" Nikolay nodded his head.
"Godun has arranged everything all right. But I'm beginning to
doubt his success. The passages in the prison are used by all the
inmates, and I think when the prisoners see the ladder many will
want to run--" She closed her eyes and was silent for a while.
The mother moved nearer to her. "They'll hinder one another."
They all three stood before the window, the mother behind Nikolay
and Sasha. Their rapid conversation roused in her a still stronger
sense of uneasiness and anxiety.
"I'm going there," the mother said suddenly.
"Why?" asked Sasha.
"Don't go, darling! Maybe you'll get caught. You mustn't!"
Nikolay advised.
The mother looked at them and softly, but persistently, repeated:
"No; I'm going! I'm going!"
They quickly exchanged glances, and Sasha, shrugging her shoulders, said:
"Of course--hope is tenacious!"
Turning to the mother she took her by the hand, leaned her head
on her shoulder, and said in a new, simple voice, near to the
heart of the mother:
"But I'll tell you after all, mamma, you're waiting in vain--he
won't try to escape!"
"My dear darling!" exclaimed the mother, pressing Sasha to her
tremulously.
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