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dandelions； and along the lime…tree walk； where he used to smoke
his cigar； and where he had flirted with the pretty Kirimova； his
mother's visitor。 Having briefly prepared in his mind the speech
he was going to make to the peasants； he again went in to the
steward； and； after tea； having once more arranged his thoughts；
he went into the room prepared for him in the big house； which
used to be a spare bedroom。
In this clean little room； with pictures of Venice on the walls；
and a mirror between the two windows； there stood a clean bed
with a spring mattress； and by the side of it a small table； with
a decanter of water； matches； and an extinguisher。 On a table by
the looking…glass lay his open portmanteau； with his
dressing…case and some books in it； a Russian book； The
Investigation of the Laws of Criminality； and a German and an
English book on the same subject； which he meant to read while
travelling in the country。 But it was too late to begin to…day；
and he began preparing to go to bed。
An old…fashioned inlaid mahogany arm…chair stood in the corner of
the room； and this chair； which Nekhludoff remembered standing in
his mother's bedroom； suddenly raised a perfectly unexpected
sensation in his soul。 He was suddenly filled with regret at the
thought of the house that would tumble to ruin； and the garden
that would run wild； and the forest that would be cut down； and
all these farmyards； stables； sheds； machines； horses； cows which
he knew had cost so much effort； though not to himself； to
acquire and to keep。 It had seemed easy to give up all this； but
now it was hard； not only to give this； but even to let the land
and lose half his income。 And at once a consideration； which
proved that it was unreasonable to let the land to the peasants；
and thus to destroy his property； came to his service。 〃I must
not hold property in land。 If I possess no property in land； I
cannot keep up the house and farm。 And； besides； I am going to
Siberia； and shall not need either the house or the estate；〃 said
one voice。 〃All this is so；〃 said another voice； 〃but you are not
going to spend all your life in Siberia。 You may marry； and have
children； and must hand the estate on to them in as good a
condition as you received it。 There is a duty to the land； too。
To give up； to destroy everything is very easy； to acquire it
very difficult。 Above all； you must consider your future life；
and what you will do with yourself； and you must dispose of your
property accordingly。 And are you really firm in your resolve？
And then； are you really acting according to your conscience； or
are you acting in order to be admired of men？〃 Nekhludoff asked
himself all this； and had to acknowledge that he was influenced
by the thought of what people would say about him。 And the more
he thought about it the more questions arose； and the more
unsolvable they seemed。
In hopes of ridding himself of these thoughts by failing asleep；
and solving them in the morning when his head would be fresh； he
lay down on his clean bed。 But it was long before he could sleep。
Together with the fresh air and the moonlight； the croaking of
the frogs entered the room； mingling with the trills of a couple
of nightingales in the park and one close to the window in a bush
of lilacs in bloom。 Listening to the nightingales and the frogs；
Nekhludoff remembered the inspector's daughter； and her music；
and the inspector； that reminded him of Maslova； and how her lips
trembled； like the croaking of the frogs； when she said； 〃You
must just leave it。〃 Then the German steward began going down to
the frogs； and had to be held back； but he not only went down but
turned into Maslova； who began reproaching Nekhludoff； saying；
〃You are a prince； and I am a convict。〃 〃No； I must not give in；〃
thought Nekhludoff； waking up； and again asking himself； 〃Is what
I am doing right？ I do not know； and no matter； no matter； I must
only fall asleep now。〃 And he began himself to descend where he
had seen the inspector and Maslova climbing down to； and there it
all ended。
CHAPTER II。
EFFORTS AT LAND RESTORATION。
The next day Nekhludoff awoke at nine o'clock。 The young office
clerk who attended on 〃the master〃 brought him his boots； shining
as they had never shone before； and some cold； beautifully clear
spring water； and informed him that the peasants were already
assembling。
Nekhludoff jumped out of bed； and collected his thoughts。 Not a
trace of yesterday's regret at giving up and thus destroying his
property remained now。 He remembered this feeling of regret with
surprise； he was now looking forward with joy to the task before
him； and could not help being proud of it。 He could see from the
window the old tennis ground； overgrown with dandelions； on which
the peasants were beginning to assemble。 The frogs had not
croaked in vain the night before； the day was dull。 There was no
wind； a soft warm rain had begun falling in the morning； and hung
in drops on leaves； twigs； and grass。 Besides the smell of the
fresh vegetation； the smell of damp earth； asking for more rain；
entered in at the window。 While dressing； Nekhludoff several
times looked out at the peasants gathered on the tennis ground。
One by one they came； took off their hats or caps to one another；
and took their places in a circle； leaning on their sticks。 The
steward； a stout； muscular； strong young man； dressed in a short
pea…jacket； with a green stand…up collar； and enormous buttons；
came to say that all had assembled； but that they might wait
until Nekhludoff had finished his breakfasttea and coffee；
whichever he pleased； both were ready。
〃No； I think I had better go and see them at once；〃 said
Nekhludoff； with an unexpected feeling of shyness and shame at
the thought of the conversation he was going to have with the
peasants。 He was going to fulfil a wish of the peasants； the
fulfilment of which they did not even dare to hope forto let
the land to them at a low price； i。e。； to confer a great boon；
and yet he felt ashamed of something。 When Nekhludoff came up to
the peasants； and the fair； the curly； the bald； the grey heads
were bared before him； he felt so confused that he could say
nothing。 The rain continued to come down in small drops； that
remained on the hair； the beards； and the fluff of the men's
rough coats。 The peasants looked at 〃the master；〃 waiting for him
to speak； and he was so abashed that he could not speak。 This
confused silence was broken by the sedate； self…assured German
steward； who considered himself a good judge of the Russian
peasant； and who spoke Russian remarkably well。 This strong；
over…fed man； and Nekhludoff himself； presented a striking
contrast to the peasants； with their thin； wrinkled faces and the
shoulder blades protruding beneath their coarse coats。
〃Here's the Prince wanting to do you a favor； and to let the land
to you； only you are not worthy of it；〃 said the steward。
〃How are we not worthy of it； Vasili Karlovitch？ Don't we work
for you？ We were well satisfied with the deceased ladyGod have
mercy on her souland the young Prince will not desert us now。
Our thanks to him；〃 said a red