else than one of the men constituting the Russian nation—but principally because he did not, any more than the rest of men, know—nor could he know—what constituted the general good; but he firmly believed that the attainment of this general good was brought about only by the strenuous fulfilment of that law of right which is revealed to every one, and therefore he could not desire war, or preach it as a means of attaining any general end whatever.
He and Mikhaïlovitch, and the people in general, expressed themselves in somewhat the same language as was used when the early Russians invited the Variags to come from Scandinavia:—
"Come and rule over us, we gladly promise absolute submission. We are enduring all trials, all humiliations, all sacrifices, but we do not judge and we do not decide."
And now, according to Sergyeï Ivanovitch, the people were ready to turn their backs on a right which they had purchased at such a price!
He wanted to say in addition that if the general opinion is an infallible judge, then why should not the Revolution, the Commune, be as useful to the Slavs as lawful means?
But all these were thoughts which could not decide anything. The only thing that he could clearly see was that at the present moment the discussion was exasperating to Sergyeï Ivanovitch, and therefore it was wrong to discuss it. So Levin held his peace, and turned the attention of his guests to the clouds that were rolling up, and he advised them to hurry home if they did not want to get wet.
CHAPTER XVII
The prince and Sergyeï Ivanovitch seated themselves in the cart and drove on; the rest of the party, quickening their steps, started back on foot.
But the thunder-storm, white on top, black under-
