Mother

and Andrey about their newspaper. It was late, about midnight. The mother was already in bed. Half awake, half asleep, she listened to the low, busy voices. Presently

; the Little Russian entered the kitc

gling of spurs

at her dress with a trembling hand; but

ed; you're not

on the porch. Pavel went to the door

's t

way; after it another; two gendarmes pushed Pavel back, and stationed

you expe

age policeman, Fedyakin, appeared at the bedside of the mother, and, raising on

!" Then, waving his hand toward

g up his eyes; and when Pavel silently nodded

earch in your house

, turning suddenly and m

voice was heard f

Tveryakov and his lodger, the stoker Rybin, a staid,

ening, N

e speaking to herself in a low vo

s? They come at night. Peopl

ut them on the table before the officer. Two others rapped on the walls with their fists, and looked under the chairs. One man clumsily clambered up on the stove in the corner. Nikolay's pockmarked face became covered

t, her chest thrown out, which gave her figure a droll, stilted air of impo

rous movement of the wrist flung them aside. Sometimes a book fell to the floor with a light thud. All were silent. The heavy bre

over her bosom, like her son, and both regarded the officer. The mother

g voice of Nikolay c

ry to throw the bo

if he had been struck on the back. Rybin uttered a

ngers began to turn the leaves of the books still more rapidly. His face was yellow and pale; he twisted his lips continually. At t

ikov called out again

the officer. He again raised his head, and taking in the

l, pick up

lantwise at Vyesovshchikov, began to c

er whispered to Pavel. He shrugged his sho

there? Silence, pleas

said

ose books ar

answer

made the bones of his slender hand crack, stretched his legs under the ta

The Little Russian put out his hand, took

mistake; I

and threatening Vyesovshchiko

e ca

t night looked on through the window with soulless eyes. Some one was l

searched for political offen

and Saratov. Only there the g

ht eye, rubbed it, and sho

r. Nakhodka-who those scoundrels are who distribute

ad smile on his face was about to say something, w

time we have seen

's face whitened, and her right eyebrow traveled upward. Rybin's black beard quiv

out of here!" s

rudely pulled him into the kitchen. There he pl

going to put

ioner came in from

out there. We se

, laughing. "I knew it! There's an exper

n enemy in this man, an enemy without pity, with a heart full of aristocratic disdain of the peo

m Pavel and his friends h

ndrey Onisimov Nakh

d the Little Rus

he officer with spiteful civility,

you read

nswered

cer sternly, and repeated: "Say,

s seized with a sudden fit of trembling, as if she had jumped into cold wate

r hand toward him. "You are a young man

, mother!" Pav

ake your heart between your teeth and hold

shing to the table and then addressing the o

you. Silence!" shoute

he commanded, and began to read aloud

brought in

the officer, inter

and patting her on the b

t excited

they hold my hands?" asked N

lung the pape

he sai

ssion of her heart. Her eyes filled with tears-burning tears of insult and impotence-such tears she had wept

her contemptuously. H

ady! Look out, or you won't h

everything, everything! If yo

e papers into his new port

re in your place!" He turne

ck!" mumbled th

ommanded t

ay!" said Pavel warmly and softl

we meet again!" th

mounted to his thick neck; his eyes flashed with rancor. The Little Russian's face beamed with a sunn

righteous,"

they disappeared. Rybin went last. He regarded Pavel with an attentive look of his dark eyes and sai

p and down the room, stepping over the books and clothe

ith insult-disgustingly-y

e disorder in the room, t

ure they will. Why did Nikolay

etly. "Yes-It's impossible to speak to them, a

ained at home, her heart began to beat more lightly. Her mind stubbornly halted before one f

uddenly said with resolutio

when he came nearer to her. She approached

ey insu

at's-hard! I would rath

es, and wishing to soothe him, with an indist

e-they'll ta

ll!" he

he mother remar

re me once in a while! But you don't. When I s

moved closer to he

cannot lie! You have