Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/152

 Rh had become entangled in his beard. At last he said:

"Oh! how do you do, my godfather? You are welcome, my dear man. How have you journeyed?"

"Not at all," replied Euthymus; "but my feet did. I have brought some water for you from the river Jordan, which you may come and get; but I know not whether the Lord has accepted my devotions."

"Well," remarked Elissey, "glory to thee, O Lord! Save us, O Christ!"

Euthymus remained silent for a few minutes, when he resumed:

"Yes; my feet, with the rest of my body, were there. But I am in doubt as to whether my spirit was there. There may have been some one else's spirit instead."

"It is God's affair, my godfather" said Elissey; "it is God's affair."

"On my way home," persisted Euthymus, "I visited the peasant house at which we parted."