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Book I
CHAPTER I。
MASLOVA IN PRISON。
Though hundreds of thousands had done their very best to
disfigure the small piece of land on which they were crowded
together； by paying the ground with stones； scraping away every
vestige of vegetation； cutting down the trees； turning away birds
and beasts； and filling the air with the smoke of naphtha and
coal； still spring was spring； even in the town。
The sun shone warm； the air was balmy； everywhere； where it did
not get scraped away； the grass revived and sprang up between the
paving…stones as well as on the narrow strips of lawn on the
boulevards。 The birches； the poplars； and the wild cherry
unfolded their gummy and fragrant leaves； the limes were
expanding their opening buds； crows； sparrows； and pigeons；
filled with the joy of spring； were getting their nests ready；
the flies were buzzing along the walls； warmed by the sunshine。
All were glad； the plants； the birds； the insects； and the
children。 But men； grown…up men and women； did not leave off
cheating and tormenting themselves and each other。 It was not
this spring morning men thought sacred and worthy of
consideration not the beauty of God's world； given for a joy to
all creatures； this beauty which inclines the heart to peace； to
harmony； and to love； but only their own devices for enslaving
one another。
Thus； in the prison office of the Government town； it was not the
fact that men and animals had received the grace and gladness of
spring that was considered sacred and important； but that a
notice； numbered and with a superscription； had come the day
before； ordering that on this 28th day of April； at 9 a。m。； three
prisoners at present detained in the prison； a man and two women
（one of these women； as the chief criminal； to be conducted
separately）； had to appear at Court。 So now； on the 28th of
April； at 8 o'clock； a jailer and soon after him a woman warder
with curly grey hair； dressed in a jacket with sleeves trimmed
with gold； with a blue…edged belt round her waist； and having a
look of suffering on her face； came into the corridor。
〃You want Maslova？〃 she asked； coming up to the cell with the
jailer who was on duty。
The jailer； rattling the iron padlock； opened the door of the
cell； from which there came a whiff of air fouler even than that
in the corridor； and called out； 〃Maslova！ to the Court；〃 and
closed the door again。
Even into the prison yard the breeze had brought the fresh
vivifying air from the fields。 But in the corridor the air was
laden with the germs of typhoid； the smell of sewage；
putrefaction； and tar； every newcomer felt sad and dejected in
it。 The woman warder felt this； though she was used to bad air。
She had just come in from outside； and entering the corridor； she
at once became sleepy。
From inside the cell came the sound of bustle and women's voices；
and the patter of bare feet on the floor。
〃Now； then； hurry up； Maslova； I say！〃 called out the jailer； and
in a minute or two a small young woman with a very full bust came
briskly out of the door and went up to the jailer。 She had on a
grey cloak over a white jacket and petticoat。 On her feet she
wore linen stockings and prison shoes； and round her head was
tied a white kerchief； from under which a few locks of black hair
were brushed over the forehead with evident intent。 The face of
the woman was of that whiteness peculiar to people who have lived
long in confinement； and which puts one in mind of shoots of
potatoes that spring up in a cellar。 Her small broad hands and
full neck； which showed from under the broad collar of her cloak；
were of the same hue。 Her black； sparkling eyes； one with a
slight squint； appeared in striking contrast to the dull pallor
of her face。
She carried herself very straight； expanding her full bosom。
With her head slightly thrown back； she stood in the corridor；
looking straight into the eyes of the jailer； ready to comply
with any order。
The jailer was about to lock the door when a wrinkled and
severe…looking old woman put out her grey head and began speaking
to Maslova。 But the jailer closed the door； pushing the old
woman's head with it。 A woman's laughter was heard from the cell；
and Maslova smiled； turning to the little grated opening in the
cell door。 The old woman pressed her face to the grating from the
other side； and said； in a hoarse voice：
〃Now mind； and when they begin questioning you； just repeat over
the same thing； and stick to it； tell nothing that is not
wanted。〃
〃Well； it could not be worse than it is now； anyhow； I only wish
it was settled one way or another。〃
〃Of course； it will be settled one way or another；〃 said the
jailer； with a superior's self…assured witticism。 〃Now； then； get
along！ Take your places！〃
The old woman's eyes vanished from the grating； and Maslova
stepped out into the middle of the corridor。 The warder in front；
they descended the stone stairs； past the still fouler； noisy
cells of the men's ward； where they were followed by eyes looking
out of every one of the gratings in the doors； and entered the
office； where two soldiers were waiting to escort her。 A clerk
who was sitting there gave one of the soldiers a paper reeking of
tobacco； and pointing to the prisoner； remarked； 〃Take her。〃
The soldier； a peasant from Nijni Novgorod； with a red；
pock…marked face； put the paper into the sleeve of his coat；
winked to his companion； a broad…shouldered Tchouvash； and then
the prisoner and the soldiers went to the front entrance； out of
the prison yard； and through the town up the middle of the
roughly…paved street。
Isvostchiks ＇cabmen＇； tradespeople； cooks； workmen；
and government clerks； stopped and looked curiously at the
prisoner； some shook their heads and thought； 〃This is what evil
conduct； conduct unlike ours； leads to。〃 The children stopped and
gazed at the robber with frightened looks； but the thought that
the soldiers were preventing her from doing more harm quieted
their fears。 A peasant； who had sold his charcoal； and had had
some tea in the town； came up； and； after crossing himself； gave
her a copeck。 The prisoner blushed and muttered something； she
noticed that she was attracting everybody's attention； and that
pleased her。 The comparatively fresh air also gladdened her； but
it was painful to step on the rough stones with the ill…made
prison shoes on her feet； which had become unused to walking。
Passing by a corn…dealer's shop； in front of which a few pigeons
were strutting about； unmolested by any one； the prisoner almost
touched a grey…blue bird with her foot； it fluttered up and flew
close to her car； fanning her with its wings。 She smiled； then
sighed deeply as she remembered her present position。
CHAPTER II。
MASLOVA'S EARLY LIFE。
The story of the prisoner Maslova's life was a very common one。
Maslova's mother was the unmarried daughter of a village woman；
employed on a dairy farm； which belonged to two maiden ladies who
were landowners。 This unmarried woman had a baby every year； and；
as often happens among the village people； each one of these
undesired babies； after it had been carefully baptised； was
neglected by its mother； whom it hindered at her work； and left
to starve。 Five children had died in this way。 They had all been
baptised and then not sufficiently fed； and just left to die。
The sixth baby； whose father was a gipsy tramp； would have shared
the same fate； had it not so happened that one of the maiden
ladies came into the farmyard to scold the dairymaids for sending
up cream that smelt of the cow。 The young woman was lying in the
cowshed with a fine； healthy； new…born baby。 The old maiden lady
scolded the maids again for allowing the woman （who had just been
confined） to lie in the cowshed； and was about to go away； but
seeing the baby her heart was touched； and she offered to stand
godmother to the little girl； and pity for her little
god…daughter induced her to give milk and a little money to the
mother； so that she should feed the baby； and the little girl
lived。 The old ladies spoke of her as 〃the saved one。〃 When the
child was three years old； her mother fell ill and died； and the
maiden ladies took the child from her old grandmother； to whom
she was nothing but a burden。
The little black…eyed maiden grew to be extremely pretty； and so
full of spirits that the ladies found her very entertaining。
The younger of the ladies； Sophia Ivanovna； who had stood
godmother to the girl； had the kinder heart of the two sisters；
Maria Ivanovna； the elder； was rather hard。 Sophia Ivanovna
dressed the little girl in nice clothes； and taught her to read
and write； meaning to educate her like a lady。 Maria Ivanovna
thought the child should be brought up to work； and trained her
to be a good servant。 She was exacting； she punished； and； when
in a bad temper； even struck the little girl。 Growing up under
these two different influences； the girl turned out half servant；
half young lady。 They called her Katusha； which sounds less
refined than Katinka； but is not quite so common as Katka。 She
used to sew； tidy up the rooms； polish the metal cases of the
icons and do othe