Her soul was flooded
by the serene desire to give these people her entire force, and--
doubly the love of a mother, awakened and animated by their thoughts.
At home Nikolay opened the door for the mother. He was disheveled
and held a book in his hand.
"Already?" he exclaimed joyfully. "You've returned very quickly.
Well, I'm glad, very glad."
His eyes blinked kindly and briskly behind his glasses. He quickly
helped her off with her wraps, and said with an affectionate smile:
"And here in my place, as you see, there was a search last night.
And I wondered what the reason for it could possibly be--whether
something hadn't happened to you. But you were not arrested. If
they had arrested you they wouldn't have let me go either."
He led her into the dining room, and continued with animation:
"However, they suggested that I should be discharged from my
position. That doesn't distress me. I was sick, anyway, of
counting the number of horseless peasants, and ashamed to receive
money for it, too; for the money actually comes from them. It
would have been awkward for me to leave the position of my own
accord. I am under obligations to the comrades in regard to work.
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