In the slanting evening shadows cast by the baggage piled up on

the platform, Vronsky in his long overcoat and slouch hat, with

his hands in his pockets, strode up and down, like a wild beast

in a cage, turning sharply after twenty paces. Sergey Ivanovitch

fancied, as he approached him, that Vronsky saw him but was

pretending not to see. This did not affect Sergey Ivanovitch in

the slightest. He was above all personal considerations with

Vronsky.

At that moment Sergey Ivanovitch looked upon Vronsky as a man

taking an important part in a great cause, and Koznishev thought

it his duty to encourage him and express his approval. He went

up to him.

Vronsky stood still, looked intently at him, recognized him, and

going a few steps forward to meet him, shook hands with him very

warmly.

"Possibly you didn't wish to see me," said Sergey Ivanovitch,

"but couldn't I be of use to you?"

"There's no one I should less dislike seeing than you," said

Vronsky. "Excuse me; and there's nothing in life for me to

like."

"I quite understand, and I merely meant to offer you my

services," said Sergey Ivanovitch, scanning Vronsky's face, full

of unmistakable suffering. "Wouldn't it be of use to you to have

a letter to Ristitch--to Milan?"

"Oh, no!" Vronsky said, seeming to understand him with

difficulty. "If you don't mind, let's walk on. It's so stuffy

among the carriages. A letter? No, thank you; to meet death one

needs no letters of introduction. Nor for the Turks..." he said,

with a smile that was merely of the lips. His eyes still kept

their look of angry suffering.

"Yes; but you might find it easier to get into relations, which

are after all essential, with anyone prepared to see you. But

that's as you like. I was very glad to hear of your intention.

There have been so many attacks made on the volunteers, and a man

like you raises them in public estimation."

"My use as a man," said Vronsky, "is that life's worth nothing to

me. And that I've enough bodily energy to cut my way into their

ranks, and to trample on them or fall--I know that. I'm glad

there's something to give my life for, for it's not simply

useless but loathsome to me. Anyone's welcome to it." And his

jaw twitched impatiently from the incessant gnawing toothache,

that prevented him from even speaking with a natural expression.

"You will become another man, I predict," said Sergey

Ivanovitch, feeling touched. "To deliver one's brother-men from

bondage is an aim worth death and life. God grant you success

outwardly--and inwardly peace," he added, and he held out his

hand. Vronsky warmly pressed his outstretched hand.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024