"
"What's so strange in that? His godfather is a gendarme," observed
the mother.
"Well, Nikolay will give him a dressing. What of it?" the Little
Russian continued uneasily. "See what hard feelings the rulers of
our life have produced in the rank and file? When such people as
Nikolay come to recognize their wrong and lose their patience, what
will happen then? The sky will be sprinkled with blood, and the
earth will froth and foam with it like the suds of soap water."
"It's terrible, Andriusha!" the mother exclaimed in a low voice.
"They have swallowed flies, and have to vomit them now!" said Andrey
after a pause. "And after all, mother, every drop of their blood
that may be shed will have been washed in seas of the people's tears."
Suddenly he broke into a low laugh and added:
"That's true; but it's no comfort!"
Once on a holiday the mother, on returning home from a store, opened
the door of the porch, and remained fixed to the spot, suddenly
bathed in the sunshine of joy. From the room she heard the sound
of Pavel's voice.
"There she is!" cried the Little Russian.
The mother saw Pavel turn about quickly, and saw how his face
lighted up with a feeling that held out the promise of something
great to her.
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