e mother put her hand on Liudmila's breast, pressing her; she spoke
almost in a whisper, as if herself meditating upon the words she spoke.

"Children go through the world; that's what I understand; children go
into the world, over all the earth, from everywhere toward one thing.
The best hearts go; people of honest minds; they relentlessly attack
all evil, all darkness. They go, they trample falsehood with heavy
feet, understanding everything, justifying everybody--justifying
everybody, they go. Young, strong, they carry their power, their
invincible power, all toward one thing--toward justice. They go to
conquer all human misery, they arm themselves to wipe away misfortune
from the face of the earth; they go to subdue what is monstrous, and
they will subdue it. We will kindle a new sun, somebody told me; and
they will kindle it. We will create one heart in life, we will unite
all the severed hearts into one--and they will unite them. We will
cleanse the whole of life--and they will cleanse it."

She waved her hand toward the sky.

"There's the sun."

And she struck her bosom.

"Here the most glorious heavenly sun of human happiness will be
kindled, and it will light up the earth forever--the whole of it, and
all that live upon it--with the light of love, the love of every man
toward all, and toward everything."

The words of forgotten prayers recurred to her mind, inspiring a new
faith. She threw them from her heart like sparks.

"The children walking along the road of truth and reason carry love to
all; and they clothe everything in new skies; they illumine everything
with an incorruptible fire issuing from the depths of the soul. Thus,
a new life comes into being, born of the children's love for the entire
world; and who will extinguish this love--who? What power is higher
than this? Who will subdue it? The earth has brought it forth; and
all life desires its victory--all life. Shed rivers of blood, nay,
seas of blood, you'll never extinguish it."

She shook herself away from Liudmila, fatigued by her exaltation, and
sat down, breathing heavily. Liudmila also withdrew from her,
noiselessly, carefully, as if afraid of destroying something. With
supple movement she walked about the room and looked in front of her
with the deep gaze of her dim eyes. She seemed still taller,
straighter, and thinner; her lean, stern face wore a concentrated
expression, and her lips were nervously compressed. The s