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第94章

resurrection(复活)-第94章

小说: resurrection(复活) 字数: 每页4000字

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food and drink。 Missy and Osten also remained in the
refreshment…room and were about to sit down; when they saw an
acquaintance in the doorway; and went up to her。 It was Nathalie
Rogozhinsky。 Nathalie came into the refreshment…room accompanied
by Agraphena Petrovna; and both looked round the room。 Nathalie
noticed at one and the same moment both her brother and Missy。
She first went up to Missy; only nodding to her brother; but;
having kissed her; at once turned to him。

〃At last I have found you;〃 she said。 Nekhludoff rose to greet
Missy; Misha; and Osten; and to say a few words to them。 Missy
told him about their house in the country having been burnt down;
which necessitated their moving to her aunt's。 Osten began
relating a funny story about a fire。 Nekhludoff paid no
attention; and turned to his sister。

〃How glad I am that you have come。〃

〃I have been here a long time;〃 she said。 〃Agraphena Petrovna is
with me。〃 And she pointed to Agraphena Petrovna; who; in a
waterproof and with a bonnet on her head; stood some way off; and
bowed to him with kindly dignity and some confusion; not wishing
to intrude。

〃We looked for you everywhere。〃

〃And I had fallen asleep here。 How glad I am that you have come;〃
repeated Nekhludoff。 〃I had begun to write to you。〃

〃Really?〃 she said; looking frightened。 〃What about?〃

Missy and the gentleman; noticing that an intimate conversation
was about to commence between the brother and sister; went away。
Nekhludoff and his sister sat down by the window on a
velvet…covered sofa; on which lay a plaid; a box; and a few other
things。

〃Yesterday; after I left you; I felt inclined to return and
express my regret; but I did not know how he would take it;〃 said
Nekhludoff。 〃I spoke hastily to your husband; and this tormented
me。〃

〃I knew;〃 said his sister; 〃that you did not mean to。 Oh; you
know!〃 and the tears came to her eyes; and she touched his hand。
The sentence was not clear; but he understood it perfectly; and
was touched by what it expressed。 Her words meant that; besides
the love for her husband which held her in its sway; she prized
and considered important the love she had for him; her brother;
and that every misunderstanding between them caused her deep
suffering。

〃Thank you; thank you。 Oh! what I have seen to…day!〃 he said;
suddenly recalling the second of the dead convicts。 〃Two
prisoners have been done to death。〃

〃Done to death? How?〃

〃Yes; done to death。 They led them in this heat; and two died of
sunstroke。〃

〃Impossible! What; to…day? just now?〃

〃Yes; just now。 I have seen their bodies。〃

〃But why done to death? Who killed them?〃 asked Nathalie。

〃They who forced them to go killed them;〃 said Nekhludoff; with
irritation; feeling that she looked at this; too; with her
husband's eyes。

〃Oh; Lord!〃 said Agraphena Petrovna; who had come up to them。

〃Yes; we have not the slightest idea of what is being done to
these unfortunate beings。 But it ought to be known;〃 added
Nekhludoff; and looked at old Korchagin; who sat with a napkin
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 peculiarl

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