While the priest was reading it, the dying man did not show any sign of life; his eyes were closed.

Levin, Kitty, and Marya Nikolaevna stood at the bedside.

The priest had not quite finished reading the prayer when the dying man stretched, sighed, and opened his eyes.

The priest, on finishing the prayer, put the cross to the cold forehead, then slowly returned it to the stand, and after standing for two minutes more in silence, he touched the huge, bloodless hand that was turning cold.