The simplicity and the
businesslike manner of Nikolay in expecting the arrest both astonished
and touched her. She tried to observe his face carefully; she
detected nothing but his air of absorption, overshadowing the usual
kindly soft expression of his eyes. There was no sign of agitation
in this man, dearer to her than the others; he made no fuss. Equally
attentive to all, alike kind to all, always calmly the same, he
seemed to her just as much a stranger as before to everybody and
everything except his cause. He seemed remote, living a secret life
within himself and somewhere ahead of people. Yet she felt that he
resembled her more than any of the others, and she loved him with a
love that was carefully observing and, as it were, did not believe in
itself. Now she felt painfully sorry for him; but she restrained her
feelings, knowing that to show them would disconcert Nikolay, that he
would become, as always under such circumstances, somewhat ridiculous.
When she returned to the room she found him pressing Sasha's hand
and saying:
"Admirable! I'm convinced of it. It's very good for him and for
you. A little personal happiness does not do any harm; but--a
little, you know, so as not to make him lose his value.
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