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〃Oh； certainly I will；〃 said the foreman； and smiled still more
joyfully。 〃I shall call them to…morrow。〃
〃Just hear him； he's not artful； not he；〃 said a blackhaired
peasant； with an unkempt beard； as he sat jolting from side to
side on a well…fed mare； addressing an old man in a torn coat who
rode by his side。 The two men were driving a herd of the
peasants' horses to graze in the night； alongside the highroad
and secretly； in the landlord's forest。
〃Give you the land for nothingyou need only signhave they not
done the likes of us often enough？ No； my friend； none of your
humbug。 Nowadays we have a little sense；〃 he added； and began
shouting at a colt that had strayed。
He stopped his horse and looked round； but the colt had not
remained behind； it had gone into the meadow by the roadside。
〃Bother that son of a Turk； he's taken to getting into the
landowner's meadows；〃 said the dark peasant with the unkempt
beard； hearing the cracking of the sorrel stalks that the
neighing colt was galloping over as he came running back from the
scented meadow。
〃Do you hear the cracking？ We'll have to send the women folk to
weed the meadow when there's a holiday；〃 said the thin peasant
with the torn coat； 〃or else we'll blunt our scythes。〃
〃Sign；〃 he says。 The unkempt man continued giving his opinion of
the landlord's speech。 〃'Sign；' indeed； and let him swallow you
up。〃
〃That's certain；〃 answered the old man。 And then they were
silent； and the tramping of the horses' feet along the highroad
was the only sound to be heard。
CHAPTER VIII。
GOD'S PEACE IN THE HEART。
When Nekhludoff returned he found that the office had been
arranged as a bedroom for him。 A high bedstead； with a feather
bed and two large pillows； had been placed in the room。 The bed
was covered with a dark red doublebedded silk quilt； which was
elaborately and finely quilted； and very stiff。 It evidently
belonged to the trousseau of the foreman's wife。 The foreman
offered Nekhludoff the remains of the dinner； which the latter
refused； and； excusing himself for the poorness of the fare and
the accommodation； he left Nekhludoff alone。
The peasants' refusal did not at all bother Nekhludoff。 On the
contrary； though at Kousminski his offer had been accepted and he
had even been thanked for it； and here he was met with suspicion
and even enmity； he felt contented and joyful。
It was close and dirty in the office。 Nekhludoff went out into
the yard； and was going into the garden； but he remembered： that
night； the window of the maid…servant's room； the side porch； and
he felt uncomfortable； and did not like to pass the spot
desecrated by guilty memories。 He sat down on the doorstep； and
breathing in the warm air； balmy with the strong scent of fresh
birch leaves； he sat for a long time looking into the dark garden
and listening to the mill； the nightingales； and some other bird
that whistled monotonously in the bush close by。 The light
disappeared from the foreman's window； in the cast； behind the
barn； appeared the light of the rising moon； and sheet lightning
began to light up the dilapidated house； and the blooming；
over…grown garden more and more frequently。 It began to thunder
in the distance； and a black cloud spread over one…third of the
sky。 The nightingales and the other birds were silent。 Above the
murmur of the water from the mill came the cackling of geese； and
then in the village and in the foreman's yard the first cocks
began to crow earlier than usual； as they do on warm； thundery
nights。 There is a saying that if the cocks crow early the night
will be a merry one。 For Nekhludoff the night was more than
merry； it was a happy； joyful night。 Imagination renewed the
impressions of that happy summer which he had spent here as an
innocent lad； and he felt himself as he had been not only at that
but at all the best moments of his life。 He not only remembered
but felt as he had felt when； at the age of 14； he prayed that
God would show him the truth； or when as a child he had wept on
his mother's lap； when parting from her； and promising to be
always good； and never give her pain； he felt as he did when he
and Nikolenka Irtenieff resolved always to support each other in
living a good life and to try to make everybody happy。
He remembered how he had been tempted in Kousminski； so that he
had begun to regret the house and the forest and the farm and the
land； and he asked himself if he regretted them now； and it even
seemed strange to think that he could regret them。 He remembered
all he had seen to…day； the woman with the children； and without
her husband； who was in prison for having cut down trees in his
（Nekhludoff's） forest； and the terrible Matrona； who considered；
or at least talked as if she considered； that women of her
position must give themselves to the gentlefolk； he remembered
her relation to the babies； the way in which they were taken to
the Foundlings' Hospital； and the unfortunate； smiling； wizened
baby with the patchwork cap； dying of starvation。 And then he
suddenly remembered the prison； the shaved heads； the cells； the
disgusting smells； the chains； and； by the side of it all； the
madly lavish city lift of the rich； himself included。
The bright moon； now almost full； rose above the barn。 Dark
shadows fell across the yard； and the iron roof of the ruined
house shone bright。 As if unwilling to waste this light； the
nightingales again began their trills。
Nekhludoff called to mind how he had begun to consider his life
in the garden of Kousminski when deciding what he was going to
do； and remembered how confused he had become； how he could not
arrive at any decision； how many difficulties each question had
presented。 He asked himself these questions now； and was
surprised how simple it all was。 It was simple because he was not
thinking now of what would be the results for himself； but only
thought of what he had to do。 And； strange to say； what he had to
do for himself he could not decide； but what he had to do for
others he knew without any doubt。 He had no doubt that he must
not leave Katusha； but go on helping her。 He had no doubt that he
must study； investigate； clear up； understand all this business
concerning judgment and punishment； which he felt he saw
differently to other people。 What would result from it all he did
not know； but he knew for certain that he must do it。 And this
firm assurance gave him joy。
The black cloud had spread all over the sky； the lightning
flashed vividly across the yard and the old house with its
tumble…down porches； the thunder growled overhead。 All the birds
were silent； but the leaves rustled and the wind reached the step
where Nekhludoff stood and played with his hair。 One drop came
down； then another； then they came drumming on the dock leaves
and on the iron of the roof； and all the air was filled by a
bright flash； and before Nekhludoff could count three a fearful
crash sounded over head and spread pealing all over the sky。
Nekhludoff went in。
〃Yes； yes；〃 he thought。 〃The work that our life accomplishes； the
whole of this work； the meaning of it is not； nor can be；
intelligible to me。 What were my aunts for？ Why did Nikolenka
Irtenieff die？ Why am I living？ What was Katusha for？ And my
madness？ Why that war？ Why my subsequent lawless life？ To
understand it； to understand the whole of the Master's will is
not in my power。 But to do His will； that is written down in my
conscience； is in my power； that I know for certain。 And when I
am fulfilling it I have sureness and peace。〃
The rain came down in torrents and rushed from the roof into a
tub beneath； the lightning lit up the house and yard less
frequently。 Nekhludoff went into his room； undressed； and lay
down； not without fear of the bugs； whose presence the dirty；
torn wall…papers made him suspect。
〃Yes； to feel one's self not the master but a servant；〃 he
thought； and rejoiced at the thought。 His fears were not vain。
Hardly had he put out his candle when the vermin attacked and
stung him。 〃To give up the land and go to Siberia。 Fleas； bugs；
dirt！ Ah； well； if it must be borne； I shall bear it。〃 But； in
spite of the best of intentions； he could not bear it； and sat
down by the open window and gazed with admiration at the
retreating clouds and the reappearing moon。
CHAPTER IX。
THE LAND SETTLEMENT。
It was morning before Nekhludoff could fall asleep； and therefore
he woke up late。 At noon seven men； chosen from among the
peasants at the foreman's invitation； came into the orchard；
where the foreman had arranged a table and benches by digging
posts into the ground； and fixing boards on the top； under the
apple trees。 It took some time before the peasants could be
persuaded to put on their caps and to sit down on the benches。
Especially firm was the ex…soldier； who to…day had bark shoes on。
He stood erect； holding his cap as they do at funerals； according
to military regulation。 When one of them； a respectable…looking；
broad…shouldered old man； with a curly； grizzly beard like that
of Michael Angelo's 〃Moses；〃 and grey hair that curled round the
brown； bald forehead； put on his big cap； and； w