They've made thieves' laws, placed men with sticks over
the people, and said to them: 'Guard our laws; they are very convenient
laws; they permit us to suck the blood out of the people!' They
try to squeeze the people from the outside, but the people resist,
and so they drive the rules inside so as to crush the reason, too."
Leaning his elbows on the table and looking into the mother's face
with pensive eyes, he continued in an even, flowing voice:
"Only those are men who strike the chains from off man's body and
from off his reason. And now you, too, are going into this work
according to the best of your ability."
"I? Now, now! How can I?"
"Why not? It's just like rain. Every drop goes to nourish the
seed! And when you are able to read, then--" He stopped and began
to laugh; then rose and paced up and down the room.
"Yes, you must learn to read! And when Pavel gets back, won't you
surprise him, eh?"
"Oh, Andriusha! For a young man everything is simple and easy!
But when you have lived to my age, you have lots of trouble, little
strength, and no mind at all left."
In the evening the Little Russian went out. The mother lit a lamp
and sat down at a table to knit stockings.
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