TheseexcellentintentionswerestrengthenedwhenheenteredtheFatherSuperior'sdining-room, though, strictlyspeaking, itwasnotadining-room, fortheFatherSuperiorhadonlytworoomsaltogether; theywere, however, muchlargerandmorecomfortablethanFatherZossima', coveredwithleather, intheold-fashionedstyleof1820; thefloorwasnotevenstained, buteverythingwasshiningwithcleanliness, andthereweremanychoiceflowersinthewindows; themostsumptuousthingintheroomatthemomentwas, ofcourse, , theserviceshone; therewerethreekindsofwell-bakedbread, twobottlesofwine, twoofexcellentmead, andalargeglassjugofkvas—boththelattermadeinthemonastery, : fish-soupmadeofsterlets, servedwithlittlefishpatties; thenboiledfishservedinaspecialway; thensalmoncutlets, icepuddingandcompote, andfinally, , forhecouldnotresistpeepingintothekitchen, , , , butAlyosha, whowasattachedtohim, wasdistressedtoseethathisfriendRakitinwasdishonorable, andquiteunconsciousofbeingsohimself, considering, onthecontrary, .

Rakitin, ofcourse, wasapersonoftoolittleconsequencetobeinvitedtothedinner, towhichFatherIosif, FatherPa?ssy, andoneothermonkweretheonlyinmatesofthemonasteryinvited.TheywerealreadywaitingwhenMiüsov, Kalganov, , Maximov, stoodalittleaside, , thin, butstillvigorousoldman, withblackhairstreakedwithgray, andalong, grave, .Miüsoveventriedtokisshishand, -heartedandcompletemanner, kissinghishandaspeasantsdo.