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being observed。 The gilt case containing the icon glittered；
illuminated on all sides by tall candles ornamented with golden
spirals。 The candelabra was filled with tapers； and from the
choir sounded most merry tunes sung by amateur choristers； with
bellowing bass and shrill boys' voices among them。
Nekhludoff passed up to the front。 In the middle of the church
stood the aristocracy of the place： a landed proprietor； with his
wife and son （the latter dressed in a sailor's suit）； the police
officer； the telegraph clerk； a tradesman in top…boots； and the
village elder； with a medal on his breast； and to the right of
the ambo； just behind the landed proprietor's wife； stood Matrona
Pavlovna in a lilac dress and fringed shawl and Katusha in a
white dress with a tucked bodice； blue sash； and red bow in her
black hair。
Everything seemed festive； solemn； bright； and beautiful： the
priest in his silver cloth vestments with gold crosses； the
deacon； the clerk and chanter in their silver and gold surplices；
the amateur choristers in their best clothes； with their
well…oiled hair； the merry tunes of the holiday hymns that
sounded like dance music； and the continual blessing of the
people by the priests； who held candles decorated with flowers；
and repeated the cry of 〃Christ is risen！〃 〃Christ is risen！〃 All
was beautiful； but； above all； Katusha； in her white dress； blue
sash； and the red bow on her black head； her eyes beaming with
rapture。
Nekhludoff knew that she felt his presence without looking at
him。 He noticed this as he passed her； walking up to the altar。
He had nothing to tell her； but he invented something to say and
whispered as he passed her： 〃Aunt told me that she would break
her fast after the late mass。〃 The young blood rushed up to
Katusha's sweet face； as it always did when she looked at him。
The black eyes； laughing and full of joy； gazed naively up and
remained fixed on Nekhludoff。
〃I know；〃 she said； with a smile。
At this moment the clerk was going out with a copper coffee…pot
＇coffee…pots are often used for holding holy water in Russia＇ of
holy water in his hand； and； not noticing Katusha； brushed her
with his surplice。 Evidently he brushed against Katusha through
wishing to pass Nekhludoff at a respectful distance； and
Nekhludoff was surprised that he； the clerk； did not understand
that everything here； yes； and in all the world； only existed for
Katusha； and that everything else might remain unheeded； only not
she； because she was the centre of all。 For her the gold
glittered round the icons； for her all these candles in
candelabra and candlesticks were alight； for her were sung these
joyful hymns； 〃Behold the Passover of the Lord〃 〃Rejoice； O ye
people！〃 Allall that was good in the world was for her。 And it
seemed to him that Katusha was aware that it was all for her when
he looked at her well…shaped figure； the tucked white dress； the
wrapt； joyous expression of her face； by which he knew that just
exactly the same that was singing in his own soul was also
singing in hers。
In the interval between the early and the late mass Nekhludoff
left the church。 The people stood aside to let him pass； and
bowed。 Some knew him； others asked who he was。
He stopped on the steps。 The beggars standing there came
clamouring round him； and he gave them all the change he had in
his purse and went down。 It was dawning； but the sun had not yet
risen。 The people grouped round the graves in the churchyard。
Katusha had remained inside。 Nekhludoff stood waiting for her。
The people continued coming out； clattering with their nailed
boots on the stone steps and dispersing over the churchyard。 A
very old man with shaking head； his aunts' cook； stopped
Nekhludoff in order to give him the Easter kiss； his old wife
took an egg； dyed yellow； out of her handkerchief and gave it to
Nekhludoff； and a smiling young peasant in a new coat and green
belt also came up。
〃Christ is risen；〃 he said； with laughing eyes； and coming close
to Nekhludoff he enveloped him in his peculiar but pleasant
peasant smell； and； tickling him with his curly beard； kissed him
three times straight on the mouth with his firm； fresh lips。
While the peasant was kissing Nekhludoff and giving him a dark
brown egg； the lilac dress of Matrona Pavlovna and the dear black
head with the red bow appeared。
Katusha caught sight of him over the heads of those in front of
her； and he saw how her face brightened up。
She had come out with Matrona Pavlovna on to the porch； and
stopped there distributing alms to the beggars。 A beggar with a
red scab in place of a nose came up to Katusha。 She gave him
something； drew nearer him； and； evincing no sign of disgust； but
her eyes still shining with joy； kissed him three times。 And
while she was doing this her eyes met Nekhludoff's with a look as
if she were asking； 〃Is this that I am doing right？〃 〃Yes； dear；
yes； it is right； everything is right； everything is beautiful。 I
love！〃
They came down the steps of the porch； and he came up to them。
He did not mean to give them the Easter kiss； but only to be
nearer to her。 Matrona Pavlovna bowed her head； and said with a
smile； 〃Christ is risen！〃 and her tone implied； 〃To…day we are
all equal。〃 She wiped her mouth with her handkerchief rolled into
a ball and stretched her lips towards him。
〃He is； indeed；〃 answered Nekhludoff； kissing her。 Then he looked
at Katusha； she blushed； and drew nearer。 〃Christ is risen；
Dmitri Ivanovitch。〃 〃He is risen； indeed；〃 answered Nekhludoff；
and they kissed twice； then paused as if considering whether a
third kiss were necessary； and； having decided that it was；
kissed a third time and smiled。
〃You are going to the priests？〃 asked Nekhludoff。
〃No； we shall sit out here a bit； Dmitri Ivanovitch；〃 said
Katusha with effort； as if she had accomplished some joyous task；
and； her whole chest heaving with a deep sigh； she looked
straight in his face with a look of devotion； virgin purity； and
love； in her very slightly squinting eyes。
In the love between a man and a woman there always comes a moment
when this love has reached its zenitha moment when it is
unconscious； unreasoning； and with nothing sensual about it。 Such
a moment had come for Nekhludoff on that Easter eve。 When he
brought Katusha back to his mind； now； this moment veiled all
else； the smooth glossy black head； the white tucked dress
closely fitting her graceful maidenly form； her； as yet；
un…developed bosom； the blushing cheeks； the tender shining black
eyes with their slight squint heightened by the sleepless night；
and her whole being stamped with those two marked features；
purity and chaste love； love not only for him （he knew that）； but
for everybody and everything； not for the good alone； but for all
that is in the world； even for that beggar whom she had kissed。
He knew she had that love in her because on that night and
morning he was conscious of it in himself； and conscious that in
this love he became one with her。 Ah！ if it had all stopped
there； at the point it had reached that night。 〃Yes； all that
horrible business had not yet happened on that Easter eve！〃 he
thought； as he sat by the window of the jurymen's room。
CHAPTER XVI。
THE FIRST STEP。
When he returned from church Nekhludoff broke the fast with his
aunts and took a glass of spirits and some wine； having got into
that habit while with his regiment； and when he reached his room
fell asleep at once； dressed as he was。 He was awakened by a
knock at the door。 He knew it was her knock； and got up； rubbing
his eyes and stretching himself。
〃Katusha； is it you？ Come in；〃 said he。
She opened the door。
〃Dinner is ready；〃 she said。 She still had on the same white
dress； but not the bow in her hair。 She looked at him with a
smile； as if she had communicated some very good news to him。
〃I am coming；〃 he answered； as he rose； taking his comb to
arrange his hair。
She stood still for a minute； and he； noticing it； threw down his
comb and made a step towards her； but at that very moment she
turned suddenly and went with quick light steps along the strip
of carpet in the middle of the passage。
〃Dear me； what a fool I am；〃 thought Nekhludoff。 〃Why did I not
stop her？〃 What he wanted her for he did not know himself； but he
felt that when she came into his room something should have been
done； something that is generally done on such occasions； and
that he had left it undone。
〃Katusha； wait；〃 he said。
〃What do you want？〃 she said； stopping。
〃Nothing； only〃 and； with an effort； remembering how men in his
position generally behave； he put his arm round her waist。
She stood still and looked into his eyes。
〃Don't； Dmitri Ivanovitch； you must not；〃 she said； blushing to
tears and pushing away his arm with her strong hard hand。
Nekhludoff let her go； and for a moment he felt not only confused
and ashamed but disgusted with himself。 He should now have
believed himself； and then he would have known that this
confusion and shame were caused by the best feelings of his soul
demanding to be set free； but he thought it was only his
stupidity and that he ought t