Page:Autobiography of Sophie Tolstoi.djvu/24

20 was in every one's eyes and ears, caught up by the newspapers and spread over the whole world, recorded in diaries and reminiscences as material for future judgment upon her. Forty-eight years is a long road. Many unnecessary words were spoken in that time, many incautious movements made. And for everything she will be made to answer before the court of mankind. S. A. T. knew this, and with an anxious heart she prepared herself for the judgment. The Autobiography and L. N. Tolstoi's Letters to his Wife are the last words of the accused. We should listen to them carefully and with attention, weighing every word. If S. A. T. bears a responsibility before all mankind, each of us before our conscience has a responsibility for whatever verdict we may pass upon her. We must judge sternly, but justly.

S. A. T.'s wish has been carried out. In the autobiography printed below two new chapters are substituted for the first half of Chapter III. in the original draft, and an independent Chapter V. has been made out of the last half of the original third chapter. Passages cut out of this third chapter are given in note 20.

Our notes are given at the end of the autobiography. 1em