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here, if Mary Ivánovna has no objection.
[
30] Father Gerásim is modelled on the lines of the celebrated Father
John of Cronstadt.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. No, I am as fond of Father Vasíly as if he were one of
the family. I have even consulted him; but being so young he has not
much authority.
FATHER GERÁSIM. Naturally, naturally.
ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA [approaching] Well, you see now, Father Gerásim, that
you are the only person who can help and can bring him to reason. He is
a clever, well-read man, but learning, you know, can only do harm. He is
suffering from some sort of delusion. He maintains that the Christian
law forbids a man to own any property; but how is that possible?
FATHER GERÁSIM. Temptation, spiritual pride, self-will! The Fathers of
the Church have answered the question satisfactorily. But how did this
befall him?
MARY IVÁNOVNA. Well, to tell you everything ... when we married he was
quite indifferent to religion, and we lived so, and lived happily,
during our best years--the first twenty years. Then he began to reflect.
Perhaps he was influenced by his sister, or by what he read. Anyhow, he
began thinking and reading the Gospels, and then suddenly he grew
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