came upon her to travel along the road, through forests and
villages, with a birch-bark sack over her shoulders, and a staff in her
hand.

"Now, you dear, dear man, you just arrange it for me, arrange it so
that I can work in this movement. I'll go everywhere for you! I'll
keep going summer and winter, down to my very grave, a pilgrim for the
sake of truth. Why, isn't that a splendid lot for a woman like me?
The wanderer's life is a good life. He goes about through the world,
he has nothing, he needs nothing except bread, no one abuses him, and
so quietly, unnoticed, he roves over the earth. And so I'll go, too;
I'll go to Andrey, to Pasha, wherever they live."

She was seized with sadness when she saw herself homeless, begging for
alms, in the name of Christ, at the windows of the village cottages.

Nikolay took her hand gently, and stroked it with his warm hand. Then,
looking at the watch, he said:

"We'll speak about that later. You are taking a dangerous burden upon
your shoulders. You must consider very carefully what you intend
doing."

"My dear man, what have I to consider? What have I to live for if not
for this cause? Of what use am I to anybody? A tree grows, it gives
shade; it's split into wood, and it warms people. Even a mere dumb
tree is helpful to life, and I am a human being. The children, the
best blood of man, the best there is of our hearts, give up their
liberty and their lives, perish without pity for themselves! And I, a
mother--am I to stand by and do nothing?"

The picture of her son marching at the head of the crowd with the
banner in his hands flashed before her mind.

"Why should I lie idle when my son gives up his life for the sake of
truth? I know now--I know that he is working for the truth. It's the
fifth year now that I live beside the woodpile. My heart has melted
and begun to burn. I understand what you are striving for. I see what
a burden you all carry on your shoulders. Take me to you, too, for the
sake of Christ, that I may be able to help my son! Take me to you!"

Nikolay's face grew pale; he heaved a deep sigh, and smiling, said,
looking at her with sympathetic attention:

"This is the first time I've heard such words."

"What can I say?" she replied, shaking her head sadly, and spreading
her hands in a gesture of impotence. "If I had the words to express my
mother's heart--" She arose, lifted by the power that waxed in her
breast, intoxicated her,