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from the top to the bottom of his long whip； and trying to show
off his accomplishments〃that ostentatious German has procured
three light bays； and when he drives out with his lady…oh； my！
At Christmas he had a Christmas…tree in the big house。 I drove
some of the visitors there。 It had 'lectric lights； you could
not see the like of it in the whole of the government。 What's it
to him； he has cribbed a heap of money。 I heard say he has bought
an estate。〃
Nekhludoff had imagined that he was quite indifferent to the way
the steward managed his estate； and what advantages the steward
derived from it。 The words of the long…waisted driver； however；
were not pleasant to hear。
A dark cloud now and then covered the sun； the larks were soaring
above the fields of winter corn； the forests were already covered
with fresh young green； the meadows speckled with grazing cattle
and horses。 The fields were being ploughed； and Nekhludoff
enjoyed the lovely day。 But every now and then he had an
unpleasant feeling； and； when he asked himself what it was caused
by； he remembered what the driver had told him about the way the
German was managing Kousminski。 When he got to his estate and set
to work this unpleasant feeling vanished。
Looking over the books in the office； and a talk with the
foreman； who naively pointed out the advantages to be derived
from the facts that the peasants had very little land of their
own and that it lay in the midst of the landlord's fields； made
Nekhludoff more than ever determined to leave off farming and to
let his land to the peasants。
From the office books and his talk with the foreman； Nekhludoff
found that two…thirds of the best of the cultivated land was
still being tilled with improved machinery by labourers receiving
fixed wages； while the other third was tilled by the peasants at
the rate of five roubles per desiatin ＇about two and
three…quarter acres＇。 So that the peasants had to plough each
desiatin three times； harrow it three times； sow and mow the
corn； make it into sheaves； and deliver it on the threshing
ground for five roubles； while the same amount of work done by
wage labour came to at least 10 roubles。 Everything the peasants
got from the office they paid for in labour at a very high price。
They paid in labour for the use of the meadows； for wood； for
potato…stalks； and were nearly all of them in debt to the office。
Thus； for the land that lay beyond the cultivated fields； which
the peasants hired； four times the price that its value would
bring in if invested at five per cent was taken from the
peasants。
Nekhludoff had known all this before； but he now saw it in a new
light； and wondered how he and others in his position could help
seeing how abnormal such conditions are。 The steward's arguments
that if the land were let to the peasants the agricultural
implements would fetch next to nothing； as it would be impossible
to get even a quarter of their value for them； and that the
peasants would spoil the land； and how great a loser Nekhludoff
would be； only strengthened Nekhludoff in the opinion that he was
doing a good action in letting the land to the peasants and thus
depriving himself of a large part of his income。 He decided to
settle this business now； at once； while he was there。 The
reaping and selling of the corn he left for the steward to manage
in due season； and also the selling of the agricultural
implements and useless buildings。 But he asked his steward to
call the peasants of the three neighbouring villages that lay in
the midst of his estate （Kousminski） to a meeting； at which he
would tell them of his intentions and arrange about the price at
which they were to rent the land。
With the pleasant sense of the firmness he had shown in the face
of the steward's arguments； and his readiness to make a
sacrifice； Nekhludoff left the office； thinking over the business
before him； and strolled round the house； through the neglected
flower…gardenthis year the flowers were planted in front of the
steward's houseover the tennis ground； now overgrown with
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；
enter