er,' he
writes; 'soothe her and comfort her,' eh?"

Her heart beat quickly but boldly, and her head whirled slightly from
excitement.

"Your son's a splendid man! I respect and love him very much."

"I tell you what--let's think of something in regard to Rybin," she
suggested.

She wanted to do something forthwith--go somewhere, walk till she
dropped from exhaustion, and then fall asleep, content with the day's
work.

"Yes--very well!" said Nikolay, pacing through the room. "Why not? We
ought to have Sashenka here!"

"She'll be here soon. She always comes on my visiting day to Pasha."

Thoughtfully drooping his head, biting his lips and twisting his beard,
Nikolay sat on the sofa by the mother's side.

"I'm sorry my sister isn't here. She ought to occupy herself with
Rybin's case."

"It would be well to arrange it at once, while Pasha is there. It
would be pleasant for him."

The bell rang. They looked at each other.

"That's Sasha," Nikolay whispered.

"How will you tell her?" the mother whispered back.

"Yes--um!--it's hard!"

"I pity her very much."

The bell rang again, not so loud, as if the person on the other side of
the door had also fallen to thinking and hesitated. Nikolay and the
mother rose simultaneously, but at the kitchen door Nikolay turned
aside.

"You'd better do it," he said.

"He's not willing?" the girl asked the moment the mother opened the
door.

"No."

"I knew it!" Sasha's face paled. She unbuttoned her coat, fastened
two buttons again, then tried to remove her coat, unsuccessfully, of
course. "Dreadful weather--rain, wind; it's disgusting! Is he well?"

"Yes."

"Well and happy; always the same, and only this--" Her tone was
disconsolate, and she regarded her hands.

"He writes that Rybin ought to be freed." The mother kept her eyes
turned from the girl.

"Yes? It seems to me we ought to make use of this plan."

"I think so, too," said Nikolay, appearing at the door. "How do you
do, Sasha?"

The girl asked, extending her hand to him:

"What's the question about? Aren't all agreed that the plan is
practicable? I know they are."

"And who'll organize it? Everybody's occupied."

"Give it to me," said Sasha, quickly jumping to her feet. "I have
time!"

"Take it. But you must ask others."

"Very well, I will. I'll go at once."

She began to button up her coat again with sure, thin fingers.

"You ought to rest a little," the mother adv