Resurrection

Maslova looked round, and with head thrown back and expanded

chest, came up to the net with that expression of readiness which

he well knew, pushed in between two prisoners, and gazed at

Nekhludoff with a surprised and questioning look. But, concluding

from his clothing he was a rich man, she smiled.

"Is it me you want?" she asked, bringing her smiling face, with

the slightly squinting eyes, nearer the net.

"I, I--I wished to see--" Nekhludoff did not know how to address

her. "I wished to see you--I--" He was not speaking louder than

usual.

"No; nonsense, I tell you!" shouted the tramp who stood next to

him. "Have you taken it or not?"

"Dying, I tell you; what more do you want?" some one else was

screaming at his other side. Maslova could not hear what

Nekhludoff was saying, but the expression of his face as he was

speaking reminded her of him. She did not believe her own eyes;

still the smile vanished from her face and a deep line of

suffering appeared on her brow.

"I cannot hear what you are saying," she called out, wrinkling

her brow and frowning more and more.

"I have come," said Nekhludoff. "Yes, I am doing my duty--I am

confessing," thought Nekhludoff; and at this thought the tears

came in his eyes, and he felt a choking sensation in his throat,

and holding on with both hands to the net, he made efforts to

keep from bursting into tears.

"I say, why do you shove yourself in where you're not wanted?"

some one shouted at one side of him.

"God is my witness; I know nothing," screamed a prisoner from the

other side.

Noticing his excitement, Maslova recognised him.

"You're like . . . but no; I don't know you," she shouted,

without looking at him, and blushing, while her face grew still

more stern.

"I have come to ask you to forgive me," he said, in a loud but

monotonous voice, like a lesson learnt by heart. Having said

these words he became confused; but immediately came the thought

that, if he felt ashamed, it was all the better; he had to bear

this shame, and he continued in a loud voice: "Forgive me; I have wronged you terribly."

She stood motionless and without taking her squinting eyes off

him.

He could not continue to speak, and stepping away from the net he

tried to suppress the sobs that were choking him.

The inspector, the same officer who had directed Nekhludoff to

the women's ward, and whose interest he seemed to have aroused,

came into the room, and, seeing Nekhludoff not at the net, asked

him why he was not talking to her whom he wanted to see.

Nekhludoff blew his nose, gave himself a shake, and, trying to

appear calm, said: "It's so inconvenient through these nets; nothing can be heard."