When the people have freed themselves, they will see for
themselves what is best. Enough, quite enough of what they do not
want at all has been 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 against them. You just deliver all the
books into their hands, and they will find an answer for themselves,
depend upon it! Only let them remember that the tighter the collar
round the horse's neck, the worse the work."
But when Pavel was alone with Rybin they at once began an endless
but always calm disputation, to which the mother listened anxiously,
following their words in silence, and endeavoring to understand.
Sometimes it seemed to her as if the broad-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 powerful but blind hands; they seemed to fall upon the floor,
and having fallen, to scrape and fumble with their feet. They hit
against everything, groped about for everything, and flung it away,
calm and composed, losing neither faith nor hope.
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