"That's stupid--to sit at readings with a fractured skull!"

"I tried to prove it to him, but unsuccessfully."

"He wanted to do a bit of boasting before the comrades," observed the
mother. "Look! I've already shed my blood!"

The physician looked at her, made a fierce face, and said with set
teeth:

"Ugh! ugh! you bloodthirsty person!"

"Well, Ivan, you've nothing to do here, and we're expecting guests. Go
away! Nilovna, give him the paper."

"Another paper?"

"There, take it and give it to the printer."

"I've taken it; I'll deliver it. Is that all?"

"That's all. There's a spy at the gate."

"I noticed. At my door, too. Good-by! Good-by, you fierce woman! And
do you know, friends, a squabble in a cemetery is a fine thing after
all! The whole city's talking about it. It stirs the people up and
compels them to think. Your article on that subject was excellent, and
it came in time. I always said that a good fight is better than a bad
peace."

"All right. Go away now!"

"You're polite! Let's shake hands, Nilovna. And that fellow--he
certainly behaved stupidly. Do you know where he lives?"

Nikolay gave him the address.

"I must go to him to-morrow. He's a fine fellow, eh?"

"Very!"

"We must keep him alive; he has good brains. It's from just such
fellows that the real proletarian intellectuals ought to grow up--men
to take our places when we leave for the region where evidently there
are no class antagonisms. But, after all, who knows?"

"You've taken to chattering, Ivan."

"I feel happy, that's why. Well, I'm going! So you're expecting
prison? I hope you get a good rest there!"

"Thank you, I'm not tired!"

The mother listened to their conversation. Their solicitude in regard
to the workingmen was pleasant to her; and, as always, the calm
activity of these people which did not forsake them even before the
gates of the prison, astonished her.

After the physician left, Nikolay and the mother conversed quietly
while awaiting their evening visitors. Then Nikolay told her at length
of his comrades living in exile; of those who had already escaped and
continued their work under assumed names. The bare walls of the room
echoed the low sounds of his voice, as if listening in incredulous
amazement to the stories of modest heroes who disinterestedly devoted
all their powers to the great cause of liberty.

A shadow kindly enveloped the woman, warming her heart with love for