Mother

. Its walls already felt the regard of scores of suspecting e

ravine. They peeped into the windows at night. Now and then someb

ef around his red, flabby neck, and a thick, lilac-colored waistcoat of velvet around his body. On his sharp, glisten

awaiting an answer, he plied Vl

n your place I would marry him off. Our times require a strict watch over the animal called man; people are beginning to live in their brains. Men have run amuck with their thoughts, and they do things that are positively criminal. The church of God is avoided by the young folk; they shun the public places, and assemble in secret in ou

fted his cap, and waving it in the air, walke

h's widow, who sold food at the factory, on meetin

or your son

s the

ny good, mother of mine! They speak as if he's getting up a sort of union, something like

g nonsense, M

nonsense! I talk

er son. He shrugged his shoulders in silence, and th

for any of them; you're all good workers, and you don't drink-but you don't pay any attent

ed Pavel, his brow contrac

sigh. "Why don't you, mother, explain to the foolish girls what it is to be m

sery in store for them, they understand, but

f understanding, else they'd

oked into his

? Why don't you invite so

o!" the son r

y?" said the L

rt silence

will walk together; then some w

ce was taken even by his older comrades, such as the Little Russian; but it seemed

d the Little Russian were still reading, she overhea

suddenly ejaculated the Lit

wered Pavel a

es

lk. The tread of his bare feet sounded on the floor, and

s she no

was

he Little Russian aske

"That's why she has refus

ily over the floor, and again his low wh

f I te

ion shot from Pavel lik

the Little Russian

avel int

ttle Russian stop, and

love a girl you must tell her about

the book shu

sense do y

ilent for a

ed the Litt

t. Well, you get married. An interesting union-the intellectual with the workingman! Children come along; you will have to work all by yourself and very hard. Your l

began to speak again in a

drey. Keep quiet, and don't worry

the necessity for a man to live a complete life-with

oes not exist for you. If you love the future you must

!" said the Little Rus

can be do

chopping off the seconds of life, calmly an

and the other half ha

what else

mother lay with closed eyes, and was afraid to stir. She was ready to weep

y consecrated o

e Little Ru

to keep

st, Andrey," answ

w seconds he added, in a sad and subdued voice: "It will

rd for me

es

es

lls of the house, and the pen

Russian leisurely, at

r head in the pillow

towered thin, straight, and taciturn as ever. She had always called the Little Russian Andrey Ste

tter get your boots mended.

denly placing his long hand on her shoulder, he added: "You know, you are my rea

ve liked to say many endearing things, but her heart was

ts the conditions prevailing in the factory were trenchantly and pointedly depicted, as well as the strikes in

re, and said abusively: "Breeders of rebellion! For such business they oug

oclamations eagerly, and sai

and indifferent to everything, said lazily:

eople, and when a week passed without th

It seems the printin

d again; and again there was a dull

s, scrutinized everything and everybody; looked around, ferreted about, and at once attracted un

er about him. He was not alone, and therefore it was not so dangerous. But pride in her son mingled with her apprehension

window from the street, and when the mot

es into a nice mess! It's been decided to make a search t

n's talk; all the rest of the words flowed toge

ts issued from her fleshy nose, her eyes blinked and turned fr

did not say anything to you, mother dear, an

e disap

er to her feet again. She dressed hastily, for some reason wrapped her shawl tightly around her head, and ran to Fedya Mazin, who, she knew, was sick and not working. She found him sitting

have an abscess on m

wiping the perspiration from her fac

" answered Fedya, running his s

re afraid

cowardice, the devil take it! We must let Pavel know. I'll send my litt

to the pipe of the samovar, and even into the water vat. She thought Pavel would at once drop work and come home; but he did not come. Finally she sat down exhausted o

she exclaimed

l with a composed sm

o afraid,

said the Little Russian.

pare the samovar

pointed to the book

account of them-al

er. Then Pavel picked out some books and carried them out into the yard

puff and snort. They are bored and ashamed. That's why they put on the appearance of being very wicked and very mad with us. It's dirty work, and they understand it, of course they do! Once they turned everything topsy-turvy in my place, and went away abashed, that's all. Another time they took me along with them. Well, they put me in prison, and I stayed there with them for about four months.

, Andriusha!" exclaimed

e; but presently he turned his face, red with exertion, tow

do I spea

had ever done

ed her, and shaki

hinder me greatly in my work. It is impossible to avoid them. But to stop and pay attention to them is useless waste of time. Such a life! Formerly I would occasionally get angry-but I thought to myself:

rm at the expected police search. His luminous, protuberant eyes smiled s

hed and uttere

t you happine

ovar with long strides, sat in front

l not decline it; ask for it I w

egan to

om the yard and

rightened, they will think there must be something in this house because you tremble. And we have done nothing as yet, nothing! You know that

the next moment, unable to repress her anxiety, she excla

anticipation of the fun that would probably be poked at