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reserved with Nekhludoff than hitherto。
An order for greater caution had apparently been sent； as a
result of his conversation with Meslennikoff。
〃You may see her；〃 the inspector said； 〃but please remember what
I said as regards money。 And as to her removal to the hospital；
that his excellency wrote to me about； it can be done； the doctor
would agree。 Only she herself does not wish it。 She says； 'Much
need have I to carry out the slops for the scurvy beggars。' You
don't know what these people are； Prince；〃 he added。
Nekhludoff did not reply； but asked to have the interview。 The
inspector called a jailer； whom Nekhludoff followed into the
women's visiting…room； where there was no one but Maslova
waiting。 She came from behind the grating； quiet and timid； close
up to him； and said； without looking at him：
〃Forgive me； Dmitri Ivanovitch； I spoke hastily the day before
yesterday。〃
〃It is not for me to forgive you；〃 Nekhludoff began。
〃But all the same； you must leave me；〃 she interrupted； and in
the terribly squinting eyes with which she looked at him
Nekhludoff read the former strained； angry expression。
〃Why should I leave you？〃
〃So。〃
〃But why so？〃
She again looked up； as it seemed to him； with the same angry
look。
〃Well； then； thus it is；〃 she said。 〃You must leave me。 It is
true what I am saying。 I cannot。 You just give it up altogether。〃
Her lips trembled and she was silent for a moment。 〃It is true。
I'd rather hang myself。〃
Nekhludoff felt that in this refusal there was hatred and
unforgiving resentment； but there was also something besides；
something good。 This confirmation of the refusal in cold blood at
once quenched all the doubts in Nekhludoff's bosom； and brought
back the serious； triumphant emotion he had felt in relation to
Katusha。
〃Katusha； what I have said I will again repeat；〃 he uttered； very
seriously。 〃I ask you to marry me。 If you do not wish it； and for
as long as you do not wish it； I shall only continue to follow
you； and shall go where you are taken。〃
〃That is your business。 I shall not say anything more；〃 she
answered； and her lips began to tremble again。
He； too； was silent； feeling unable to speak。
〃I shall now go to the country； and then to Petersburg；〃 he said；
when he was quieter again。 〃I shall do my utmost to get your…
our case； I mean； reconsidered； and by the help of God the
sentence may be revoked。〃
〃And if it is not revoked； never mind。 I have deserved it； if not
in this case； in other ways；〃 she said； and he saw how difficult
it was for her to keep down her tears。
〃Well； have you seen Menshoff？〃 she suddenly asked； to hide her
emotion。 〃It's true they are innocent； isn't it？〃
〃Yes； I think so。〃
〃Such a splendid old woman；〃 she said。
There was another pause。
〃Well； and as to the hospital？〃 she suddenly said； and looking at
him with her squinting eyes。 〃If you like； I will go； and I shall
not drink any spirits； either。〃
Nekhludoff looked into her eyes。 They were smiling。
〃Yes； yes； she is quite a different being；〃 Nekhludoff thought。
After all his former doubts； he now felt something he had never
before experiencedthe certainty that love is invincible。
When Maslova returned to her noisome cell after this interview；
she took off her cloak and sat down in her place on the shelf
bedstead with her hands folded on her lap。 In the cell were only
the consumptive woman； the Vladimir woman with her baby；
Menshoff's old mother； and the watchman's wife。 The deacon's
daughter had the day before been declared mentally diseased and
removed to the hospital。 The rest of the women were away； washing
clothes。 The old woman was asleep； the cell door stood open； and
the watchman's children were in the corridor outside。 The
Vladimir woman； with her baby in her arms； and the watchman's
wife； with the stocking she was knitting with deft fingers； came
up to Maslova。 〃Well； have you had a chat？〃 they asked。 Maslova
sat silent on the high bedstead； swinging her legs； which did not
reach to the floor。
〃What's the good of snivelling？〃 said the watchman's wife。 〃The
chief thing's not to go down into the dumps。 Eh； Katusha？ Now；
then！〃 and she went on； quickly moving her fingers。
Maslova did not answer。
〃And our women have all gone to wash；〃 said the Vladimir woman。
〃I heard them say much has been given in alms to…day。 Quite a lot
has been brought。〃
〃Finashka；〃 called out the watchman's wife； 〃where's the little
imp gone to？〃
She took a knitting needle； stuck it through both the ball and
the stocking； and went out into the corridor。
At this moment the sound of women's voices was heard from the
corridor； and the inmates of the cell entered； with their prison
shoes； but no stockings on their feet。 Each was carrying a roll；
some even two。 Theodosia came at once up to Maslova。
〃What's the matter； is anything wrong？〃 Theodosia asked； looking
lovingly at Maslova with her clear； blue eyes。 〃This is for our
tea；〃 and she put the rolls on a shelf。
〃Why； surely he has not changed his mind about marrying？〃 asked
Korableva。
〃No； he has not； but I don't wish to；〃 said Maslova； 〃and so I
told him。〃
〃More fool you！〃 muttered Korableva in her deep tones。
〃If one's not to live together； what's the use of marrying？〃 said
Theodosia。
〃There's your husbandhe's going with you；〃 said the watchman's
wife。
〃Well； of course； we're married；〃 said Theodosia。 〃But why should
he go through the ceremony if he is not to live with her？〃
〃Why； indeed！ Don't be a fool！ You know if he marries her she'll
roll in wealth；〃 said Korableva。
〃He says； 'Wherever they take you； I'll follow；'〃 said Maslova。
〃If he does； it's well； if he does not； well also。 I am not going
to ask him to。 Now he is going to try and arrange the matter in
Petersburg。 He is related to all the Ministers there。 But； all
the same； I have no need of him；〃 she continued。
〃Of course not；〃 suddenly agreed Korableva； evidently thinking
about something else as she sat examining her bag。 〃Well； shall
we have a drop？〃
〃You have some；〃 replied Maslova。 〃I won't。〃
END OF BOOK I。
BOOK II。
CHAPTER I。
PROPERTY IN LAND。
It was possible for Maslova's case to come before the Senate in a
fortnight； at which time Nekhludoff meant to go to Petersburg；
and； if need be； to appeal to the Emperor （as the advocate who
had drawn up the petition advised） should the appeal be
disregarded （and； according to the advocate； it was best to be
prepared for that； since the causes for appeal were so slight）。
The party of convicts； among whom was Maslova； would very likely
leave in the beginning of June。 In order to be able to follow her
to Siberia； as Nekhludoff was firmly resolved to do； he was now
obliged to visit his estates； and settle matters there。
Nekhludoff first went to the nearest； Kousminski； a large estate
that lay in the black earth district； and from which he derived
the greatest part of his income。
He had lived on that estate in his childhood and youth； and had
been there twice since； and once； at his mother's request； he had
taken a German steward there； and had with him verified the