Part Eight: Chapter 4

by Leo Tolstoy

　　While the train was stopping at the provincial town, SergeyIvanovitch did not go to the refreshment room, but walked up anddown the platform.

　　The first time he passed Vronsky's compartment he noticed thatthe curtain was drawn over the window; but as he passed it thesecond time he saw the old countess at the window. She beckonedto Koznishev.

　　"I'm going, you see, taking him as far as Kursk," she said.

　　"Yes, so I heard," said Sergey Ivanovitch, standing at her windowand peeping in. "What a noble act on his part!" he added,noticing that Vronsky was not in the compartment.

　　"Yes, after his misfortune, what was there for him to do?"

　　"What a terrible thing it was!" said Sergey Ivanovitch.

　　"Ah, what I have been through! But do get in.... Ah, what Ihave been through!" she repeated, when Sergey Ivanovitch had gotin and sat down beside her. "You can't conceive it! For sixweeks he did not speak to anyone, and would not touch foodexcept when I implored him. And not for one minute could weleave him alone. We took away everything he could have usedagainst himself. We lived on the ground floor, but there was noreckoning on anything. You know, of course, that he had shothimself once already on her account," she said, and the oldlady's eyelashes twitched at the recollection. "Yes, hers wasthe fitting end for such a woman. Even the death she chose waslow and vulgar."

　　"It's not for us to judge, countess," said Sergey Ivanovitch;"but I can understand that it has been very hard for you."

　　"Ah, don't speak of it! I was staying on my estate, and he waswith me. A note was brought him. He wrote an answer and sent itoff. We hadn't an idea that she was close by at the station. Ithe evening I had only just gone to my room, when my Mary told mea lady had thrown herself under the train. Something seemed tostrike me at once. I knew it was she. The first thing I saidwas, he was not to be told. But they'd told him already. Hiscoachman was there and saw it all. When I ran into his room, hewas beside himself--it was fearful to see him. He didn't say aword, but galloped off there. I don't know to this day whathappened there, but he was brought back at death's door. Ishouldn't have known him. Prostration complete, the doctor said.And that was followed almost by madness. Oh, why talk of it!"said the countess with a wave of her hand. "It was an awfultime! No, say what you will, she was a bad woman. Why, what isthe meaning of such desperate passions? It was all to showherself something out of the way. Well, and that she did do.She brought herself to ruin and two good men--her husband and myunhappy son."

　　"And what did her husband do?" asked Sergey Ivanovitch.

　　"He has taken her daughter. Alexey was ready to agree toanything at first. Now it worries him terribly that he shouldhave given his own child away to another man. But he can't takeback his word. Karenin came to the funeral. But we tried toprevent his meeting Alexey. For him, for her husband, it waseasier, anyway. She had set him free. But my poor son wasutterly given up to her. He had thrown up everything, hiscareer, me, and even then she had no mercy on him, but of setpurpose she made his ruin complete. No, say what you will, hervery death was the death of a vile woman, of no religiousfeeling. God forgive me, but I can't help hating the memory ofher, when I look at my son's misery!"

　　"But how is he now?"

　　"It was a blessing from Providence for us--this Servian war. I'mold, and I don't understand the rights and wrongs of it, but it'scome as a providential blessing to him. Of course for me, as hismother, it's terrible; and what's worse, they say, ce n'est pastres bien vu a Petersbourg. But it can't be helped! It was theone thing that could rouse him. Yashvin--a friend of his--he hadlost all he had at cards and he was going to Servia. He came tosee him and persuaded him to go. Now it's an interest for him.Do please talk to him a little. I want to distract his mind.He's so low-spirited. And as bad luck would have it, he hastoothache too. But he'll be delighted to see you. Please dotalk to him; he's walking up and down on that side."

　　Sergey Ivanovitch said he would be very glad to, and crossed overto the other side of the station.