coming　close
to　Nekhludoff　he　enveloped　him　in　his　peculiar　but　pleasant
peasant　smell；　and；　tickling　him　with　his　curly　beard；　kissed　him
three　times　straight　on　the