Believe your sons' hearts; they have brought forth the truth; it burns in them; they perish for it.

Believe them!" Her voice broke down, she staggered, her strength gone.

Somebody seized her under the arms.
"She is speaking God's words!" a man shouted hoarsely and excitedly.
"God's words, good people! Listen to her!" Another man said in pity of her: "Look how she's hurting herself!" "She's not hurting herself, but hitting us, fools, understand that!" was the reproachful reply.
A high-pitched, quavering voice rose up over the crowd: "Oh, people of the true faith! My Mitya, pure soul, what has he done?
He went after his dear comrades.

She speaks truth--why did we forsake our children?
What harm have they done us ?" The mother trembled at these words and replied with tears.
"Go home, Nilovna! Go, mother! You're all worn out," said Sizov loudly.
He was pale, his disheveled beard shook.

Suddenly knitting his brows he threw a stern glance about him on all, drew himself up to his full height, and said distinctly: "My son Matvey was crushed in the factory.