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第96章

resurrection(复活)-第96章

小说: resurrection(复活) 字数: 每页4000字

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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

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