The Count Stepan Lanovitch used to assist us--God be with him! But he has been sent to Siberia because he helped the peasants.

He was like you; he was a great barin, a great noble, and yet he helped the peasants." Paul turned round sharply and shook the man off.
"Go," he said, "with the starosta and get what I tell you.

A great, strong fellow like you has no business on his knees to any man! I will not help you unless you help yourself.

You are a lazy good-for-nothing.
Get out!" He pushed him out of the hut, and kicked after him a few rags of clothing which were lying about on the floor, all filthy and slimy.
"Good God!" muttered he under his breath, in English, "that a place like this should exist beneath the very walls of Osterno!" From hut to hut he went all through that night on his mission of mercy--without enthusiasm, without high-flown notions respecting mankind, but with the simple sense of duty that was his.

These people were his things--his dumb and driven beasts.