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tied round him and a bottle before him； and who looked round at
Nekhludoff。
〃Nekhludoff；〃 he called out； 〃won't you join me and take some
refreshment？ It is excellent before a journey。〃
Nekhludoff refused； and turned away。
〃But what are you going to do？〃 Nathalie continued。
〃What I can。 I don't know； but I feel I must do something。 And I
shall do what I am able to。〃
〃Yes； I understand。 And how about them？〃 she continued； with a
smile and a look towards Korchagin。 〃Is it possible that it is
all over？〃
〃Completely； and I think without any regret on either side。〃
〃It is a pity。 I am sorry。 I am fond of her。 However； it's all
right。 But why do you wish to bind yourself？〃 she added shyly。
〃Why are you going？〃
〃I go because I must；〃 answered Nekhludoff； seriously and dryly；
as if wishing to stop this conversation。 But he felt ashamed of
his coldness towards his sister at once。 〃Why not tell her all I
am thinking？〃 he thought； 〃and let Agraphena Petrovna also hear
it；〃 he thought； with a look at the old servant； whose presence
made the wish to repeat his decision to his sister even stronger。
〃You mean my intention to marry Katusha？ Well； you see； I made up
my mind to do it； but she refuses definitely and firmly；〃 he
said； and his voice shook； as it always did when he spoke of it。
〃She does not wish to accept my sacrifice； but is herself
sacrificing what in her position means much； and I cannot accept
this sacrifice； if it is only a momentary impulse。 And so I am
going with her； and shall be where she is； and shall try to
lighten her fate as much as I can。〃
Nathalie said nothing。 Agraphena Petrovna looked at her with a
questioning look； and shook her head。 At this moment the former
procession issued from the ladies' room。 The same handsome
footman （Philip）。 and the doorkeeper were carrying the Princess
Korchagin。 She stopped the men who were carrying her； and
motioned to Nekhludoff to approach； and； with a pitiful；
languishing air； she extended her white； ringed hand； expecting
the firm pressure of his hand with a sense of horror。
〃Epouvantable！〃 she said； meaning the heat。 〃I cannot stand it！
Ce climat me tue！〃 And； after a short talk about the horrors of
the Russian climate； she gave the men a sign to go on。
〃Be sure and come；〃 she added； turning her long face towards
Nekhludoff as she was borne away。
The procession with the Princess turned to the right towards the
first…class carriages。 Nekhludoff； with the porter who was
carrying his things； and Taras with his bag； turned to the left。
〃This is my companion；〃 said Nekhludoff to his sister； pointing
to Taras； whose story he had told her before。
〃Surely not third class？〃 said Nathalie； when Nekhludoff stopped
in front of a third…class carriage； and Taras and the porter with
the things went in。
〃Yes； it is more convenient for me to be with Taras；〃 he said。
〃One thing more；〃 he added； 〃up to now I have not given the
Kousminski land to the peasants； so that； in case of my death；
your children will inherit it。〃
〃Dmitri； don't！〃 said Nathalie。
〃If I do give it away； all I can say is that the rest will be
theirs； as it is not likely I shall marry； and if I do marry I
shall have no children； so that〃
〃Dmitri； don't talk like that！〃 said Nathalie。 And yet Nekhludoff
noticed that she was glad to hear him say it。
Higher up； by the side of a first…class carriage； there stood a
group of people still looking at the carriage into which the
Princess Korchagin had been carried。 Most of the passengers were
already seated。 Some of the late comers hurriedly clattered along
the boards of the platform； the guard was closing the doors and
asking the passengers to get in and those who were seeing them
off to come out。
Nekhludoff entered the hot； smelling carriage； but at once
stepped out again on to the small platform at the back of the
carriage。 Nathalie stood opposite the carriage； with her
fashionable bonnet and cape； by the side of Agraphena Petrovna；
and was evidently trying to find something to say。
She could not even say ecrivez； because they had long ago laughed
at this word； habitually spoken by those about to part。 The short
conversation about money matters had in a moment destroyed the
tender brotherly and sisterly feelings that had taken hold of
them。 They felt estranged； so that Nathalie was glad when the
train moved； and she could only say； nodding her head with a sad
and tender look； 〃Goodbye； good…bye； Dmitri。〃 But as soon as the
carriage had passed her she thought of how she should repeat her
conversation with her brother to her husband； and her face became
serious and troubled。
Nekhludoff； too； though he had nothing but the kindest feelings
for his sister； and had hidden nothing from her； now felt
depressed and uncomfortable with her； and was glad to part。 He
felt that the Nathalie who was once so near to him no longer
existed； and in her place was only a slave of that hairy；
unpleasant husband； who was so foreign to him。 He saw it clearly
when her face lit up with peculiar animation as he spoke of what
would peculiarly interest her husband； i。e。； the giving up of the
land to the peasants and the inheritance。
And this made him sad。
CHAPTER XL。
THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF HUMAN LIFE。
The heat in the large third…class carriage； which had been
standing in the burning sun all day； was so great that Nekhludoff
did not go in； but stopped on the little platform behind the
carriage which formed a passage to the next one。 But there was
not a breath of fresh air here either； and Nekhludoff breathed
freely only when the train had passed the buildings and the
draught blew across the platform。
〃Yes； killed；〃 he repeated to himself； the words he had used to
his sister。 And in his imagination in the midst of all other
impressions there arose with wonderful clearness the beautiful
face of the second dead convict； with the smile of the lips； the
severe expression of the brows； and the small； firm ear below the
shaved bluish skull。
And what seemed terrible was that he had been murdered； and no
one knew who had murdered him。 Yet he had been murdered。 He was
led out like all the rest of the prisoners by Maslennikoff's
orders。 Maslennikoff had probably given the order in the usual
manner； had signed with his stupid flourish the paper with the
printed heading； and most certainly would not consider himself
guilty。 Still less would the careful doctor who examined the
convicts consider himself guilty。 He had performed his duty
accurately； and had separated the weak。 How could he have
foreseen this terrible heat； or the fact that they would start so
late in the day and in such crowds？ The prison inspector？ But the
inspector had only carried into execution the order that on a
given day a certain number of exiles and convictsmen and
womenhad to be sent off。 The convoy officer could not be guilty
either； for his business was to receive a certain number of
persons in a certain place； and to deliver up the same number。
He conducted them in the usual manner； and could not foresee that
two such strong men as those Nekhludoff saw would not be able to
stand it and would die。 No one is guilty； and yet the men have
been murdered by these people who are not guilty of their murder。
〃All this comes；〃 Nekhludoff thought； 〃from the fact that all
these people； governors； inspectors； police officers； and men；
consider that there are circumstances in which human relations
are not necessary between human beings。 All these men；
Maslennikoff； and the inspector； and the convoy officer； if they
were not governor； inspector； officer； would have considered
twenty times before sending people in such heat in such a
masswould have stopped twenty times on the way； and； seeing
that a man was growing weak； gasping for breath； would have led
him into the shade； would have given him water and let him rest；
and if an accident had still occurred they would have expressed
pity。 But they not only did not do it； but hindered others from
doing it； because they considered not men and their duty towards
them but only the office they themselves filled； and held what
that office demanded of them to be above human relations。 〃That's
what it is；〃 Nekhludoff went on in his thoughts。 〃If one
acknowledges but for a single hour that anything can be more
important than love for one's fellowmen； even in some one
exceptional case； any crime can be committed without a feeling of
guilt。〃
Nekhludoff was so engrossed by his thoughts that he did not
notice how the weather changed。 The sun was covered over by a
low…hanging； ragged cloud。 A compact； light grey cloud was
rapidly coming from the west； and was already falling in heavy；
driving rain on the fields and woods far in the distance。
Moisture； coming from the cloud； mixed with the air。 Now and then
the cloud was rent by flashes of lightning； and peals of thunder
mingled more and more often with the rattling of the train。 The
cloud came nearer and nearer； the rain…drops driven by the wind
began to spot the platform and Nekhludoff's coat； and he stepped
to the other side of the little platform； and； inhaling the
fresh