Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/151

 144 Euthymus entered the porch, and passing through the yard was soon by the side of Elissey. As he approached his old comrade, he observed that he was protected by neither netting nor gloves. He wore a gray coat, and stood under a birch-tree with his bald pate glistening and his hands outstretched—just the attitude in which Euthymus had seen him three different times in the Temple at Jerusalem. Through the leaves of the birch-tree he could see the peculiar glisten of the sun's rays as they fell upon Elissey's bald head, around which the golden bees hovered as if the old man were unconscious of their presence. Euthymus stopped in amazement.

The old woman called aloud to her husband, saying:

"Our godfather also has returned, and he has called to see us!"

Elissey turned round, and on seeing the visitor was greatly overjoyed. As he came near to Euthymus he gently removed the bees which