CHAPTER1FATHERZOSSIMAANDHISVISITORS
WhenwithananxiousandachingheartAlyoshawentintohiselder'scell, , perhapsunconscious, ashehadfearedtofindhim, hesawhimsittingupinhischairand, thoughweakandexhausted, hisfacewasbrightandcheerful, 'sarrival; hisvisitorshadgatheredtogetherinhiscellearlier, waitingforhimtowake, havingreceivedamostconfidentassurancefromFatherPa?ssythat "theteacherwouldgetup, andashehadhimselfpromisedinthemorning, converseoncemorewiththosedeartohisheart." ThispromiseandindeedeverywordofthedyingelderFatherPa?, ifhehadseenhimbreathehislast, andyethadhispromisethathewouldriseupandsaygood-bytohim, hewouldnothavebelievedperhapsevenindeath, , FatherZossimahadtoldhimpositively: "Ishallnotdiewithoutthedelightofanotherconversationwithyou, ." Themonks, whohadgatheredforthisprobablylastconversationwithFatherZossima, : FatherIosifandFatherPa?ssy, FatherMiha?l, thewardenofthehermitage, , ofstrongwillandsteadfastfaith, ofaustereappearance, butofdeeptenderness, , FatherAnfim, , andveryquiet, , , andalwaystreatedhimwithmarkedrespect, thoughperhapstherewasnoonehehadknowntowhomhehadsaidless, , fortyyearsbefore, whenFatherZossimafirstbeganhislifeasamonkinapoorandlittlemonasteryatKostroma, andwhen, shortlyafter, hehadaccompaniedFatherAnfimonhispilgrimagetocollectalmsfortheirpoormonastery.
