Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/211

Rh his brow; he wanted to cross himself, but he could not get his hand far enough round, so he forbore.

"Glory be to Thee, O Lord! Glory be to Thee, O Lord," said he, and again he cast a glance at his son.

"Van'ka, but Van'ka!"

"What is it, dear little father?"

"What ought to be done now?"

Ivan was all in tears. "I know not, dear little father, how I shall live now," said he.

The old man closed his eyes and moved his lips as if he were rallying all his strength, and again he opened his eyes, and he said:

"Live and prosper. With God ye shall live—live and prosper."

The old man was again silent for a time. Then he smiled and said:

"Look now, Van'ya! Don't say who set the fire on. Hide others' sins, and God will forgive thee thine twice over."

And the old man grasped the taper with both hands, folded them on his breast, sighed, stretched himself, and died.

Ivan did not tell of Gabriel, and nobody ever knew who was the author of the fire.

And Ivan's heart went out to Gabriel, and Gabriel was astonished that Ivan told nobody anything about it. At first Gabriel was afraid of him, but afterwards he quieted down.

The muzhiks ceased quarrelling and their families 161