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〃How else？ Of course； so much per man；〃 said the good natured
lame man with the white strips of linen round his legs。
Every one confirmed this statement； considering it satisfactory。
〃So much per man？ Then are the servants attached to the house
also to have a share？〃 Nekhludoff asked。
〃Oh； no；〃 said the ex…soldier； trying to appear bold and merry。
But the tall； reasonable man would not agree with him。
〃If one is to divide； all must share alike；〃 he said； in his deep
bass； after a little consideration。
〃It can't be done；〃 said Nekhludoff； who had already prepared his
reply。 〃If all are to share alike； then those who do not work
themselvesdo not ploughwill sell their shares to the rich。
The rich will again get at the land。 Those who live by working
the land will multiply； and land will again be scarce。 Then the
rich will again get those who need land into their power。〃
〃Just so；〃 quickly said the ex…soldier。
〃Forbid to sell the land； let only him who ploughs it have it；〃
angrily interrupted the oven…builder。
To this Nekhludoff replied that it was impossible to know who was
ploughing for himself and who for another。
The tall； reasonable man proposed that an arrangement be made so
that they should all plough communally； and those who ploughed
should get the produce and those who did not should get nothing。
To this communistic project Nekhludoff had also an answer ready。
He said that for such an arrangement it would be necessary that
all should have ploughs； and that all the horses should be alike；
so that none should be left behind； and that ploughs and horses
and all the implements would have to be communal property； and
that in order to get that； all the people would have to agree。
〃Our people could not be made to agree in a lifetime；〃 said the
cross old man。
〃We should have regular fights；〃 said the white…bearded old man
with the laughing eyes。 〃So that the thing is not as simple as it
looks；〃 said Nekhludoff； 〃and this is a thing not only we but
many have been considering。 There is an American； Henry George。
This is what he has thought out； and I agree with him。〃
〃Why； you are the master； and you give it as you like。 What's it
to you？ The power is yours；〃 said the cross old man。
This confused Nekhludoff； but he was pleased to see that not he
alone was dissatisfied with this interruption。
You wait a bit； Uncle Simon； let him tell us about it；〃 said the
reasonable man； in his imposing bass。
This emboldened Nekhludoff； and he began to explain Henry
George's single…tax system 〃The earth is no man's； it is God's；〃
he began。
〃Just so； that it is；〃 several voices replied。
〃The land is common to all。 All have the same right to it； but
there is good land and bad land； and every one would like to take
the good land。 How is one to do in order to get it justly
divided？ In this way： he that will use the good land must pay
those who have got no land the value of the land he uses；〃
Nekhludoff went on； answering his own question。 〃As it would be
difficult to say who should pay whom； and money is needed for
communal use； it should be arranged that he who uses the good
land should pay the amount of the value of his land to the
commune for its needs。 Then every one would share equally。 If you
want to use land pay for itmore for the good； less for the bad
land。 If you do not wish to use land； don't pay anything； and
those who use the land will pay the taxes and the communal
expenses for you。〃
〃Well； he had a head； this George；〃 said the oven…builder； moving
his brows。 〃He who has good land must pay more。〃
〃If only the payment is according to our strength；〃 said the tall
man with the bass voice； evidently foreseeing how the matter
would end。
〃The payment should be not too high and not too low。 If it is too
high it will not get paid； and there will be a loss； and if it is
too low it will be bought and sold。 There would be a trading in
land。 This is what I wished to arrange among you here。〃
〃That is just； that is right； yes； that would do；〃 said the
peasants。
〃He has a head； this George；〃 said the broad…shouldered old man
with the curls。 〃See what he has invented。〃
〃Well； then； how would it be if I wished to take some land？〃
asked the smiling foreman。
〃If there is an allotment to spare； take it and work it；〃 said
Nekhludoff。
〃What do you want it for？ You have sufficient as it is；〃 said the
old man with the laughing eyes。
With this the conference ended。
Nekhludoff repeated his offer； and advised the men to talk it
over with the rest of the commune and to return with the answer。
The peasants said they would talk it over and bring an answer；
and left in a state of excitement。 Their loud talk was audible as
they went along the road； and up to late in the night the sound
of voices came along the river from the village。
The next day the peasants did not go to work； but spent it in
considering the landlord's offer。 The commune was divided into
two partiesone which regarded the offer as a profitable one to
themselves and saw no danger in agreeing with it； and another
which suspected and feared the offer it did not understand。 On
the third day； however； all agreed； and some were sent to
Nekhludoff to accept his offer。 They were influenced in their
decision by the explanation some of the old men gave of the
landlord's conduct； which did away with all fear of deceit。 They
thought the gentleman had begun to consider his soul； and was
acting as he did for its salvation。 The alms which Nekhludoff had
given away while in Panovo made his explanation seem likely。 The
fact that Nekhludoff had never before been face to face with such
great poverty and so bare a life as the peasants had come to in
this place； and was so appalled by it； made him give away money
in charity； though he knew that this was not reasonable。 He could
not help giving the money； of which he now had a great deal；
having received a large sum for the forest he had sold the year
before； and also the hand money for the implements and stock in
Kousminski。 As soon as it was known that the master was giving
money in charity； crowds of people； chiefly women； began to come
to ask him for help。 He did not in the least know how to deal
with them； how to decide； how much； and whom to give to。 He felt
that to refuse to give money； of which he had a great deal； to
poor people was impossible； yet to give casually to those who
asked was not wise。 The last day he spent in Panovo； Nekhludoff
looked over the things left in his aunts' house； and in the
bottom drawer of the mahogany wardrobe； with the brass lions'
heads with rings through them； he found many letters； and amongst
them a photograph of a group； consisting of his aunts； Sophia
Ivanovna and Mary Ivanovna； a student； and Katusha。 Of all the
things in the house he took only the letters and the photograph。
The rest he left to the miller who； at the smiling foreman's
recommendation； had bought the house and all it contained； to be
taken down and carried away； at one…tenth of the real value。
Recalling the feeling of regret at the loss of his property which
he had felt in Kousminski；