“Ach! He is merciful, but not to us.”
“That’s a sin, a sin, madam,” observed the priest, shaking his head.
“And isn’t that a sin?” cried Katerina Ivanovna, pointing to the dying man.
“Perhaps those who have involuntarily caused the accident will agree to compensate you, at least for the loss of his earnings.”
“You don’t understand!” cried Katerina Ivanovna angrily waving her hand. “And why should they compensate me? Why, he was drunk and threw himself under the horses! What earnings? He brought us in nothing but misery. He drank everything away, the drunkard! He robbed us to get drink, he wasted their lives and mine for drink! And thank God he’s dying! One less to keep!”
“You must forgive in the hour of death, that’s a sin, madam, such feelings are a great sin.”
Katerina Ivanovna was busy with the dying man; she was giving him water, wiping the blood and sweat from his head, setting his