Mother

d been arrested. In the evening Fedya Mazin came running in upon the

id, Fedya?" as

face sharpened, and

, so that he looks as if he were without eyes. He shouted and stamped his feet. He said I'd rot in prison. And I've never bee

, tossed his hair back with a quick gesture of both

body into him like a knife-I will bite my teeth in

r right," said Pavel. "But

" observed the mother. "Wha

answered Fedya

the mother s

ll go down sooner

was

kitchen door opened sl

re; to-day I come of my own accord. Yes, yes!" He gave Pavel a vigorous handshak

, black beard, and dark, intelligent eyes. A certain gravity spok

r. Rybin sat down, stroked his beard, and placing his

We live almost next door to each other. I see many people come to you, and no drunkenness, no carrying on. That's the main thing. If people don't rais

nly and freely. It had a ri

ic; you don't go to church. I don't, either. Then the papers

ing his eyes off Rybin's face. Rybin

mother, coming into the r

iled; Ry

y, somewhat offended because they

t. They stir the people up. There w

es

d some things are superfluous. But when a man speaks a great deal

is teeth were w

e table with his fingers. "They discovered your resolve. You attend to your business, your honor, you say, and we'll attend to ours. The Little Russian's a fine fellow, too. The other day I hea

you!" said P

ch as you. For three years long I wore my feet to the bone marching in the army. I have been married

me to her son and speak to him just as if he were confessing to him. But Pavel seemed to

l have somet

er already. So then, Pavel, you thin

pace the room, folding

ally and more and more every day. The time will come when we shall all be united. Life is arranged unjustly for us and is made a burden. At the same time,

, give him a thorough cleaning, put clean clothes on him-and he will get well. Isn't it so? And if the heart grows scabby, take it

n countries the workingmen stand up for their rights. Rybin smiled occasionally; sometimes he struck a finger on the table as if punctuat

g before him

or being young. Let us rather

led about God also. So! I, too, think that

, bitter words of his unbelief. And she felt that Rybin, an older man, would also be displeased and offended. But when Rybin calmly put his question to Pavel, she could no longer contain herself, and said firmly: "When you speak of God, I wish you were

She was washing the dishes

d us, mother!" Pavel s

thick voice. He looked at Pavel and smiled. "I f

believe, but about the God with whom the priests threaten us as with a stick, abou

er, God created man in his own image and after his own likeness. Therefore he is like man if man is like him. But we have become, not like God, but like wild beasts! In the churches they set up

ow. And his face set in the frame of his black beard, his broad face attired, as it were, in mourning, frightened her. Th

king her head in negation. "It's not in

into the kitchen follow

the head, but in the heart. The heart is suc

vel firmly, "only reas

ed Rybin emphatically. "The heart gives

yer. She felt cold and miserable. And Rybin, who at first seeme

to his even voice flowing resonantly from his de

fidently and

e heart, there will be a wound in it, mark my word! It is necessary, Pavel, to invent a new faith; it is nec

ne! There

e his soul saying: so much for the godly, so much for the human. If Christ came to affirm the divine he had no need for anything human. But he recognized trade, and he recognized marriage. And it w

n the room; the floor cracked under his feet. When he spoke all other sounds were drowned by his voice; but above the slow, calm flow of Rybin'

He does not strengthen anything. He cannot. He merely burns and fuses when he gi

mind!" ins

wn selves. The heart was severed from the mind, and the mind has disappeared. Man is not a unit. It is God that makes him a unit, that makes him a round, circu

sleep and did not

omrades were present, Rybin sat in a corner and was

y from his corner with his d

n knocked into their heads. Let there be an end of this! Let them contrive for themselves. Maybe they will want to reject everything, all life, and all knowledge; maybe they will see that everything is arranged agai

ad-shouldered, black-bearded peasant and her well-built, sturdy son had both gone blind. In that little room, in the darkness, they seemed to be knocking about from side to side in search of light and an outlet, to be grasping out with powe

these words had now ceased to weigh down on her so heavily as at first. She learned to push them away fr

an in prison. On one occasion they allowed her to see him and t

; everybody jokes with him; just as if there were a holiday in his heart

ur skins. We breathe misery, we wear misery. But that's nothing to brag about. Not all people are blin