Pagina 777 van 1294

"What for? Because you can't remain like this, that's why! You

must look things straight in the face at last, and not weep like

a child and cry that God won't allow it. What will happen, if you

should really be taken to the hospital to-morrow? She is mad and

in consumption, she'll soon die and the children? Do you mean to

tell me Polenka won't come to grief? Haven't you seen children

here at the street corners sent out by their mothers to beg? I've

found out where those mothers live and in what surroundings.

Children can't remain children there! At seven the child is

vicious and a thief. Yet children, you know, are the image of

Christ: 'theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.' He bade us honour and

love them, they are the humanity of the future...."

"What's to be done, what's to be done?" repeated Sonia, weeping

hysterically and wringing her hands.