Graf Tolstoy Leo

The Awakening Graf Tolstoy Leo

Book Excerpt: ter, and she was horrified at the thoughtthat she, too, might be driven to such drudgery. Maslova had for a long time been addicted to cigarette smoking, but oflate she had been getting more and more accustomed to drink. The wineattracted her, not because of its taste, but because it enabled her toforget her past life, to comfort herself with ease, and the confidenceof her own worth that it gave her. Without wine she was despondent andabashed. There was the choice of two things before her; either thehumiliating occupation of a servant, with the certain unwelcomeattentions of the men, or a secure, quiet and legitimatized positionof everybody's mistress. She wished to revenge herself on her seducer, as well as the clerk, and all those that brought misfortune upon her. Besides, she could not withstand the temptation of having all thedresses her heart desired--dresses made of velvet, gauze andsilk--ball dresses, with open neck and short sleeves. And when Maslovaimagined herself in a bright yellow sRead Mor