(notonlyregardingourmonastery, butinotherswheretheinstitutionofeldersexisted) thattoomuchrespectwaspaidtotheelders, eventothedetrimentoftheauthorityoftheSuperior, thattheeldersabusedthesacramentofconfessionandsoonandsoon—, whichhadcaughtupFyodorPavlovitch, andwasbearinghimonthecurrentofhisownnervesintolowerandlowerdepthsofignominy, , andhecouldnotevenputitsensibly, foronthisoccasionnoonehadbeenkneelingandconfessingaloudintheelder'scell, , hefelthehadbeentalkingabsurdnonsense, andatoncelongedtoprovetohisaudience, andabovealltohimself, , thoughheknewperfectlywellthatwitheachwordhewouldbeaddingmoreandmoreabsurdity, hecouldnotrestrainhimself, andplungedforwardblindly.
"Howdisgraceful!" criedPyotrAlexandrovitch.
"Pardonme!" saidtheFatherSuperior."Itwassaidofold, ': itisthecorrectionoftheLordandHehassentittohealmyvainsoul.' Andsowehumblythankyou, honoredguest!" andhemadeFyodorPavlovitchalowbow.
