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had happened in the morning。
He saw in his imagination the procession of prisoners； the dead
bodies； the railway carriages with barred windows； and the women
locked up in them； one of whom was groaning in travail with no
one to help her； and another who was pathetically smiling at him
through the bars。
The reality before his eyes was very different； i。e。； a table
with vases； candlesticks and crockery； and agile waiters moving
round the table； and in the background a cupboard and a counter
laden with fruit and bottles； behind it a barman； and in front
the backs of passengers who had come up for refreshments。 When
Nekhludoff had risen and sat gradually collecting his thoughts；
he noticed that everybody in the room was inquisitively looking
at something that was passing by the open doors。
He also looked； and saw a group of people carrying a chair on
which sat a lady whose head was wrapped in a kind of airy fabric。
Nekhludoff thought he knew the footman who was supporting the
chair in front。 And also the man behind； and a doorkeeper with
gold cord on his cap； seemed familiar。 A lady's maid with a
fringe and an apron； who was carrying a parcel； a parasol； and
something round in a leather case； was walking behind the chair。
Then came Prince Korchagin； with his thick lips； apoplectic neck；
and a travelling cap on his head； behind him Missy； her cousin
Misha； and an acquaintance of Nekhludoff'sthe long…necked
diplomat Osten； with his protruding Adam's apple and his
unvarying merry mood and expression。 He was saying something very
emphatically； though jokingly； to the smiling Missy。 The
Korchagins were moving from their estate near the city to the
estate of the Princess's sister on the Nijni railway。 The
processionthe men carrying the chair； the maid； and the
doctorvanished into the ladies' waiting…room； evoking a feeling
of curiosity and respect in the onlookers。 But the old Prince
remained and sat down at the table； called a waiter； and ordered
food and drink。 Missy and Osten also remained in the
refreshment…room and were about to sit down； when they saw an
acquaintance in the doorway； and went up to her。 It was Nathalie
Rogozhinsky。 Nathalie came into the refreshment…room accompanied
by Agraphena Petrovna； and both looked round the room。 Nathalie
noticed at one and the same moment both her brother and Missy。
She first went up to Missy； only nodding to her brother； but；
having kissed her； at once turned to him。
〃At last I have found you；〃 she said。 Nekhludoff rose to greet
Missy； Misha； and Osten； and to say a few words to them。 Missy
told him about their house in the country having been burnt down；
which necessitated their moving to her aunt's。 Osten began
relating a funny story about a fire。 Nekhludoff paid no
attention； and turned to his sister。
〃How glad I am that you have come。〃
〃I have been here a long time；〃 she said。 〃Agraphena Petrovna is
with me。〃 And she pointed to Agraphena Petrovna； who； in a
waterproof and with a bonnet on her head； stood some way off； and
bowed to him with kindly dignity and some confusion； not wishing
to intrude。
〃We looked for you everywhere。〃
〃And I had fallen asleep here。 How glad I am that you have come；〃
repeated Nekhludoff。 〃I had begun to write to you。〃
〃Really？〃 she said； looking frightened。 〃What about？〃
Missy and the gentleman； noticing that an intimate conversation
was about to commence between the brother and sister； went away。
Nekhludoff and his sister sat down by the window on a
velvet…covered sofa； on which lay a plaid； a box； and a few other
things。
〃Yesterday； after I left you； I felt inclined to return and
express my regret； but I did not know how he would take it；〃 said
Nekhludoff。 〃I spoke hastily to your husband； and this tormented
me。〃
〃I knew；〃 said his sister； 〃that you did not mean to。 Oh； you
know！〃 and the tears came to her eyes； and she touched his hand。
The sentence was not clear； but he understood it perfectly； and
was touched by what it expressed。 Her words meant that； besides
the love for her husband which held her in its sway； she prized
and considered important the love she had for him； her brother；
and that every misunderstanding between them caused her deep
suffering。
〃Thank you； thank you。 Oh！ what I have seen to…day！〃 he said；
suddenly recalling the second of the dead convicts。 〃Two
prisoners have been done to death。〃
〃Done to death？ How？〃
〃Yes； done to death。 They led them in this heat； and two died of
sunstroke。〃
〃Impossible！ What； to…day？ just now？〃
〃Yes； just now。 I have seen their bodies。〃
〃But why done to death？ Who killed them？〃 asked Nathalie。
〃They who forced them to go killed them；〃 said Nekhludoff； with
irritation； feeling that she looked at this； too； with her
husband's eyes。
〃Oh； Lord！〃 said Agraphena Petrovna； who had come up to them。
〃Yes； we have not the slightest idea of what is being done to
these unfortunate beings。 But it ought to be known；〃 added
Nekhludoff； and looked at old Korchagin； who sat with a napkin
tied round him and a bottle before him； and who looked round at
Nekhludoff。
〃Nekhludoff；〃 he called out； 〃won't you join me and take some
refreshment？ It is excellent before a journey。〃
Nekhludoff refused； and turned away。
〃But what are you going to do？〃 Nathalie continued。
〃What I can。 I don't know； but I feel I must do something。 And I
shall do what I am able to。〃
〃Yes； I understand。 And how about them？〃 she continued； with a
smile and a look towards Korchagin。 〃Is it possible that it is
all over？〃
〃Completely； and I think without any regret on either side。〃
〃It is a pity。 I am sorry。 I am fond of her。 However； it's all
right。 But why do you wish to bind yourself？〃 she added shyly。
〃Why are you going？〃
〃I go because I must；〃 answered Nekhludoff； seriously and dryly；
as if wishing to stop this conversation。 But he felt ashamed of
his coldness towards his sister at once。 〃Why not tell her all I
am thinking？〃 he thought； 〃and let Agraphena Petrovna also hear
it；〃 he thought； with a look at the old servant； whose presence
made the wish to repeat his decision to his sister even stronger。
〃You mean my intention to marry Katusha？ Well； you see； I made up
my mind to do it； but she refuses definitely and firmly；〃 he
said； and his voice shook； as it always did when he spoke of it。
〃She does not wish to accept my sacrifice； but is herself
sacrificing what in her position means much； and I cannot accept
this sacrifice； if it is only a momentary impulse。 And so I am
going with her； and shall be where she is； and shall try to
lighten her fate as much as I can。〃
Nathalie said nothing。 Agraphena Petrovna looked at her with a
questioning look； and shook her head。 At this moment the former
procession issued from the ladies' room。 The same handsome
footman （Philip）。 and the doorkeeper were carrying the Princess
Korchagin。 She stopped the men who were carrying her； and
motioned to Nekhludoff to approach； and； with a pitiful；
languishing air； she extended her white； ringed hand； expecting
the firm pressure of his hand with a sense of horror。
〃Epouvantable！〃 she said； meani