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； wrapping his coat
round him； got in behind the table and sat down； the rest
followed his example。 When all had taken their places Nekhludoff
sat down opposite them； and leaning on the table over the paper
on which he had drawn up his project； he began explaining it。
Whether it was that there were fewer present； or that he was
occupied with the business in hand and not with himself； anyhow；
this time Nekhludoff felt no confusion。 He involuntarily
addressed the broad…shouldered old man with white ringlets in his
grizzly beard； expecting approbation or objections from him。 But
Nekhludoff's conjecture was wrong。 The respectable…looking old
patriarch； though he nodded his handsome head approvingly or
shook it； and frowned when the others raised an objection；
evidently understood with great difficulty； and only when the
others repeated what Nekhludoff had said in their own words。 A
little； almost beardless old fellow； blind in one eye； who sat by
the side of the patriarch； and had a patched nankeen coat and old
boots on； and； as Nekhludoff found out later； was an
oven…builder； understood much better。 This man moved his brows
quickly； attending to Nekhludoff's words with an effort； and at
once repeated them in his own way。 An old； thick…set man with a
white beard and intelligent eyes understood as quickly； and took
every opportunity to put in an ironical joke； clearly wishing to
show off。 The ex…soldier seemed also to understand matters； but
got mixed； being used to senseless soldiers' talk。 A tall man
with a small beard； a long nose； and a bass voice； who wore
clean； home…made clothes and new bark…plaited shoes； seemed to be
the one most seriously interested。 This man spoke only when there
was need of it。 The two other old men； the same toothless one who
had shouted a distinct refusal at the meeting the day before to
every proposal of Nekhludoff's； and a tall； white lame old man
with a kind face； his thin legs tightly wrapped round with strips
of linen； said little； though they listened attentively。 First of
all Nekhludoff explained his views in regard to personal property
in land。 〃The land； according to my idea； can neither he bought
nor sold； because if it could be； he who has got the money could
buy it all； and exact anything he liked for the use of the land
from those who have none。〃
〃That's true；〃 said the long…nosed man； in a deep bass。
〃Just so；〃 said the ex…soldier。
〃A woman gathers a little grass for her cow； she's caught and
imprisoned；〃 said the white…bearded old man。
〃Our own land is five versts away； and as to renting any it's
impossible； the price is raised so high that it won't pay；〃 added
the cross； toothless old man。 〃They twist us into ropes； worse
than during serfdom。〃
〃I think as you do； and I count it a sin to possess land； so I
wish to give it away；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃Well； that's a good thing；〃 said the old man； with curls like
Angelo's 〃Moses；〃 evidently thinking that Nekhludoff meant to let
the land。
〃I have come here because I no longer wish to possess any land；
and now we must consider the best way of dividing it。〃
〃Just give it to the peasants； that's all；〃 said the cross；
toothless old man。
Nekhludoff was abashed for a moment； feeling a suspicion of his
not being honest in these words； but he instantly recovered； and
made use of the remark； in order to express what was in his mind；
in reply。
〃I should be glad to give it them；〃 he said； 〃but to whom； and
how？ To which of the peasants？ Why； to your commune； and not to
that of Deminsk。〃 （That was the name of a neighbouring village
with very little land。） All were silent。 Then the ex…soldier
said； 〃Just so。〃
〃Now； then； tell me how would you divide the land among the
peasants if you had to do it？〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃We should divide it up equally； so much for every man；〃 said the
oven…builder； quickly raising and lowering his brows。
〃How else？ Of course； so much per man；〃 said the good natured
lame man with the white strips of linen round his legs。
E