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order to begin to live； not yet well； but no longer cruelly；
inhumanly； for this reason； this clear and simple truth appears
strange to these people。 For the man with ten servants； liveries；
coachmen； cooks； pictures； pianofortes； that will infallibly appear
strange； and even ridiculous； which is the simplest； the first act
ofI will not say every good manbut of every man who is not
wicked： to cut his own wood with which his food is cooked； and with
which he warms himself； to himself clean those boots with which he
has heedlessly stepped in the mire； to himself fetch that water with
which he preserves his cleanliness； and to carry out that dirty water
in which he has washed himself。＇ ｛24｝
But； besides the remoteness of people from the truth； there is
another cause which prevents people from seeing the obligation for
them of the simplest and most natural personal； physical labor for
themselves： this is the complication； the inextricability of the
conditions； the advantage of all the people who are bound together
among themselves by money； in which the rich man lives： My luxurious
life feeds people。 What would become of my old valet if I were to
discharge him？ What！ we must all do every thing necessary；make our
clothes and hew wood？ 。 。 。 And how about the division of labor？〃
＇This morning I stepped out into the corridor where the fires were
being built。 A peasant was making a fire in the stove which warms my
son's room。 I went in； the latter was asleep。 It was eleven o'clock
in the morning。 To…day is a holiday： there is some excuse； there
are no lessons。
The smooth…skinned； eighteen…year…old youth； with a beard； who had
eaten his fill on the preceding evening； sleeps until eleven o'clock。
But the peasant of his age had been up at dawn； and had got through a
quantity of work； and was attending to his tenth stove； while the
former slept。 〃The peasant shall not make the fire in his stove to
warm that smooth； lazy body of his！〃 I thought。 But I immediately
recollected that this stove also warmed the room of the housekeeper；
a woman forty years of age； who； on the evening before； had been
making preparations up to three o'clock in the morning for the supper
which my son had eaten； and that she had cleared the table； and risen
at seven； nevertheless。 The peasant was building the fire for her
also。 And under her name the lazybones was warming himself。
It is true that the interests of all are interwoven； but； even
without any prolonged reckoning； the conscience of each man will say
on whose side lies labor； and on whose idleness。 But although
conscience says this； the account…book； the cash…book； says it still
more clearly。 The more money any one spends； the more idle he is；
that is to say； the more he makes others work for him。 The less he
spends； the more he works。＇ ｛25｝ But trade； but public undertakings；
and； finally； the most terrible of words； culture； the development of
sciences； and the arts；what of them？
＇If I live I will make answer to those points； and in detail； and
until such answer I will narrate the following。＇ ｛25｝
CHAPTER XX。
LIFE IN THE CITY。
Last year； in March； I was returning home late at night。 As I turned
from the Zubova into Khamovnitchesky Lane； I saw some black spots on
the snow of the Dyevitchy Pole （field）。 Something was moving about
in one place。 I should not have paid any attention to this； if the
policeman who was standing at the end of the street had not shouted
in the direction of the black spots； …
〃Vasily！ why don't you bring her in？〃
〃She won't come！〃 answered a voice； and then the spot moved towards
the policeman。
I halted and asked the police…officer； 〃What is it？〃
He said；〃They are taking a girl from the Rzhanoff house to the
station…house； and she is hanging back； she won't walk。〃 A house…
porter in a sheepskin coat was leading her。 She was walking forward；
and he was pushing her from behind。 All of us； I and the porter and
the policeman； were dressed in winter clothes； but she had nothing on
over her dress。 In the darkness I could make out only her brown
dress； and the kerchiefs on her head and neck。 She was short in
stature； as is often the case with the prematurely born； with small
feet； and a comparatively broad and awkward figure。
〃We're waiting for you； you carrion。 Get along； what do you mean by
it？ I'll give it to you！〃 shouted the policeman。 He was evidently
tired； and he had had too much of her。 She advanced a few paces； and
again halted。
The little old porter； a good…natured fellow （I know him）； tugged at
her hand。 〃Here； I'll teach you to stop！ On with you！〃 he repeated；
as though in anger。 She staggered； and began to talk in a discordant
voice。 At every sound there was a false note； both hoarse and
whining。
〃Come now； you're shoving again。 I'll get there some time！〃
She stopped and then went on。 I followed them。
〃You'll freeze；〃 said the porters
〃The likes of us don't freeze： I'm hot。〃
She tried to jest； but her words sounded like scolding。 She halted
again under the lantern which stands not far from our house； and
leaned against； almost hung over； the fence； and began to fumble for
something among her skirts； with benumbed and awkward hands。 Again
they shouted at her； but she muttered something and did something。
In one hand she held a cigarette bent into a bow； in the other a
match。 I paused behind her； I was ashamed to pass her； and I was
ashamed to stand and look on。 But I made up my mind； and stepped
forward。 Her shoulder was lying against the fence； and against the
fence it was that she vainly struck the match and flung it away。 I
looked in her face。 She was really a person prematurely born； but；
as it seemed to me； already an old woman。 I credited her with thirty
years。 A dirty hue of face； small； dull； tipsy eyes； a button…like
nose； curved moist lips with drooping corners； and a short wisp of
harsh hair escaping from beneath her kerchief； a long flat figure；
stumpy hands and feet。 I paused opposite her。 She stared at me； and
burst into a laugh； as though she knew all that was going on in my
mind。
I felt that it was necessary to say something to her。 I wanted to
show her that I pitied her。
〃Are your parents alive？〃 I inquired。
She laughed hoarsely； with an expression which said； 〃he's making up
queer things to ask。〃
〃My mother is；〃 said she。 〃But what do you want？〃
〃And how old are you？〃
〃Sixteen；〃 said she； answering promptly to a question which was
evidently customary。
〃Come； march； you'll freeze； you'll perish entirely；〃 shouted the
policeman； and she swayed away from the fence； and； staggering along；
she went down Khamovnitchesky Lane to the police…station； and I
turned to the wicket； and entered the house； and inquired whether my
daughters had returned。 I was told that they had been to an evening
party； had had a very merry time； had come home； and were in bed。
Next morning I wanted to go to the station…house to learn what had
been done with this unfortunate woman； and I was preparing to go out
very early； when there came to see me one of those unl