El mercader llegó, llevando a su hija del brazo. La condujo a la celda e inmediatamente la dejó.
She was a very fair girl, plump and very short, with a pale, frightened, childish face and a much developed feminine figure.
Father Sergius remained seated on the bench at the entrance and when she was passing and stopped beside him for his blessing he was aghast at himself for the way he looked at her figure. As she passed by him he was acutely conscious of her femininity, though he saw by her face that she was sensual and feebleminded.
He rose and went into the cell. She was sitting on a stool waiting for him, and when he entered she rose.
“Quiero volver con papá”, dijo ella.
—No tengas miedo —respondió—. ¿De qué sufres?
«Me duele todo el cuerpo», dijo, y de pronto su rostro se iluminó con una sonrisa.
“Estarás bien”, dijo él.
“¡Reza!”
—¿De qué sirve rezar? He rezado y no sirve de nada —y continuó sonriendo—. Quiero que reces por mí y me impongas las manos. Te vi en un sueño.
“¿Cómo me viste?”