She longed to give wings to the horses.

Something told her that her companion was even more anxious than herself to reach Irkutsk; and how many versts were still between! It also occurred to her that if Omsk was entered by the Tartars, Michael's mother, who lived there, would be in danger, and that this was sufficient to explain her son's impatience to get to her.
Nadia at last spoke to him of old Marfa, and of how unprotected she would be in the midst of all these events.
"Have you received any news of your mother since the beginning of the invasion ?" she asked.
"None, Nadia.

The last letter my mother wrote to me contained good news.
Marfa is a brave and energetic Siberian woman.

Notwithstanding her age, she has preserved all her moral strength.

She knows how to suffer." "I shall see her, brother," said Nadia quickly.