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themselves and saw no danger in agreeing with it； and another
which suspected and feared the offer it did not understand。 On
the third day； however； all agreed； and some were sent to
Nekhludoff to accept his offer。 They were influenced in their
decision by the explanation some of the old men gave of the
landlord's conduct； which did away with all fear of deceit。 They
thought the gentleman had begun to consider his soul； and was
acting as he did for its salvation。 The alms which Nekhludoff had
given away while in Panovo made his explanation seem likely。 The
fact that Nekhludoff had never before been face to face with such
great poverty and so bare a life as the peasants had come to in
this place； and was so appalled by it； made him give away money
in charity； though he knew that this was not reasonable。 He could
not help giving the money； of which he now had a great deal；
having received a large sum for the forest he had sold the year
before； and also the hand money for the implements and stock in
Kousminski。 As soon as it was known that the master was giving
money in charity； crowds of people； chiefly women； began to come
to ask him for help。 He did not in the least know how to deal
with them； how to decide； how much； and whom to give to。 He felt
that to refuse to give money； of which he had a great deal； to
poor people was impossible； yet to give casually to those who
asked was not wise。 The last day he spent in Panovo； Nekhludoff
looked over the things left in his aunts' house； and in the
bottom drawer of the mahogany wardrobe； with the brass lions'
heads with rings through them； he found many letters； and amongst
them a photograph of a group； consisting of his aunts； Sophia
Ivanovna and Mary Ivanovna； a student； and Katusha。 Of all the
things in the house he took only the letters and the photograph。
The rest he left to the miller who； at the smiling foreman's
recommendation； had bought the house and all it contained； to be
taken down and carried away； at one…tenth of the real value。
Recalling the feeling of regret at the loss of his property which
he had felt in Kousminski； Nekhludoff was surprised how he could
have felt this regret。 Now he felt nothing but unceasing joy at
the deliverance； and a sensation of newness something like that
which a traveller must experience when discovering new countries。
CHAPTER X。
NEKHLUDOFF RETURNS TO TOWN。
The town struck Nekhludoff in a new and peculiar light on his
return。 He came back in the evening； when the gas was lit； and
drove from the railway station to his house； where the rooms
still smelt of naphthaline。 Agraphena Petrovna and Corney were
both feeling tired and dissatisfied； and had even had a quarrel
over those things that seemed made only to be aired and packed
away。 Nekhludoff's room was empty； but not in order； and the way
to it was blocked up with boxes； so that his arrival evidently
hindered the business which； owing to a curious kind of inertia；
was going on in this house。 The evident folly of these
proceedings； in which he had once taken part； was so distasteful
to Nekhludoff after the impressions the misery of the life of the
peasants had made on him； that he decided to go to a hotel the
next day； leaving Agraphena Petrovna to put away the things as
she thought fit until his sister should come and finally dispose
of everything in the house。
Nekhludoff left home early and chose a couple of rooms in a very
modest and not particularly clean lodging…house within easy reach
of the prison； and； having given orders that some of his things
should be sent there； he went to see the advocate。 It was cold
out of doors。 After some rainy and stormy weather it had turned
out cold； as it often does in spring。 It was so cold that
Nekhludoff felt quite chilly in his light overcoat； and walked
fast hoping to get warmer。 His mind was filled with thoughts of
the peasants； the women； children； old men； and all the poverty
and weariness which he seemed to have seen for the first time；
especially the smiling； old…faced infant writhing with his
calfless little legs； and he could not help contrasting what was
going on in the town。 Passing by the butchers'； fishmongers'； and
clothiers' shops； he was struck； as if he saw them for the first
time； by the appearance of the clean； well…fed shopkeepers； like
whom you could not find one peasant in the country。 These men
were apparently convinced that the pains they took to deceive the
people who did not know much about their goods was not a useless
but rather an important business。 The coachmen with their broad
hips and rows of buttons down their sides； and the door…keepers
with gold cords on their caps； the servant…girls with their
aprons and curly fringes； and especially the smart isvostchiks
with the nape of their necks clean shaved； as they sat lolling
back in their traps； and examined the passers…by with dissolute
and contemptuous air； looked well fed。 In all these people
Nekhludoff could not now help seeing some of these very peasants
who had been driven into the town by lack of land。 Some of the
peasants driven to the town had found means of profiting by the
conditions of town life and had become like the gentlefolk and
were pleased with their position； others were in a worse position
than they had been in the country and were more to be pitied than
the country people。
Such seemed the bootmakers Nekhludoff saw in the cellar； the
pale； dishevelled washerwomen with their thin； bare； arms ironing
at an open window； out of which streamed soapy steam； such the
two house…painters with their aprons； stockingless feet； all
bespattered and smeared with paint； whom Nekhludoff mettheir
weak； brown arms bared to above the elbowscarrying a pailful of
paint； and quarrelling with each other。 Their faces looked
haggard and cross。 The dark faces of the carters jolting along in
their carts bore the same expression； and so did the faces of the
tattered men and women who stood begging at the street corners。
The same kind of faces were to be seen at the open； windows of
the eating…houses which Nekhludoff passed。 By the dirty tables on
which stood tea things and bottles； and between which waiters
dressed in white shirts were rushing hither and thither； sat
shouting and singing red； perspiring men with stupefied faces。
One sat by the window with lifted brows and pouting lips and
fixed eyes as if trying to remember something。
〃And why are they all gathered here？〃 Nekhludoff thought；
breathing in together with the dust which the cold wind blew
towards him the air filled with the smell of rank oil and fresh
paint。
In one street he met a row of carts loaded with something made of
iron； that rattled so on the uneven pavement that it made his
ears and head ache。 He started walking still faster in order to
pass the row of carts； when he heard himself called by name。 He
stopped and saw an officer with sharp pointed moustaches and
shining face who sat in the trap of a swell isvostchik and waved
his hand in a friendly manner； his smile disclosing unusually
long； white teeth。
〃Nekhludoff！ Can it be you？〃
Nekhludoff's first feeling was one of pleasure。 〃Ah； Schonbock！〃
he exclaimed joyfully； but he knew the next moment that there was
nothing to be joyful about。
This was that Schonbock who had been in the house of Nekhludoff's
aunts that day； and whom Nekhludoff had quite lost out of sight；
but about whom he had heard that in spite of his debts he had
somehow managed to remain in the cavalry； and by some means or
other still kept his place among the rich。 His gay； contented
appearance corroborated this report。
〃What a good thing that I have caught you。 There is no one in
town。 Ah； old fellow； you have grown old；〃 he said； getting out
of the trap and moving his shoulders about。 〃I only knew you by
your walk。 Look here； we must dine together。 Is there any place
where they feed one decently？〃
〃I don't think I can spare the time；〃 Nekhludoff answered；
thinking only of how he could best get rid of his companion
without hurting him。
〃And what has brought you here？〃 he asked。
〃Business； old fellow。 Guardianship business。 I am a guardian
now。 I am managing Samanoff's affairsthe millionaire； you know。
He has softening of the brain； and he's got fifty…four thousand
desiatins of land；〃 he said； with peculiar pride； as if he had
himself made all these desiatins。 〃The affairs were terribly
neglected。 All the land was let to the peasants。 They did not pay
anything。 There were more than eighty thousand roubles debts。 I
changed it all in one year； and have got 70 per cent。 more out of
it。 What do you think of that？〃 he asked proudly。
Nekhludoff remembered having heard that this Schonbock； just
because； he had spent all he had； had attained by some special
influence the post of guardian to a rich old man who was
squandering his propertyand was now evidently living by this
guardianship。
〃How am I to get rid of him without offending him？〃 thought
Nekhludoff； looking at this full； shiny face with the stiffened
moustache and listening to his friendly； good…humoured chatter
about where one gets fed best； and his bragging about his