Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/273

Rh the lame little girl, and with the other hand she wiped the tears from her cheeks.

Tis plain," said Matrena, "that the proverb is not in vain which says, 'Without father and mother we may still get on, but without God we cannot get on.

So they went on talking, and then the woman rose to go; the host conducted her out, and as they did so they glanced at Michael. But he was sitting with his hands folded on his knees, and he looked upwards and smiled.

Simon went up to him. "What ails you, Michael?" said he.

Michael stood up and put down his work. Then he took off his apron, bowed to his host and hostess, and said:

"Farewell, my host and hostess. God has forgiven me; you must forgive me too."

And his host and hostess perceived that a radiance went forth from Michael. And Simon stood up and bowed low to Michael, and said to him:

"I see, Michael, that thou art no mere man, and I am not able to keep thee, nor am I able to ask thee any questions. Tell me, nevertheless, this one thing; why, when I found thee and brought thee to my home, wert thou so sad; and why, when my old woman gave thee to sup withal, didst thou smile, and thenceforth brighten up? Then again, when the 223