She often asked her sister spitefully:
"Well, Akulina, so you are living like a beggar?"
"That is a misfortune."
"It is no misfortune where there is no shame."
"They say that Christ also lived on charity."
"Blockheads say so, and heretics, and you, old fool, listen to them! Christ was no beggar, but the Son of God. He will come, it is said, in glory, to judge the quick and dead—and dead, mind you. You will not be able to hide yourself from Him, Matushka, although you may be burned to ashes. He is punishing you and Vassili now for your pride, and on my account, because I asked help from you when you were rich."
"And I helped you as much as it was in my power to do," answered grandmother, calmly, "and God will pay us back, you know."
"It was little enough you did, little enough."
Grandmother was bored and worried by her sister's untiring tongue. I listened to her squeaky voice and wondered how grandmother could put up with it. In that moment I did not love her.
The young mistress came out of her room and nodded affably to grandmother.