"Oh, my dear man, you will never be able to finish all of your business. Some time ago the women of my household were washing and preparing themselves for a holy-day. My oldest daughter-in-law (a wise woman) remarked: 'I am thankful that the holy-day did not wait till we had finished our work; otherwise it never would have come. Woman's labor never ends, and we shall rest from it only when we die.'"
Euthymus became lost in thought, and after a few moments he continued:
"You cannot undertake this journey with empty hands. It will require a full hundred rubles, and I have already spent too much money on my new house."
Elissey laughed and said:
"Do not sin, my godfather. You have ten times as much as I have, and yet you worry over the expense of our holy pilgrimage. If you will only tell me when we. are to start, although I have no money now, I will certainly procure it in time."
