"To my mother, I don't dare even hint about such matters.

Oh, no!" "Everybody will understand in time," said Nilovna, wishing to please him.

"Everybody will understand." When they left, she locked the door, and kneeling in the middle of the room began to pray, to the accompaniment of the patter of the rain.

It was a prayer without words, one great thought of men, of all those people whom Pavel introduced into her life.

It was as if they passed between her, and the ikons upon which she held her eyes riveted.