Allseemedsuddenlytorealizethattherewasnotanemptyvoidbetweenearthandheaven，thattherichandthepowerfulhadnottakenpossessionofeverything，thattherewasstillarefugefrominjury，fromslavishbondage，fromcrushing，unendurablepoverty，fromtheterriblevodka。
“Defender！Mother！“sobbedMarya。“Mother！“
Butthethanksgivingserviceendedandtheikonwascarriedaway，andeverythingwentonasbefore；andagaintherewasasoundofcoarsedrunkenoathsfromthetavern。
Onlythewell-to-dopeasantswereafraidofdeath；therichertheywerethelesstheybelievedinGod，andinthesalvationofsouls，andonlythroughfearoftheendoftheworldputupcandlesandhadservicessaidforthem，tobeonthesafeside。
Thepeasantswhowereratherpoorerwerenotafraidofdeath。TheoldfatherandGrannyweretoldtotheirfacesthattheyhadlivedtoolong，thatitwastimetheyweredead，andtheydidnotmind。TheydidnothinderFyoklafromsayinginNikolay’spresencethatwhenNikolaydiedherhusbandDeniswouldgetexemption——toreturnhomefromthearmy。AndMarya，farfromfearingdeath，regrettedthatitwassoslowincoming，andwasgladwhenherchildrendied。