"Let's drop it, uncle."
"No, why drop it? I'm straight from the shoulder, my dear, I like to bring out the truth of things. Why not talk it over? Nobody wants to part with his own. I don't, you don't. Well, then, let's talk it over and see who's right. And when it comes to talking, I'll tell you plainly: I don't want what's yours and I won't let go of mine, either. Because, though you are not a stranger to me, still I——"
"And you even took the ikons," Anninka could not refrain from remarking.
"Yes, the ikons, too. I took everything that belonged to me by law."
"Now the image case looks as if it has holes in it."
"What can you do? You'll have to pray before it as it is. God, you know, does not want your image case, but your prayers. If you are sincere about it, your prayer will reach Him, even if it's done before poor ikons. And if you just pray without meaning it, and look around and make a courtesy, then the best images will be of no avail."
Nevertheless, Yudushka rose and offered thanks to God for the fact that his images were "good."
"Well, and if you don't like the old image case, have a new one built and put in new ikons instead of those taken out. My deceased mother acquired the old ikons at her own cost, and now it's up to you to get new ones."
Porfiry Vladimirych even tittered, so clear and simple did his reasoning seem to him.
"But tell me, please, what am I to do now?" Anninka asked.