The three young men simultaneously turned their look on
her, and Rybin, lowering his head, asked slowly:
"And when he got this affair up, did he know what was in store for him?"
"I don't know. I suppose he did."
"He did," said Sofya aloud.
All were silent, motionless, as if congealed by one cold thought.
"So," continued Rybin slowly and gravely. "I, too, think he knew.
A serious man looks before he leaps. There, boys, you see, the man
knew that he might be struck with a bayonet, or exiled to hard labor;
but he went. He felt it was necessary for him to go, and he went.
If his mother had lain across his path, he would have stepped over
her body and gone his way. Wouldn't he have stepped over you, Nilovna?"
"He would," said the mother shuddering and looking around. She
heaved a heavy sigh. Sofya silently stroked her hand.
"There's a man for you!" said Rybin in a subdued voice, his dark
eyes roving about the company. They all became silent again. The
thin rays of the sun trembled like golden ribbons in the thick,
odorous atmosphere. Somewhere a crow cawed with bold assurance.
The mother looked around, troubled by her recollections of the first
of May, and grieving for her son and Andrey.
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