. She meant to go out,
but stopped undecided--she wanted to work off her anger, but she also
wanted to learn what sort of a man the stranger was.

IV

Matryona stopped and said: "If he were a good man he would not be naked.
Why, he hasn't even a shirt on him. If he were all right, you would say
where you came across the fellow."

"That's just what I am trying to tell you," said Simon. "As I came to
the shrine I saw him sitting all naked and frozen. It isn't quite
the weather to sit about naked! God sent me to him, or he would have
perished. What was I to do? How do we know what may have happened to
him? So I took him, clothed him, and brought him along. Don't be so
angry, Matryona. It is a sin. Remember, we all must die one day."

Angry words rose to Matryona's lips, but she looked at the stranger
and was silent. He sat on the edge of the bench, motionless, his hands
folded on his knees, his head drooping on his breast, his eyes closed,
and his brows knit as if in pain. Matryona was silent: and Simon said:
"Matryona, have you no love of God?"

Matryona heard these words, and as she looked at the stranger, suddenly
her heart softened towards him. She came back from the door, and going
to the oven she got out the supper. Setting a cup on the table, she
poured out some kvas. Then she brought out the last piece of bread, and
set out a knife and spoons.

"Eat, if you want to," said she.

Simon drew the stranger to the table.

"Take your place, young man," said he.

Simon cut the bread, crumbled it into the broth, and they began to eat.
Matryona sat at the corner of the table resting her head on her hand and
looking at the stranger.

And Matryona was touched with pity for the stranger, and began to feel
fond of him. And at once the stranger's face lit up; his brows were no
longer bent, he raised his eyes and smiled at Matryona.

When they had finished supper, the woman cleared away the things and
began questioning the stranger. "Where are you from?" said she.

"I am not from these parts."

"But how did you come to be on the road?"

"I may not tell."

"Did some one rob you?"

"God punished me."

"And you were lying there naked?"

"Yes, naked and freezing. Simon saw me and had pity on me. He took off
his coat, put it on me and brought me here. And you have fed me, given
me drink, and shown pity on me. God will reward you!"

Matryona rose, took from the window Simon's old shirt she had been
patchi