", Wednesday, , stewedfruitwithhoney, wildberries, , noodleswithpeas, kasha, , sixwholedaysinHolyWeek, nothingiscooked, andwehaveonlybreadandwater, andthatsparingly; ifpossiblenottakingfoodeveryday, 'clock, , inasmuchastheLaodiceancouncillaysdownforHolyThursday: 'ItisunseemlybyremittingthefastontheHolyThursdaytodishonorthewholeofLent!' , holyFather," addedthemonk, growingmoreconfident, "foralltheyearround, evenatEaster, youtakenothingbutbreadandwater, 'strulymarvelous—yourgreatabstinence."
"Andmushrooms?" askedFatherFerapont, suddenly."Mushrooms?" repeatedthesurprisedmonk.
", notneedingitatall, andgoawayintotheforestandlivethereonthemushroomsortheberries, buttheycan'tgiveuptheirbreadhere, ."
"Och, true," sighedthemonk.
"Andhaveyouseendevilsamongthem?" askedFerapont.
"Amongthem? Amongwhom?" askedthemonk, timidly.
"IwenttotheFatherSuperioronTrinitySundaylastyear, Ihaven''schesthidingunderhiscassock, onlyhishornspokedout; anotherhadonepeepingoutofhispocketwithsuchsharpeyes, hewasafraidofme; anothersettledintheuncleanbellyofone, anotherwashangingroundaman'sneck, andsohewascarryinghimaboutwithoutseeinghim."
"You—canseespirits?" themonkinquired.
"ItellyouIcansee, 'sIsawonehidingfrommebehindthedoor, andabigone, ayardandahalformorehigh, withathicklonggraytail, andthetipofhistailwasinthecrackofthedoorandIwasquickandslammedthedoor, , , buttheydon'tsee, theydon'', asyouareastranger."
