“What a good thing he is alive!” she thought, “and how cruel it was that he died! Why was it? Why should God—to whom I prayed so earnestly—let him die? Why should God wish it? … He did no harm to anyone. … Doesn’t God know that my whole life is wrapped up in him, and that I cannot live without him? To take such an unfortunate, dear, innocent being, and torture him … and in answer to all my prayers, to shatter my life, and let his eyes set, and his body stretch out and grow stiff and cold! …”
Again she saw him coming. Such a little fellow, passing in at such big doors, swinging his little arms as grown-up people do. And he looked and smiled. … “The darling! … and God wants to torture and destroy him ! Why pray to Him, if He does such horrible things?”
Suddenly Molly, the under-nurse, began to say something very strange. The mother knew it was the girl Molly, yet it was both Molly and an angel at the same time.
“But if she is an angel, why has she no wings on her back?” thought the mother.
She remembered, however, that someone—she did not know who, but some trustworthy person—had told her that there were angels without wings now.
And Molly, the angel, said:
“You do wrong, ma’am, to be offended with God. It is impossible for Him to grant all prayers. People often ask such things, that to please one would mean offending another. … Why, even now, all over Russia, people are praying—and what people! The very highest bishops and monks, in the cathedrals and churches, over the relics of the saints … praying for victory over the Japanese. But is that right? It is wrong to pray for that, and He cannot grant such prayers. … The Japanese also pray for victory, and there is but one Father of all. …