按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
THE KREUTZER SONATA。
CHAPTER I。
Travellers left and entered our car at every stopping of the
train。 Three persons； however； remained； bound； like myself； for
the farthest station： a lady neither young nor pretty； smoking
cigarettes； with a thin face； a cap on her head； and wearing a
semi…masculine outer garment； then her companion； a very
loquacious gentleman of about forty years； with baggage entirely
new and arranged in an orderly manner； then a gentleman who held
himself entirely aloof； short in stature； very nervous； of
uncertain age； with bright eyes； not pronounced in color； but
extremely attractive；eyes that darted with rapidity from one
object to another。
This gentleman； during almost all the journey thus far； had
entered into conversation with no fellow…traveller； as if he
carefully avoided all acquaintance。 When spoken to； he answered
curtly and decisively； and began to look out of the car window
obstinately。
Yet it seemed to me that the solitude weighed upon him。 He
seemed to perceive that I understood this； and when our eyes met；
as happened frequently； since we were sitting almost opposite
each other； he turned away his head； and avoided conversation
with me as much as with the others。 At nightfall； during a stop
at a large station； the gentleman with the fine baggagea
lawyer； as I have since learnedgot out with his companion to
drink some tea at the restaurant。 During their absence several
new travellers entered the car； among whom was a tall old man；
shaven and wrinkled； evidently a merchant； wearing a large
heavily…lined cloak and a big cap。 This merchant sat down
opposite the empty seats of the lawyer and his companion； and
straightway entered into conversation with a young man who seemed
like an employee in some commercial house； and who had likewise
just boarded the train。 At first the clerk had remarked that the
seat opposite was occupied； and the old man had answered that he
should get out at the first station。 Thus their conversation
started。
I was sitting not far from these two travellers； and； as the
train was not in motion； I could catch bits of their conversation
when others were not talking。
They talked first of the prices of goods and the condition of
business； they referred to a person whom they both knew； then
they plunged into the fair at Nijni Novgorod。 The clerk boasted
of knowing people who were leading a gay life there； but the old
man did not allow him to continue； and； interrupting him； began
to describe the festivities of the previous year at Kounavino； in
which he had taken part。 He was evidently proud of these
recollections； and； probably thinking that this would detract
nothing from the gravity which his face and manners expressed； he
related with pride how； when drunk； he had fired； at Kounavino；
such a broadside that he could describe it only in the other's
ear。
The clerk began to laugh noisily。 The old man laughed too；
showing two long yellow teeth。 Their conversation not
interesting me； I left the car to stretch my legs。 At the door I
met the lawyer and his lady。
〃You have no more time；〃 the lawyer said to me。 〃The second bell
is about to ring。〃
Indeed I had scarcely reached the rear of the train when the bell
sounded。 As I entered the car again； the lawyer was talking with
his companion in an animated fashion。 The merchant； sitting
opposite them； was taciturn。
〃And then she squarely declared to her husband；〃 said the lawyer
with a smile； as I passed by them； 〃that she neither could nor
would live with him； because〃 。 。 。
And he continued； but I did not hear the rest of the sentence； my
attention being distracted by the passing of the conductor and a
new traveller。 When silence was restored； I again heard the
lawyer's voice。 The conversation had passed from a special case
to general considerations。
〃And afterward comes discord； financial difficulties； disputes
between the two parties； and the couple separate。 In the good
old days that seldom happened。 Is it not so？〃 asked the lawyer
of the two merchants； evidently trying to drag them into the
conversation。
Just then the train started； and the old man； without answering；
took off his cap； and crossed himself three times while muttering
a prayer。 When he had finished； he clapped his cap far down on
his head； and said：
〃Yes； sir； that happened in former times also； but not as often。
In the present day it is bound to happen more frequently。 People
have become too learned。〃
The lawyer made some reply to the old man； but the train； ever
increasing its speed； made such a clatter upon the rails that I
could no longer hear distinctly。 As I was interested in what the
old man was saying； I drew nearer。 My neighbor； the nervous
gentleman； was evidently interested also； and； without changing
his seat； he lent an ear。
〃But what harm is there in education？〃 asked the lady； with a
smile that was scarcely perceptible。 〃Would it be better to
marry as in the old days； when the bride and bridegroom did not
even see each other before marriage？〃 she continued； answering；
as is the habit of our ladies； not the words that her
interlocutor had spoken； but the words she believed he was going
to speak。 〃Women did not know whether they would love or would
be loved； and they were married to the first comer； and suffered
all their lives。 Then you think it was better so？〃 she
continued； evidently addressing the lawyer and myself； and not at
all the old man。
〃People have become too learned；〃 repeated the last； looking at
the lady with contempt； and leaving her question unanswered。
〃I should be curious to know how you explain the correlation
between education and conjugal differences；〃 said the lawyer；
with a slight smile。
The merchant wanted to make some reply； but the lady interrupted
him。
〃No； those days are past。〃
The lawyer cut short her words：
〃Let him express his thought。〃
〃Because there is no more fear；〃 replied the old man。
〃But how will you marry people who do not love each other？ Only
animals can be coupled at the will of a proprietor。 But people
have inclinations； attachments；〃 the lady hastened to say；
casting a glance at the lawyer； at me； and even at the clerk；
who； standing up and leaning his elbow on the back of a seat； was
listening to the conversation with a smile。
〃You are wrong to say that； madam；〃 said the old man。 〃The
animals are beasts； but man has received the law。〃
〃But； nevertheless； how is one to live with a man when there is
no love？〃 said the lady； evidently excited by the general
sympathy and attention。
〃Formerly no such distinctions were made；〃 said the old man；
gravely。 〃Only now have they become a part of our habits。 As
soon as the least thing happens； the wife says： 'I release you。
I am going to leave your house。' Even among