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the inner walls of the beautiful； strong； enormous old structure
he loved so dearly。 He was also a typical peasant in his views on
religion； never thinking about metaphysical questions； about the
origin of all origin； or the future life。 God was to him； as
also to Arago； an hypothesis； which he had had no need of up to
now。 He had no business with the origin of the world； whether
Moses or Darwin was right。 Darwinism； which seemed so important
to his fellows； was only the same kind of plaything of the mind
as the creation in six days。 The question how the world had
originated did not interest him； just because the question how it
would be best to live in this world was ever before him。 He never
thought about future life； always bearing in the depth of his
soul the firm and quiet conviction inherited from his
forefathers； and common to all labourers on the land； that just
as in the world of plants and animals nothing ceases to exist；
but continually changes its form； the manure into grain； the
grain into a food； the tadpole into a frog； the caterpillar into
a butterfly； the acorn into an oak； so man also does not perish；
but only undergoes a change。 He believed in this； and therefore
always looked death straight in the face； and bravely bore the
sufferings that lead towards it； but did not care and did not
know how to speak about it。 He loved work； was always employed in
some practical business； and put his comrades in the way of the
same kind of practical work。
The other political prisoner from among the people； Markel
Kondratieff； was a very different kind of man。 He began to work
at the age of fifteen； and took to smoking and drinking in order
to stifle a dense sense of being wronged。 He first realised he
was wronged one Christmas when they； the factory children； were
invited to a Christmas tree； got up by the employer's wife； where
he received a farthing whistle； an apple； a gilt walnut and a
fig； while the employer's children had presents given them which
seemed gifts from fairyland； and had cost more than fifty
roubles； as he afterwards heard。
When he was twenty a celebrated revolutionist came to their
factory to work as a working girl； and noticing his superior
qualities began giving books and pamphlets to Kondratieff and to
talk and explain his position to him； and how to remedy it。 When
the possibility of freeing himself and others from their
oppressed state rose clearly in his mind； the injustice of this
state appeared more cruel and more terrible than before； and he
longed passionately not only for freedom； but also for the
punishment of those who had arranged and who kept up this cruel
injustice。 Kondratieff devoted himself with passion to the
acquirement of knowledge。 It was not clear to him how knowledge
should bring about the realisation of the social ideal； but he
believed that the knowledge that had shown him the injustice of
the state in which he lived would also abolish that injustice
itself。 Besides knowledge would； in his opinion； raise him above
others。 Therefore he left off drinking_ and smoking； and devoted
all his leisure time to study。 The revolutionist gave him
lessons； and his thirst for every kind of knowledge； and the
facility with which he took it in； surprised her。 In two years he
had mastered algebra； geometry； historywhich he was specially
fond ofand made acquaintance with artistic and critical； and
especially socialistic literature。 The revolutionist was
arrested； and Kondratieff with her； forbidden books having been
found in their possession； and they were imprisoned and then
exiled to the Vologda Government。 There Kondratieff became
acquainted with Novodvoroff； and read a great deal more
revolutionary literature； remembered it all； and became still
firmer in his socialistic views。 While in exile he became leader
in a large strike； which ended in the destruction of a factory
and the murder of the director。 He was again arrested and
condemned to Siberia。
His religious views were of the same negative nature as his views
of the existing economic conditions。 Having seen the absurdity of
the religion in which he was brought up； and having gained with
great effort； and at first with fear； but later with rapture；
freedom from it； he did not tire of viciously and with venom
ridiculing priests and religious dogmas； as if wishing to revenge
himself for the deception that had been practised on him。
He was ascetic through habit； contented himself with very little；
and； like all those used to work from childhood and whose muscles
have been developed； he could work much and easily； and was quick
at any manual labour； but what he valued most was the leisure in
prisons and halting stations； which enabled him to continue his
studies。 He was now studying the first volume of Karl Marks's；
and carefully hid the book in his sack as if it were a great
treasure。 He behaved with reserve and indifference to all his
comrades； except Novodvoroff； to whom he was greatly attached；
and whose arguments on all subjects he accepted as unanswerable
truths。
He had an indefinite contempt for women； whom he looked upon as a
hindrance in all necessary business。 But he pitied Maslova and
was gentle with her； for he considered her an example of the way
the lower are exploited by the upper classes。 The same reason
made him dislike Nekhludoff； so that he talked little with him；
and never pressed Nekhludoff's hand； but only held out his own to
be pressed when greeting him。
CHAPTER XIII。
LOVE AFFAIRS OF THE EXILES。
The stove had burned up and got warm； the tea was made and poured
out into mugs and cups； and milk was added to it； rusks； fresh
rye and wheat bread； hard…boiled eggs； butter； and calf's head
and feet were placed on the cloth。 Everybody moved towards the
part of the shelf beds which took the place of the table and sat
eating and talking。 Rintzeva sat on a box pouring out the tea。
The rest crowded round her； only Kryltzoff； who had taken off his
wet cloak and wrapped himself in his dry plaid and lay in his own
place talking to Nekhludoff。
After the cold and damp march and the dirt and disorder they had
found here； and after the pains they had taken to get it tidy；
after having drunk hot tea and eaten； they were all in the best
and brightest of spirits。
The fact that the tramp of feet； the screams and abuse of the
criminals； reached them through the wall； reminding them of their
surroundings； seemed only to increase the sense of coziness。 As
on an island in the midst of the sea； these people felt
themselves for a brief interval not swamped by the degradation
and sufferings which surrounded them； this made their spirits
rise； and excited them。 They talked about everything except their
present position and that which awaited them。 Then； as it
generally happens among young men； and women especially； if they
are forced to remain together； as these people were； all sorts of
agreements and disagreements and attractions； curiously blended；
had sprung up among them。 Almost all of them were in love。
Novodvoroff was in love with the pretty； smiling Grabetz。 This
Grabetz was a young； thoughtless girl who