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interrupted； 〃but tell me this； do you know the dead man's daughter；
the delicate…looking little thing？ It's true what they say about
her； isn't it？〃
〃What of it？ I think； that is； it is my own personal conviction；
that this is the normal condition of women。 Why not？ I mean；
distinguons。 In our present society； it is not altogether normal；
because it is compulsory； but in the future society； it will be
perfectly normal； because it will be voluntary。 Even as it is； she was
quite right： she was suffering and that was her asset； so to speak；
her capital which she had a perfect right to dispose of。 Of course； in
the future society； there will be no need of assets； but her part will
have another significance； rational and in harmony with her
environment。 As to Sofya Semyonovna personally； I regard her action as
a vigorous protest against the organization of society； and I
respect her deeply for it； I rejoice indeed when I look at her！〃
〃I was told that you got her turned out of these lodgings。〃
Lebeziatnikov was enraged。
〃That's another slander；〃 he yelled。 〃It was not so at all！ That was
all Katerina Ivanovna's invention； for she did not understand！ And I
never made love to Sofya Semyonovna！ I was simply developing her；
entirely disinterestedly； trying to rouse her to protest。。。。 All I
wanted was her protest and Sofya Semyonovna could not have remained
here anyway！〃
〃Have you asked her to join your community？〃
〃You keep on laughing and very inappropriately； allow me to tell
you。 You don't understand！ There is no such role in a community。 The
community is established that there should be no such roles。 In a
community； such a role is essentially transformed and what is stupid
here is sensible there； what； under present conditions； is unnatural
becomes perfectly natural in the community。 It all depends on the
environment。 It's all the environment and man himself is nothing。
And I am on good terms with Sofya Semyonovna to this day； which is a
proof that she never regarded me as having wronged her。 I am trying
now to attract her to the community； but on quite； quite a different
footing。 What are you laughing at？ We are trying to establish a
community of our own； a special one； on a broader basis。 We have
gone further in our convictions。 We reject more！ And meanwhile I'm
still developing Sofya Semyonovna。 She has a beautiful； beautiful
character！〃
〃And you take advantage of her fine character； eh？ He…he！〃
〃No； no！ Oh； no！ On the contrary。〃
〃Oh； on the contrary！ He…he…he！ A queer thing to say！〃
〃Believe me！ Why should I disguise it？ In fact； I feel it strange
myself how timid； chaste and modern she is with me！〃
〃And you； of course； are developing her。。。 he…he！ trying to prove to
her that all that modesty is nonsense？〃
〃Not at all； not at all！ How coarsely； how stupidly… excuse me
saying so… you misunderstand the word development！ Good heavens；
how。。。 crude you still are！ We are striving for the freedom of women
and you have only one idea in your head。。。。 Setting aside the
general question of chastity and feminine modesty as useless in
themselves and indeed prejudices； I fully accept her chastity with me；
because that's for her to decide。 Of course if she were to tell me
herself that she wanted me； I should think myself very lucky；
because I like the girl very much； but as it is； no one has ever
treated her more courteously than I； with more respect for her
dignity。。。 I wait in hopes； that's all！〃
〃You had much better make her a present of something。 I bet you
never thought of that。〃
〃You don't understand； as I've told you already！ Of course； she is
in such a position； but it's another question。 Quite another question！
You simply despise her。 Seeing a fact which you mistakenly consider
deserving of contempt； you refuse to take a humane view of a fellow
creature。 You don't know what a character she is！ I am only sorry that
of late she has quite given up reading and borrowing books。 I used
to lend them to her。 I am sorry； too； that with all the energy and
resolution in protesting… which she has already shown once… she has
little self…reliance； little； so to say； independence； so as to
break free from certain prejudices and certain foolish ideas。 Yet
she thoroughly understands some questions； for instance about
kissing of hands； that is； that it's an insult to a woman for a man to
kiss her hand； because it's a sign of inequality。 We had a debate
about it and I described it to her。 She listened attentively to an
account of the workmen's associations in France； too。 Now I am
explaining the question of coming into the room in the future
society。〃
〃And what's that； pray？〃
〃We had a debate lately on the question： Has a member of the
community the right to enter another member's room； whether man or
woman at any time。。。 and we decided that he has！〃
〃It might be at an inconvenient moment； he…he！〃
Lebeziatnikov was really angry。
〃You are always thinking of something unpleasant；〃 he cried with
aversion。 〃Tfoo！ How vexed I am that when I was expounding our system；
I referred prematurely to the question of personal privacy！ It's
always a stumbling…block to people like you； they turn into ridicule
before they understand it。 And how proud they are of it； too！ Tfoo！
I've often maintained that that question should not be approached by a
novice till he has a firm faith in the system。 And tell me； please；
what do you find so shameful even in cesspools？ I should be the
first to be ready to clean out any cesspool you like。 And it's not a
question of self…sacrifice； it's simply work； honourable； useful
work which is as good as any other and much better than the work of
a Raphael and a Pushkin； because it is more useful。〃
〃And more honourable； more honourable； he…he…he！〃
〃What do you mean by 'more honourable'？ I don't understand such
expressions to describe human activity。 'More honourable；' 'nobler'…
all those are old…fashioned prejudices which I reject。 Everything
which is of use to mankind is honourable。 I only understand one
word： useful！ You can snigger as much as you like； but that's so！〃
Pyotr Petrovitch laughed heartily。 He had finished counting the
money and was putting it away。 But some of the notes he left on the
table。 The 〃cesspool question〃 had already been a subject of dispute
between them。 What was absurd was that it made Lebeziatnikov really
angry； while it amused Luzhin and at that moment he particularly
wanted to anger his young friend。
〃It's your ill…luck yesterday that makes you so ill…humoured and
annoying；〃 blurted out Lebeziatnikov； who in spite of his
〃independence〃 and his 〃protests〃 did not venture to oppose Pyotr
Petrovitch and still behaved to him with some of the respect
habitual in earlier years。
〃You'd better tell me this；〃 Pyotr Petrovitch interrupted with
haughty displeasure； 〃can you。。。 or rather are you really friendly
enough with that young person to ask her to step in here for a minute？
I think they've all come back from the cemetery。。。 I hear the sound of
steps。。。 I want to see her； that young person。〃
〃What for？〃 Lebeziatnikov asked with surprise。
〃Oh； I want to。 I am leaving here to…day or to…morrow and
therefore I wanted to speak to her about。。。 However； you may be
present during the interview。 It's