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www.freeclassicebooks.comThe AwakeningByLeo Tolstoywww.freeclassicebooks.com1

www.freeclassicebooks.comContentsTHE AWAKENING. . 6PART FIRST. . 6CHAPTER I. . 6CHAPTER II. . 9CHAPTER III. .13CHAPTER IV. .18CHAPTER V. .21CHAPTER VI. .24CHAPTER VII. .28CHAPTER VIII. .31CHAPTER IX. .34CHAPTER X. .39CHAPTER XI. .42CHAPTER XII. .49CHAPTER XIII. .53CHAPTER XIV. .55CHAPTER XV. .59CHAPTER XVI. .63CHAPTER XVII. .66CHAPTER XVIII. .68CHAPTER XIX. .71CHAPTER XX. .74CHAPTER XXI. .78CHAPTER XXII. .82CHAPTER XXIII. .84CHAPTER XXIV. .92CHAPTER XXV. .95CHAPTER XXVI. .97CHAPTER XXVII. .102CHAPTER XXVIII. .107CHAPTER XXIX. .112CHAPTER XXX. .115CHAPTER XXXI. .118CHAPTER XXXII. .121CHAPTER XXXIII. .126CHAPTER XXXIV. .130CHAPTER XXXV. .134CHAPTER XXXVI. .138CHAPTER XXXVII. .140CHAPTER XXXVIII. .143CHAPTER XXXIX. .145CHAPTER XL.150CHAPTER XLI.153CHAPTER XLII.1582

www.freeclassicebooks.comCHAPTER XLIII.160CHAPTER XLIV. .166CHAPTER XLV. .169CHAPTER XLVI. .173CHAPTER XLVII. .177CHAPTER XLVIII. .180CHAPTER XLIX.184CHAPTER L.188CHAPTER LI.190CHAPTER LII.193CHAPTER LIII.196CHAPTER LIV.198CHAPTER LV.200CHAPTER LVI.204CHAPTER LVII.207PART SECOND. .212CHAPTER I. .212CHAPTER II. .216CHAPTER III. .219CHAPTER IV. .222CHAPTER V. .226CHAPTER VI. .232CHAPTER VII. .236CHAPTER VIII. .238CHAPTER IX. .244CHAPTER X. .250CHAPTER XI. .255CHAPTER XII. .258CHAPTER XIII. .261CHAPTER XIV. .264CHAPTER XV. .269CHAPTER XVI. .271CHAPTER XVII. .275CHAPTER XVIII. .281CHAPTER XIX. .285CHAPTER XX. .287CHAPTER XXI. .293CHAPTER XXII. .297CHAPTER XXIII. .301CHAPTER XXIV. .305CHAPTER XXV. .3103

www.freeclassicebooks.comPART THIRD. .313CHAPTER I. .313CHAPTER II. .315CHAPTER III. .317CHAPTER IV. .319CHAPTER V. .321CHAPTER VI. .325CHAPTER VII. .328CHAPTER VIII. .335CHAPTER IX. .339CHAPTER X. .3424

www.freeclassicebooks.com"Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall mybrother sinagainst me, and I forgive him? till seventimes?"-- Matthew, c. xviii.; v.21."Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until sevenuntil seventy times seven."-- Idem, v. 22.times: but"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother'seye, butconsiderest not the beam that is in thine owneye!"-- Idem, c. vii.; v. 3."He that is without sin among you, let him first cast aJohn, c. viii.; v. 7.stone at her."--"The disciple is not above his master: but every one that isshall be as his master."-- Luke, c. vi.; v. 40.5perfect

www.freeclassicebooks.comTHE AWAKENING.PART FIRST.CHAPTER I.All the efforts of several hundred thousand people, crowded in a smallspace, to disfigure the land on which they lived; all the stone they covered itwith to keep it barren; how so diligently every sprouting blade of grass wasremoved; all the smoke of coal and naphtha; all the cutting down of treesand driving off of cattle could not shut out the spring, even from the city.The sun was shedding its light; the grass, revivified, was blooming forth,where it was left uncut, not only on the greenswards of the boulevard, butbetween the flag-stones, and the birches, poplars and wild-berry trees wereunfolding their viscous leaves; the limes were unfolding their buds; thedaws, sparrows and pigeons were joyfully making their customary nests,and the flies were buzzing on the sun-warmed walls. Plants, birds, insectsand children were equally joyful. Only men--grown-up men--continuedcheating and tormenting themselves and each other. People saw nothingholy in this spring morning, in this beauty of God's world--a gift to all livingcreatures--inclining to peace, good-will and love, but worshiped their owninventions for imposing their will on each other.The joy of spring felt by animals and men did not penetrate the office of thecounty jail, but the one thing of supreme importance there was a documentreceived the previous evening, with title, number and seal, which orderedthe bringing into court for trial, this 28th day of April, at nine o'clock in themorning, three prisoners--two women and one man. One of the women, asthe more dangerous criminal, was to be brought separately. So, inpursuance of that order, on the 28th day of April, at eight o'clock in themorning, the jail warden entered the dingy corridor of the woman's ward.Immediately behind him came a woman with weary countenance anddisheveled gray hair, wearing a crown-laced jacket, and girdled with a blueedged sash. She was the matron."You want Maslova?" she asked the warden, as they neared one of the cellsopening into the corridor.The warden, with a loud clanking of iron, unlocked and opened the door ofthe cell, releasing an even fouler odor than permeated the corridor, and6

www.freeclassicebooks.comshouted:"Maslova to the court!" and again closing the door he waited for herappearance.The fresh, vivifying air of the fields, carried to the city by the wind, filledeven the court-yard of the jail. But in the corridor the oppressive air, ladenwith the smell of tar and putrescence, saddened and dejected the spirit ofevery new-comer. The same feeling was experienced by the jail matron,notwithstanding she was accustomed to bad air. On entering the corridorshe suddenly felt a weariness coming over her that inclined her to slumber.There was a bustling in the cell; women's voices and steps of bare feet wereheard."Hurry up, Maslova! Come on, I say!" shouted the warden into the cell-door.Presently at the cell-door appeared a middle-sized, full-breasted youngwoman, dressed in a long, gray coat over a white waist and skirt. Sheapproached with firm step, and, facing about, stood before the warden. Overher linen stockings she wore jail shoes; her head was covered with a white'kerchief, from under which black curls were evidently purposely brushedover the forehead. The face of the woman was of that whiteness peculiar topeople who have been a long time in confinement, and which reminds one ofpotato-sprouts in a cellar. Her small, wide hands, her white, full neck,showing from under the large collar of the coat, were of a similar hue. Onthe dull pallor of that face the most striking feature was the black, sparklingeyes, somewhat swollen, but very bright eyes, one of which slightly squinted.She held herself erect, putting forth her full chest. Emerging into thecorridor, throwing her head back a little, she looked into the eyes of thewarden and stood ready to do his bidding. The warden was about to shutthe door, when a pale, severe, wrinkled face of an old woman withdisheveled hair was thrust out. The old woman began to say something toMaslova. But the warden pressed the door against the head of the woman,and she disappeared. In the cell a woman's voice burst into laughter.Maslova also smiled, and turned to the grated little opening in the door. Theold woman pressed her forehead to the grating, and said in a hoarse voice:"Above all, don't speak too much; stick to one thing, and that is all.""Of course. It cannot be any worse," said Maslova."You certainly cannot stick to two things," said the chief warden, with official7

www.freeclassicebooks.comassurance of his own wit. "Follow me, now! Forward! March!"The eye looking from behind the grating disappeared, and Masl

dark-eyed girl became unusually lively and pretty, and her presence cheered them. Of the two old maidens, the younger one--Sophia Ivanovna--was the kindlier, while the older one--Maria Ivanovna--was of austere disposition. Sophia Ivanovna kept the girl in decent clothes, taught her to read and intended to give her an education.