" He spoke kindly, but with a troubled air. "Did they make a
search in your house?"
"They did. They rummaged, searched, and nosed around. Those people
have no shame, no conscience!" exclaimed the mother indignantly.
"What do they need shame for?" said Nikolay with a shrug of his
shoulders, and explained to her the necessity of her going to the city.
His friendly, solicitous talk moved and agitated her. She looked
at him with a pale smile, and wondered at the kindly feeling of
confidence he inspired in her.
"If Pasha wants it, and I'll be no inconvenience to you----"
"Don't be uneasy on that score. I live all alone; my sister comes
over only rarely."
"I'm not going to eat my head off for nothing," she said, thinking aloud.
"If you want to work, you'll find something to do." Her conception
of work was now indissolubly connected with the work that her son,
Andrey, and their comrades were doing. She moved a little toward
Nikolay, and looking in his eyes, asked:
"Yes? You say work will be found for me?"
"My household is a small one, I am a bachelor----"
"I'm not talking about that, not about housework," she said quietly.
"I mean world work.
Pages:
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314