Page:The Kiss and Other Stories by Anton Tchekhoff, 1908.pdf/233



HROUGH the wide, the so-called "Red" gates of the monastery of N. came a calèche drawn by four well-fed, well-bred horses. While it was still far away the senior monks and lay brethren, grouped near the nobles' half of the monastery inn, guessed from the coachman and horses that the visitor was their well-known princess, Vera Gavriilovna.

An aged footman jumped down from the box and helped the princess to alight. The princess raised her dark veil, came up to the senior monks to receive their blessing, nodded kindly to the lay brethren, and went to her rooms.

"Well, were you longing to see your princess?" she said to the monks who carried her luggage. "It's a whole month since I've been here. But here I am, at last! And where is the Father Archimandrite? Heavens, I burn with impatience! Wonderful, wonderful old man! You should be proud to have such an Archimandrite!"

When the Archimandrite appeared, the princess exclaimed joyfully, crossed her arms on her breast, and bent her head for his blessing. Rh