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Semka, though he did not say so, evidently thought that there was little use in a lime when it was sappy.

It feels strange to repeat what we then said, but it seems to me that we said all that can be said about utility, and plastic and moral beauty.

We went on to the village. Fédka still clung to my hand; now, it seemed to me, from gratitude. We all were nearer one another that night than we had been for a long time. Prónka walked beside us along the broad village street.

"See, there is still a light in Masánov's house," said he. "As I was going to school this morning, Gavrúka was coming from the pub, as dru-u-nk as could be! His horse all in a lather and he beating it! I am always sorry for such things. Really, why should it be beaten?"

"And the other day, coming from Túla, my daddy gave his horse the reins," said Sëmka; "and it took him into a snowdrift, and there he slept-quite drunk."

"And Gavrúka kept on beating his horse over the eyes, and I felt so sorry," repeated Prónka again. "Why should he beat it? He got down and just flogged it."

Semka suddenly stopped.

"Our folk are already asleep," said he, looking in at the window of his crooked, dirty hut. "Won't you walk a little

longer?" "No."

"Go-o-od-bye, Lev Nikolaevich!" shouted he suddenly, and tearing himself away from us as it were with an effort, he ran to the house, lifted the latch and disappeared.

"So you will take each of us home? First one and then the other?" said Fédka.

There was a light in Prónka's hut, and we
His mother, a tall and handsome
black eyebrows and eyes, sat at
In the middle of the hut hung

We went on. looked in at the window. but toil-worn woman, with the table, peeling potatoes.

a cradle. Prónka's brother, the mathematician from our second class, was standing at the table, eating potatoes with salt. It was a black, tiny, and dirty hut.

"What a plague you are!" shouted the mother at Prónka. "Where have you been?"

Prónka glanced at the window with a meek, sickly smile. His mother guessed that he had not come alone, and her face iramediately assumed a feigned expression that was unpleasant.

Only Fédka was left.

"The travelling tailors are at our house, that is why there's a light there," said he in the softened voice that had come to him that evening. "Good-bye, Lev Nikolaevich!" added he, softly and tenderly, and he began to knock with the ring attached to the closed door. "Let me in!" his high-pitched voice rang out amid the winter stillness of the village. It was long before they opened the door for him. I looked in at the window. The hut was a large one. The father was playing cards with a tailor, and some copper coins lay on the table. The wife, Fédka's stepmother, was sitting near the torch-stand, looking eagerly at the money. The young tailor, a cunning drunkard, was holding his cards on the table, bending them, and looking triumphantly at his opponent. Fédka's father, the collar of his shirt unbuttoned, his brow wrinkled with mental exertion and vexation, changed one card for another, and waved his horny hand in perplexity above them. "Let me in!"

The woman rose and went to the door.

"Good-bye!" repeated Fédka, once again. "Let us always have such walks!"

PART III

THE LAST SUPPER

Letter-press to accompany a Half-tone Reproduction of N. N. Gay's Picture, "The Last Supper."

John XIII, v. 1-35 inclusive.

JESUS said: "Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy: but I say unto you, Love your enemies...

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At the last supper Jesus showed this by his acts.

Having washed the feet of his twelve disciples, he said: "I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you.'

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What had Jesus done, and what was the example he gave to his disciples?

When after supper Jesus began to wash the feet of his disciples and Simon Peter wished to oppose it, Jesus said to him: "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter. Ye are clean but not all."

Neither Simon Peter nor the other disciples then understood why he said this. Only Judas Iscariot understood what Jesus was doing when, kneeling before him, he washed his feet.

Having washed the feet of his betrayer, Jesus rose, put on his garment, and having again sat down, said: "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master, and ye say well; for so I am."

But they, not knowing that Judas was a traitor, did not

understand what he had done and what he was teaching them.

Then, being troubled in spirit, Jesus said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me."

And again they did not understand what he was doing or what he was saying to them. They only looked at one another seeking to discover of whom he spoke.

Meanwhile the beloved disciple of Jesus was reclining on his bosom. And Simon Peter, raising himself, beckoned to the beloved disciple that he should ask the teacher of whom he spoke.

And the beloved disciple, leaning back on Jesus' breast, asked him.

But Jesus did not give a direct reply, knowing that if he named his enemy the disciples would be indignant and would want to punish the traitor.

Wishing not to destroy but to save Judas, Jesus, instead of replying, reached out his hand, took a piece of bread, and said softly: "He it is for whom I shall dip the sop and give it him," and when he had given the sop to Judas he said: "What thou doest do quickly."

The disciples, having heard this, thought that Jesus was sending Judas into the town to buy what was needed for the feast.

But Judas understood that Jesus was saving him from the wrath of the disciples, and immediately arose.

That is what is shown in the picture.

The beloved disciple, John, is the only one who knows who is the traitor.

He leaps up from his seat and stares at Judas. He does not understand, does not believe that a living man can hate one who so loves him. He is sorry for the unfortunate man Simon Peter guesses the truth from

and terrified for him.

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