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other people's ideas； by custom or laws； while others look upon
their own ideas as the chief motive power of all their actions；
and always listen to the dictates of their own reason and submit
to it； accepting other people's opinions only on rare occasions
and after weighing them critically。 Simonson was a man of the
latter sort； he settled and verified everything according to his
own reason and acted on the decisions he arrived at。 When a
schoolboy he made up his mind that his father's income； made as a
paymaster in government office was dishonestly gained； and he
told his father that it ought to be given to the people。 When his
father； instead of listening to him； gave him a scolding； he left
his father's house and would not make use of his father's means。
Having come to the conclusion that all the existing misery was a
result of the people's ignorance； he joined the socialists； who
carried on propaganda among the people； as soon as he left the
university and got a place as a village schoolmaster。 He taught
and explained to his pupils and to the peasants what he
considered to be just； and openly blamed what he thought unjust。
He was arrested and tried。 During his trial he determined to tell
his judges that his was a just cause； for which he ought not to
be tried or punished。 When the judges paid no heed to his words；
but went on with the trial； he decided not to answer them and
kept resolutely silent when they questioned him。 He was exiled to
the Government of Archangel。 There he formulated a religious
teaching which was founded on the theory that everything in the
world was alive； that nothing is lifeless； and that all the
objects we consider to be without life or inorganic are only
parts of an enormous organic body which we cannot compass。 A
man's task is to sustain the life of that huge organism and all
its animate parts。 Therefore he was against war； capital
punishment and every kind of killing； not only of human beings；
but also of animals。 Concerning marriage； too； he had a peculiar
idea of his own； he thought that increase was a lower function of
man； the highest function being to serve the already existing
lives。 He found a confirmation of his theory in the fact that
there were phacocytes in the blood。 Celibates； according to his
opinion； were the same as phacocytes； their function being to
help the weak and the sickly particles of the organism。 From the
moment he came to this conclusion he began to consider himself as
well as Mary Pavlovna as phacocytes； and to live accordingly；
though as a youth he had been addicted to vice。 His love for
Katusha did not infringe this conception； because he loved her
platonically； and such love he considered could not hinder his
activity as a phacocytes； but acted； on the contrary； as an
inspiration。
Not only moral； but also most practical questions he decided in
his own way。 He applied a theory of his own to all practical
business； had rules relating to the number of hours for rest and
for work； to the kind of food to eat； the way to dress； to heat
and light up the rooms。 With all this Simonson was very shy and
modest； and yet when he had once made up his mind nothing could
make him waver。 And this man had a decided influence on Maslova
through his love for her。 With a woman's instinct Maslova very
soon found out that he loved her。 And the fact that she could
awaken love in a man of that kind raised her in her own
estimation。 It was Nekhludoff's magnanimity and what had been in
the past that made him offer to marry her； but Simonson loved her
such as she was now； loved her simply because of the love he bore
her。 And she felt that Simonson considered her to be an
exceptional woman； having peculiarly high moral qualities。 She
did not quite know what the qualities he attributed to her were；
but in order to be on the safe side and that he should not be
disappointed in her； she tried with all her might to awaken in
herself all the highest qualities she could conceive； and she
tried to be as good as possible。 This had begun while they were
still in prison； when on a common visiting day she had noticed
his kindly dark blue eyes gazing fixedly at her from under his
projecting brow。 Even then she had noticed that this was a
peculiar man； and that he was looking at her in a peculiar
manner； and had also noticed the striking combination of
sternnessthe unruly hair and the frowning forehead gave him
this appearancewith the child…like kindness and innocence of
his look。 She saw him again in Tomsk； where she joined the
political prisoners。 Though they had not uttered a word； their
looks told plainly that they had understood one another。 Even
after that they had had no serious conversation with each other；
but Maslova felt that when he spoke in her presence his words
were addressed to her； and that he spoke for her sake； trying to
express himself as plainly as he could； but it was when he
started walking with the criminal prisoners that they grew
specially near to one another。
CHAPTER V。
THE POLITICAL PRISONERS。
Until they left Perm Nekhludoff only twice managed to see
Katusha； once in Nijni； before the prisoners were embarked on a
barge surrounded with a wire netting； and again in Perm in the
prison office。 At both these interviews he found her reserved and
unkind。 She answered his questions as to whether she was in want
of anything； and whether she was comfortable； evasively and
bashfully； and； as he thought； with the same feeling of hostile
reproach which she had shown several times before。 Her depressed
state of mind； which was only the result of the molestations from
the men that she was undergoing at the time； tormented
Nekhludoff。 He feared lest； influenced by the hard and degrading
circumstances in which she was placed on the journey； she should
again get into that state of despair and discord with her own
self which formerly made her irritable with him； and which had
caused her to drink and smoke excessively to gain oblivion。 But
he was unable to help her in any way during this part of the
journey； as it was impossible for him to be with her。 It was only
when she joined the political prisoners that he saw how unfounded
his fears were； and at each interview he noticed that inner
change he so strongly desired to see in her becoming more and
more marked。 The first time they met in Tomsk she was again just
as she had been when leaving Moscow。 She did not frown or become
confused when she saw him； but met him joyfully and simply；
thanking him for what he had done for her； especially for
bringing her among the people with whom she now was。
After two months' marching with the gang； the change that had
taken place within her became noticeable in her appearance。 She
grew sunburned and thinner； and seemed older； wrinkles appeared
on her temples and round her mouth。 She had no ringlets on her
forehead now； and her hair was covered with the kerchief； in the
way it was arranged； as well as in her dress and her manners；
there was no trace of coquetry left。 And this change； which had
taken place and was still progressing in her； made Nekhludoff
very happy。
He felt for her somet