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and he again turned to Nekhludoff。
〃And what a lot of these people are flocking to the town
nowadays； it's awful；〃 he said； turning round on the box and
pointing to a party of peasant workmen who were coming towards
them； carrying saws； axes； sheepskins； coats； and bags strapped
to their shoulders。
〃More than in other years？〃 Nekhludoff asked。
〃By far。 This year every place is crowded； so that it's just
terrible。 The employers just fling the workmen about like chaff。
Not a job to be got。〃
〃Why is that？〃
〃They've increased。 There's no room for them。〃
〃Well； what if they have increased？ Why do not they stay in the
village？〃
〃There's nothing for them to do in the villageno land to be
had。〃
Nekhludoff felt as one does when touching a sore place。 It feels
as if the bruised part was always being hit； yet it is only
because the place is sore that the touch is felt。
〃Is it possible that the same thing is happening everywhere？〃 he
thought； and began questioning the isvostchik about the quantity
of land in his village； how much land the man himself had； and
why he had left the country。
〃We have a desiatin per man； sir；〃 he said。 〃Our family have
three men's shares of the land。 My father and a brother are at
home； and manage the land； and another brother is serving in the
army。 But there's nothing to manage。 My brother has had thoughts
of coming to Moscow； too。〃
〃And cannot land be rented？
〃How's one to rent it nowadays？ The gentry； such as they were；
have squandered all theirs。 Men of business have got it all into
their own hands。 One can't rent it from them。 They farm it
themselves。 We have a Frenchman ruling in our place； he bought
the estate from our former landlord； and won't let itand
there's an end of it。〃
〃Who's that Frenchman？〃
〃Dufour is the Frenchman's name。 Perhaps you've heard of him。 He
makes wigs for the actors in the big theatre； it is a good
business； so he's prospering。 He bought it from our lady； the
whole of the estate； and now he has us in his power； he just
rides on us as he pleases。 The Lord be thanked； he is a good man
himself； only his wife； a Russian； is such a brute thatGod have
mercy on us。 She robs the people。 It's awful。 Well； here's the
prison。 Am I to drive you to the entrance？ I'm afraid they'll not
let us do it； though。〃
CHAPTER XIII。
NURSE MASLOVA。
When he rang the bell at the front entrance Nekhludoff's heart
stood still with horror as he thought of the state he might find
Maslova in to…day； and at the mystery that he felt to be in her
and in the people that were collected in the prison。 He asked the
jailer who opened the door for Maslova。 After making the
necessary inquiry the jailer informed him that she was in the
hospital。 Nekhludoff went there。 A kindly old man； the hospital
doorkeeper； let him in at once and； after asking Nekhludoff whom
he wanted； directed him to the children's ward。 A young doctor
saturated with carbolic acid met Nekhludoff in the passage and
asked him severely what he wanted。 This doctor was always making
all sorts of concessions to the prisoners； and was therefore
continually coming into conflict with the prison authorities and
even with the head doctor。 Fearing lest Nekhludoff should demand
something unlawful； and wishing to show that he made no
exceptions for any one； he pretended to be cross。 〃There are no
women here； it is the children's ward；〃 he said。
〃Yes； I know； but a prisoner has been removed here to be an
assistant nurse。〃
〃Yes； there are two such here。 Then whom do you want？〃
〃I am closely connected with one of them； named Maslova；〃
Nekhludoff answered； 〃and should like to speak to her。 I am going
to Petersburg to hand in an appeal to the Senate about her case
and should like to give her this。 It is only a photo；〃 Nekhludoff
said； taking an envelope out of his pocket。
〃All right； you may do that；〃 said the doctor； relenting； and
turning to an old woman with a white apron； he told her to call
the prisonerNurse Maslova。
〃Will you take a seat； or go into the waiting…room？
〃Thanks；〃 said Nekhludoff； and profiting by the favourable change
in the manner of the doctor towards him asked how they were
satisfied with Maslova in the hospital。
〃Oh； she is all right。 She works fairly well； if you the
conditions of her former life into account。 But here she is。〃
The old nurse came in at one of the doors； followed by Maslova；
who wore a blue striped dress； a white apron； a kerchief that
quite covered her hair。 When she saw Nekhludoff her face flushed；
and she stopped as if hesitating； then frowned； and with downcast
eyes went quickly towards him along the strip of carpet in the
middle of the passage。 When she came up to Nekhludoff she did not
wish to give him her hand； and then gave it； growing redder
still。 Nekhludoff had not seen her since the day when she begged
forgiveness for having been in a passion； and he expected to find
her the same as she was then。 But to…day she quite different。
There was something new in the expression of her face； reserve
and shyness； and； as it seemed to him； animosity towards him。 He
told her what he had already said to the doctor； i。e。； that he
was going to Petersburg； and he handed her the envelope with the
photograph which he had brought from Panovo。
〃I found this in Panovoit's an old photo； perhaps you would like
it。 Take it。〃
Lifting her dark eyebrows； she looked at him with surprise in her
squinting eyes； as if asking； 〃What is this for？〃 took the photo
silently and put it in the bib of her apron
〃I saw your aunt there；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃Did you？〃 she said； indifferently。
〃Are you all right here？〃 Nekhludoff asked。
〃Oh； yes； it's all right；〃 she said。
〃Not too difficult？〃
〃Oh； no。 But I am not used to it yet。〃
〃I am glad； for your sake。 Anyhow； it is better than there。〃
〃Than wherethere？〃 she asked； her face flushing again。
〃Therein the prison；〃 Nekhludoff hurriedly answered。
〃Why better？〃 she asked。
〃I think the people are better。 Here are none such as there must
be there。〃
〃There are many good ones there；〃 she said。
〃I have been seeing about the Menshoffs； and hope they will be
liberated；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃God grant they may。 Such a splendid old woman；〃 she said； again
repeating her opinion of the old woman； and slightly smiling。
〃I am going to Petersburg to…day。 Your case will come on soon；
and I hope the sentence will be repealed。〃
〃Whether it is repealed or not won't matter now；〃 she said。
〃Why not now？〃
〃So；〃 she said； looking with a quick； questioning glance into his
eyes。
Nekhludoff understood the word and the look to mean that she
wished to know whether he still kept firm to his decision or had
accepted her refusal。
〃I do not know why it does not matter to you；〃 he said。 〃It
certainly does not matter as far as I am concerned whether you
are acquitted or not。 I am ready to do what I told you in any
case；〃 he said decidedly。
She lifted her head and her black squinting eyes remained fixed
on him and beyond him； and her face beamed with joy。 But the
words she spoke were very different from what her eyes said。
〃You should not speak like that；〃 she said。
〃I am saying it so that you should know。〃
〃Everything has been said about that； and there is no use
speaking；〃 she said； with difficulty repressing a smile。
A sudden noise came from the hospital ward； and the sound of a
child crying。
〃I think they are calling me；〃 she said； and looked round
uneasily。
〃Well； good…bye； then；〃 he said。 She pretended not to see his
extended hand； and； without taking it； turned away and hastily
walked along the strip of carpet； trying to hide the triumph she
felt。
〃What is going on in her？ What is she thinking？ What does she
feel？ Does she mean to prove me； or can she really not forgive
me？ Is it that she cannot or that she will not express what she
feels and thinks？ Has she softened or hardened？〃 he asked
himself； and could find no answer。 He only knew that she had
altered and that an important change was going on in her soul；
and this change united him not only to her but also to Him for
whose sake that change was being wrought。 And this union brought
on a state of joyful animation and tenderness。
When she returned to the ward； in which there stood eight small
beds； Maslova began； in obedience to the nurse's order； to
arrange one of the beds； and； bending over too far with the
sheet； she slipped and nearly fell down。
A little convalescent boy with a bandaged neck； who was looking
at her； laughed。 Maslova could no longer contain herself and
burst into loud laughter； and such contagious laughter that
several of the children also burst out laughing； and one of the
sisters rebuked her angrily。
〃What are you giggling at？ Do you think you are where you used to
be？ Go and fetch the food。〃 Maslova obeyed and went where she was
sent； but； catching the eye of the bandaged boy who was not
allowed to laugh； she again burst out laughing。
Whenever she was alone Maslova again and again pulled the
photograph partly out of the envelope and looked at it
admiringly； but only in the evening when she wa