第221章

第221章“ihave,goodsir,”answeredtheoldwoman,whowasconversationallydisposed;“justattheholybirthiwasdeemedworthytobeapartakerinholy,heavenlymysteriesfromthesaints.andnow,goodsir,fromkolyazinagreatblessinghasbeenrevealed.”

“andivanushkawaswithyou？”

“igoalonebymyself,benefactor,”saidivanushka,tryingtospeakinabassvoice.“itwasonlyatyuhnovoijoinedpelageyushka…”

pelageyushkainterruptedhercompanion;shewasevidentlyanxioustotellofwhatshehadseen.“inkolyazin,goodsir,greatistheblessingrevealed.”

“what,newrelics？”askedprinceandrey.

“hush,andrey,”saidprincessmarya.“don’ttellusaboutit,pelageyushka.”

“not…nay,ma’am,whynottellhim？ilikehim.he’sagoodgentleman,chosenofgod,he’smybenefactor;hegavemetenroubles,iremember.wheniwasinkiev,kiryusha,thecrazypilgrim,tellsme—verilyamanofgod,winterandsummerhegoesbarefoot—whyareyounotgoingtoyourrightplace,sayshe;gotokolyazin,thereawonder-workingikon,aholymotherofgodhasbeenrevealed.onthesewordsisaidgood-byetotheholyfolkandoffiwent…”

allweresilent,onlythepilgrimwomantalkedoninhermeasuredvoice,drawingherbreathregularly.“icame,goodsir,andfolkssaytome：agreatblessinghasbeenvouchsafed,dropsofmyrrhtricklefromthecheeksoftheholymotherofgod…”

“come,thatwilldo,thatwilldo;youshalltellmelater,”saidprincessmarya,flushing.

“letmeaskheraquestion,”saidpierre.“didyouseeityourself？”heasked.

“tobesure,goodsir,imyselfwasfoundworthy.suchabrightnessoverspreadtheface,likethelightofheaven,andfromtheholymother’scheeksdropslikethisandlikethis…”

“why,butitmustbeatrick,”saidpierrena？vely,afterlisteningattentivelytotheoldwoman.

“oh,sir,whatathingtosay！”saidpelageyushkawithhorror,turningtoprincessmaryaforsupport.

“theyimposeuponthepeople,”herepeated.

“lordjesuschrist！”saidthepilgrimwoman,crossingherself.“oh,don’tspeakso,sir.therewasageneraldidnotbelievelikethat,said‘themonkscheat,’andashesaidit,hewasstruckblind.andhedreamedadream,theholymotherofpetcherskycomestohimandsays：‘believeinmeandiwillhealthee.’andsohekeptbeseechingthem：‘takemetoher,takemetoher.’it’stheholytruthi’mtellingyou,i’veseenitmyself.theycarriedhim,blindashewas,toher;hewentup,felldown,andsaid：‘healme！iwillgivethee,’sayshe,‘whatthetsarbestowedonme.’isawitmyself—asortofstarcarvedinit.well—heregainedhissight！it’sasintospeakso.godwillpunishyou,”shesaidadmonishinglytopierre.

“how？wasthestarintheholyimage？”askedpierre.

“anddidn’ttheymaketheholymotherageneral？”saidprinceandrey,smiling.

pelageyushkaturnedsuddenlypaleandflungupherhands.

“sir,sir,it’sasinofyou,you’veason！”shesaid,suddenlyturningfromwhitetodarkred.“sir,forwhatyouhavesaid,godforgiveyou.”shecrossedherself.“lord,forgivehim.lady,what’sthis？…”sheturnedtoprincessmarya.shegotup,andalmostcryingbegangatheringupherwallet.plainlyshewasbothfrightenedandashamedathavingacceptedbountyinahousewheretheycouldsaysuchthings,andsorrythatshemusthenceforthdepriveherselfofthebountyofthathouse.

“whatdidyouwanttodothisfor？”saidprincessmarya.“whydidyoucometome？…”

“no,iwasjokingreally,pelageyushka,”saidpierre.“princess,maparole,jen’aipasvoulul’offenser.isaidit,meaningnothing.don’tthinkofit,iwasjoking,”hesaid,smilingtimidlyandtryingtosmoothoverhiscrime.“itwasallmyfault;buthedidn’tmeanit,hewasjoking.”

pelageyushkaremaineddistrustful;butpierre’sfaceworealookofsuchgenuinepenitence,andprinceandreylookedsomildlyfrompelageyushkatopierre,thatshewasgraduallyreassured.