firmly to his breast, muttered in a trembling voice:

"Thank God! Evidently Thou didst not want that my stem should be
checked! My sins before Thee shall not remain without repentance.
I thank Thee, Oh Lord. Oh!" and, rising to his feet, he immediately
began to command noisily:

"Eh! Let someone go to St. Nicholas for a priest. Tell him that
Ignat Matveyich asked him to come! Let him come to make a prayer
for the woman."

The chambermaid appeared and said to him with alarm:

"Ignat Matveyich, Natalya Fominichna is calling you. She is
feeling bad."

"Why bad? It'll pass!" he roared, his eyes flashing cheerfully.
"Tell her I'll be there immediately! Tell her she's a fine fellow!
I'll just get a present for her and I'll come! Hold on! Prepare
something to eat for the priest. Send somebody after Mayakin!"

His enormous figure looked as though it had grown bigger, and
intoxicated with joy, he stupidly tossed about the room; he was
smiling, rubbing his hands and casting fervent glances at the
images; he crossed himself swinging his hand wide. At last he
went up to his wife.

His eyes first of all caught a glimpse of the little red body,
which the midwife was bathing in a tub. Noticing him, Ignat stood
up on tiptoes, and, folding his hands behind his back, walked up