She rose to her feet, and with
trembling lips whispered:
"I've known him for a long time. We were in exile together. We
went there together on foot, we sat in prison together; at times it
was intolerable, disgusting; many fell in spirit."
Her dry, loud groans stuck in her throat. She overcame them with an
effort, and bringing her face nearer to the mother's she continued
in a quick whisper, moaning without tears:
"Yet he was unconquerably jolly. He joked and laughed, and covered
up his suffering in a manly way, always striving to encourage the
weak. He was always good, alert, kind. There, in Siberia, idleness
depraves people, and often calls forth ugly feelings toward life.
How he mastered such feelings! What a comrade he was! If you only
knew. His own life was hard and tormented; but I know that nobody
ever heard him complain, not a soul--never! Here was I, nearer to
him than others. I'm greatly indebted to his heart, to his mind.
He gave me all he could of it; and though exhausted, he never asked
either kindness or attention in return."
She walked up to Yegor, bent down and kissed him. Her voice was
husky as she said mournfully:
"Comrade, my dear, dear friend, I thank you with all my heart!
Good-by.
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