,BOOK #a1 ,*APT] #h 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y WAS NOT 9 ,MOSC[ & \T ( DANG] AS ,PR9CE ,&REW 
 SUPPOS$4 

,AFT] ! RETURN ( ,ALPATY* FROM ,SMOL5SK ! OLD PR9CE SUDD5LY SEEM$ 
 TO AWAKE AS FROM A DREAM4 ,HE ORD]$ ! MILITIAM5 TO BE CALL$ UP FROM 
 ! VILLAGES & >M$1 & WROTE A LETT] TO ! COMM&] 9 *IEF 
 9=M+ HIM ?AT HE HAD RESOLV$ TO REMA9 AT ,BALD ,HILLS TO ! LA/ 
 EXTREMITY & TO DEF5D IT1 LEAV+ TO ! COMM&] 9 *IEF'S DISCRETION 
 TO TAKE MEASURES OR NOT = ! DEF5SE ( ,BALD ,HILLS1 :]E ONE ( 
 ,RUSSIA'S OLDE/ G5]ALS W\LD BE CAPTUR$ OR KILL$1 & HE ANN\NC$ TO 
 HIS H\SEHOLD ?AT HE W\LD REMA9 AT ,BALD ,HILLS4 

,BUT :ILE HIMSELF REMA9+1 HE GAVE 9/RUCTIONS = ! DEP>TURE ( ! 
 PR9CESS & ,DESSALLES ) ! LITTLE PR9CE TO ,BOGU*>OVO & !NCE TO 
 ,MOSC[4 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y1 AL>M$ BY H] FA!R'S FEV]I% & SLEEPLESS 
 ACTIVITY AFT] HIS PREVI\S APA?Y1 C\LD NOT BR+ H]SELF TO LEAVE HIM 
 ALONE & = ! FIR/ TIME 9 H] LIFE V5TUR$ TO DISOBEY HIM4 ,%E 
 REFUS$ TO GO AWAY & H] FA!R'S FURY BROKE OV] H] 9 A T]RIBLE 
 /ORM4 ,HE REPEAT$ EV]Y 9JU/ICE HE HAD EV] 9FLICT$ ON H]4 ,TRY+ TO 
 CONVICT H]1 HE TOLD H] %E HAD WORN HIM \T1 HAD CAUS$ HIS QU>REL ) 
 HIS SON1 HAD H>BOR$ NA/Y SUSPICIONS ( HIM1 MAK+ IT ! OBJECT ( H] 
 LIFE TO POISON HIS EXI/5CE1 & HE DROVE H] FROM HIS /UDY TELL+ H] 
 ?AT IF %E DID NOT GO AWAY IT WAS ALL ! SAME TO HIM4 ,HE DECL>$ ?AT 
 HE DID NOT WI% TO REMEMB] H] EXI/5CE & W>N$ H] NOT TO D>E TO 
 LET HIM SEE H]4 ,! FACT ?AT HE DID NOT1 AS %E HAD FE>$1 ORD] H] TO 
 BE C>RI$ AWAY BY =CE BUT ONLY TOLD H] NOT TO LET HIM SEE H] *E]$ 
 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y4 ,%E KNEW IT WAS A PRO( ?AT 9 ! DEP? ( HIS S\L HE 
 WAS GLAD %E WAS REMA9+ AT HOME & HAD NOT GONE AWAY4 

,! MORN+ AFT] LITTLE ,NI*OLAS HAD LEFT1 ! OLD PR9CE DONN$ HIS FULL 
 UNI=M & PREP>$ TO VISIT ! COMM&] 9 *IEF4 ,HIS CALE*E WAS 
 ALREADY AT ! DOOR4 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y SAW HIM WALK \T ( ! H\SE 9 HIS 
 UNI=M WE>+ ALL HIS ORD]S & GO D[N ! G>D5 TO REVIEW HIS >M$ 
 PEASANTS & DOME/IC S]FS4 ,%E SAT BY ! W9D[ LI/5+ TO HIS VOICE 
 :I* REA*$ H] FROM ! G>D54 ,SUDD5LY SEV]AL M5 CAME RUNN+ UP 
 ! AV5UE ) FRI<T5$ FACES4 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y RAN \T TO ! POR*1 D[N ! FL[]-BORD]$ PA?1 & 
 9TO ! AV5UE4 ,A L>GE CR[D ( MILITIAM5 & DOME/ICS W]E MOV+ 
 T[>D H]1 & 9 !IR MID/ SEV]AL M5 W]E SUPPORT+ BY ! >MPITS 
 & DRAGG+ ALONG A LITTLE OLD MAN 9 A UNI=M & DECORATIONS4 ,%E RAN 
 UP TO HIM &1 9 ! PLAY ( ! SUNLI<T ?AT FELL 9 SMALL R\ND SPOTS 
 ?R\< ! %ADE ( ! LIME-TREE AV5UE1 C\LD NOT BE SURE :AT *ANGE 
 !RE WAS 9 HIS FACE4 ,ALL %E C\LD SEE WAS ?AT HIS =M] /]N & 
 DET]M9$ EXPRESSION HAD ALT]$ TO ONE ( TIMIDITY & SUBMISSION4 ,ON 
 SEE+ HIS DAU<T] HE MOV$ HIS HELPLESS LIPS & MADE A HO>SE S\ND4 ,IT 
 WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE \T :AT HE WANT$4 ,HE WAS LIFT$ UP1 C>RI$ TO 
 HIS /UDY1 & LAID ON ! V]Y C\* HE HAD SO FE>$ ( LATE4 

,! DOCTOR1 :O WAS FET*$ ?AT SAME NI<T1 BL$ HIM & SAID ?AT ! 
 PR9CE HAD HAD A SEIZURE P>ALYZ+ HIS RI<T SIDE4 

,IT WAS BECOM+ MORE & MORE DANG]\S TO REMA9 AT ,BALD ,HILLS1 & NEXT 
 DAY !Y MOV$ ! PR9CE TO ,BOGU*>OVO1 ! DOCTOR ACCOMPANY+ HIM4 

,BY ! TIME !Y REA*$ ,BOGU*>OVO1 ,DESSALLES & ! LITTLE PR9CE HAD 
 ALREADY LEFT = ,MOSC[4 

,= ?REE WEEKS ! OLD PR9CE LAY /RICK5 BY P>ALYZES 9 ! NEW H\SE 
 ,PR9CE ,&REW HAD BUILT AT ,BOGU*>OVO1 EV] 9 ! SAME /ATE1 GETT+ 
 NEI!R BETT] NOR WORSE4 ,HE WAS UNCONSCI\S & LAY LIKE A DI/ORT$ 
 CORPSE4 ,HE MUTT]$ UNCEAS+LY1 HIS EYEBR[S & LIPS TWIT*+1 & IT 
 WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL :E!R HE UND]/OOD :AT WAS GO+ ON >\ND HIM 
 OR NOT4 ,ONE ?+ WAS C]TA9--?AT HE WAS SUFF]+ & WI%$ TO 
 SAY SOME?+4 ,BUT :AT IT WAS1 NO ONE C\LD TELL3 IT MI<T BE SOME 
 CAPRICE ( A SICK & HALF-CRAZY MAN1 OR IT MI<T RELATE TO PUBLIC 
 AFFAIRS1 OR POSSIBLY TO FAMILY CONC]NS4 

,! DOCTOR SAID ?IS RE/LESSNESS DID NOT MEAN ANY?+ & WAS DUE TO 
 PHYSICAL CAUSES2 BUT ,PR9CESS ,M>Y ?\<T HE WI%$ TO TELL H] 
 SOME?+1 & ! FACT ?AT H] PRES5CE ALWAYS 9CREAS$ HIS 
 RE/LESSNESS CONFIRM$ H] OP9ION4 

,HE WAS EVID5TLY SUFF]+ BO? PHYSICALLY & M5TALLY4 ,!RE WAS NO HOPE 
 ( RECOV]Y4 ,IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE = HIM TO TRAVEL1 IT W\LD NOT DO TO LET 
 HIM DIE ON ! ROAD4 0,W\LD IT NOT BE BETT] IF ! 5D DID COME1 ! V]Y 
 5D80 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y SOMETIMES ?\<T4 ,NI<T & DAY1 H>DLY SLEEP+ AT 
 ALL1 %E WAT*$ HIM &1 T]RIBLE TO SAY1 (T5 WAT*$ HIM NOT ) HOPE 
 ( F9D+ SIGNS ( IMPROVEM5T BUT WI%+ TO F9D SYMPTOMS ( ! 
 APPROA* ( ! 5D4 

,/RANGE AS IT WAS TO H] TO ACKN[L$GE ?IS FEEL+ 9 H]SELF1 YET !RE 
 IT WAS4 ,& :AT SEEM$ /ILL MORE T]RIBLE TO H] WAS ?AT S9CE H] 
 FA!R'S ILLNESS BEGAN 7P]HAPS EV5 SOON]1 :5 %E /AY$ ) HIM 
 EXPECT+ SOME?+ TO HAPP571 ALL ! P]SONAL DESIRES & HOPES ?AT 
 HAD BE5 =GOTT5 OR SLEEP+ )9 H] HAD AWAK5$4 ,?\<TS ?AT HAD 
 NOT 5T]$ H] M9D = YE>S--?\<TS ( A LIFE FREE FROM ! FE> 
 ( H] FA!R1 & EV5 ! POSSIBILITY ( LOVE & ( FAMILY HAPP9ESS--FLOAT$ 
 CONT9UALLY 9 H] IMAG9ATION LIKE TEMPTATIONS ( ! DEVIL4 ,?RU/ !M 
 ASIDE AS %E W\LD1 QUE/IONS CONT9UALLY RECURR$ TO H] AS TO H[ %E 
 W\LD ORD] H] LIFE N[1 AFT] ?AT4 ,!SE W]E TEMPTATIONS ( ! DEVIL 
 & ,PR9CESS ,M>Y KNEW IT4 ,%E KNEW ?AT ! SOLE WEAPON AGA9/ HIM WAS 
 PRAY]1 & %E TRI$ TO PRAY4 ,%E ASSUM$ AN ATTITUDE ( PRAY]1 LOOK$ 
 AT ! ICONS1 REPEAT$ ! WORDS ( A PRAY]1 BUT %E C\LD NOT PRAY4 ,%E 
 FELT ?AT A DIFF]5T WORLD HAD N[ TAK5 POSSESSION ( H]--! LIFE 
 ( A WORLD ( /R5U\S & FREE ACTIVITY1 QUITE OPPOS$ TO ! SPIRITUAL 
 WORLD 9 :I* TILL N[ %E HAD BE5 CONF9$ & 9 :I* H] GREATE/ 
 COM=T HAD BE5 PRAY]4 ,%E C\LD NOT PRAY1 C\LD NOT WEEP1 & WORLDLY 
 C>ES TOOK POSSESSION ( H]4 

,IT WAS BECOM+ DANG]\S TO REMA9 9 ,BOGU*>OVO4 ,NEWS ( ! APPROA* 
 ( ! ,FR5* CAME FROM ALL SIDES1 & 9 ONE VILLAGE1 T5 MILES FROM 
 ,BOGU*>OVO1 A HOME/EAD HAD BE5 LOOT$ BY ,FR5* M>AUD]S4 

,! DOCTOR 9SI/$ ON ! NECESSITY ( MOV+ ! PR9CE2 ! PROV9CIAL 
 ,M>%AL ( ! ,NOBILITY S5T AN (FICIAL TO ,PR9CESS ,M>Y TO P]SUADE H] 
 TO GET AWAY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE1 & ! HEAD ( ! RURAL POLICE 
 HAV+ COME TO ,BOGU*>OVO URG$ ! SAME ?+1 SAY+ ?AT ! ,FR5* 
 W]E ONLY SOME TW5TY-FIVE MILES AWAY1 ?AT ,FR5* PROCLAMATIONS W]E 
 CIRCULAT+ 9 ! VILLAGES1 & ?AT IF ! PR9CESS DID NOT TAKE H] 
 FA!R AWAY BE=E ! FIFTE5?1 HE C\LD NOT ANSW] = ! 
 CONSEQU5CES4 

,! PR9CESS DECID$ TO LEAVE ON ! FIFTE5?4 ,! C>ES ( PREP>ATION 
 & GIV+ ORD]S1 = :I* EV]YONE CAME TO H]1 OCCUPI$ H] ALL DAY4 
 ,%E SP5T ! NI<T ( ! F\RTE5? AS USUAL1 )\T UNDRESS+1 9 ! 
 ROOM NEXT TO ! ONE :]E ! PR9CE LAY4 ,SEV]AL TIMES1 WAK+ UP1 %E 
 HE>D HIS GROANS & MUTT]+1 ! CREAK ( HIS B$1 & ! /EPS ( 
 ,TIKHON & ! DOCTOR :5 !Y TURN$ HIM OV]4 ,SEV]AL TIMES %E 
 LI/5$ AT ! DOOR1 & IT SEEM$ TO H] ?AT HIS MUTT]+S W]E L\D] 
 ?AN USUAL & ?AT !Y TURN$ HIM OV] (T5]4 ,%E C\LD NOT SLEEP & 
 SEV]AL TIMES W5T TO ! DOOR & LI/5$1 WI%+ TO 5T] BUT NOT 
 DECID+ TO DO SO4 ,?\< HE DID NOT SPEAK1 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y SAW & KNEW H[ 
 UNPLEASANT EV]Y SIGN ( ANXIETY ON HIS ACC\NT WAS TO HIM4 ,%E HAD 
 NOTIC$ ) :AT DISSATISFACTION HE TURN$ FROM ! LOOK %E SOMETIMES 
 9VOLUNT>ILY FIX$ ON HIM4 ,%E KNEW ?AT H] GO+ 9 DUR+ ! NI<T AT 
 AN UNUSUAL H\R W\LD IRRITATE HIM4 

,BUT NEV] HAD %E FELT SO GRIEV$ = HIM OR SO MU* AFRAID ( LOS+ HIM4 
 ,%E RECALL$ ALL H] LIFE ) HIM & 9 EV]Y WORD & ACT ( HIS F\ND 
 AN EXPRESSION ( HIS LOVE ( H]4 ,OCCASIONALLY AMID !SE MEMORIES 
 TEMPTATIONS ( ! DEVIL W\LD SURGE 9TO H] IMAG9ATION3 ?\<TS ( H[ 
 ?+S W\LD BE AFT] HIS DEA?1 & H[ H] NEW1 LIB]AT$ LIFE W\LD BE 
 ORD]$4 ,BUT %E DROVE !SE ?\<TS AWAY ) DISGU/4 ,T[>D MORN+ HE 
 BECAME QUIET & %E FELL ASLEEP4 

,%E WOKE LATE4 ,?AT S9C]ITY :I* (T5 COMES ) WAK+ %[$ H] 
 CLE>LY :AT *IEFLY CONC]N$ H] AB\T H] FA!R'S ILLNESS4 ,ON WAK+ 
 %E LI/5$ TO :AT WAS GO+ ON BEH9D ! DOOR &1 HE>+ HIM GROAN1 
 SAID TO H]SELF ) A SI< ?AT ?+S W]E /ILL ! SAME4 

0,BUT :AT C\LD HAVE HAPP5$8 ,:AT DID ,I WANT8 ,I WANT HIS DEA?60 %E 
 CRI$ ) A FEEL+ ( LOA?+ = H]SELF4 

,%E WA%$1 DRESS$1 SAID H] PRAY]S1 & W5T \T TO ! POR*4 ,9 FRONT 
 ( IT /OOD C>RIAGES )\T HORSES & ?+S W]E BE+ PACK$ 9TO ! 
 VEHICLES4 

,IT WAS A W>M1 GRAY MORN+4 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y /OPP$ AT ! POR*1 /ILL 
 HORRIFI$ BY H] SPIRITUAL BAS5ESS & TRY+ TO >RANGE H] ?\<TS 
 BE=E GO+ TO H] FA!R4 ,! DOCTOR CAME D[N/AIRS & W5T \T TO 
 H]4 

0,HE IS A LITTLE BETT] TODAY10 SAID HE4 0,I WAS LOOK+ = 
 Y\4 ,ONE CAN MAKE \T SOME?+ ( :AT HE IS SAY+4 ,HIS HEAD IS CLE>]4 
 ,COME 91 HE IS ASK+ = Y\44440 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y'S HE>T BEAT SO VIOL5TLY AT ?IS NEWS ?AT %E GREW PALE 
 & LEAN$ AGA9/ ! WALL TO KEEP FROM FALL+4 ,TO SEE HIM1 TALK TO HIM1 
 FEEL HIS EYES ON H] N[ ?AT H] :OLE S\L WAS OV]FL[+ ) ?OSE 
 DREADFUL1 WICK$ TEMPTATIONS1 WAS A TORM5T ( JOY & T]ROR4 

0,COME10 SAID ! DOCTOR4 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y 5T]$ H] FA!R'S ROOM & W5T UP TO HIS B$4 ,HE WAS 
 LY+ ON HIS BACK PROPP$ UP HI<1 & HIS SMALL BONY H&S ) !IR 
 KNOTT$ PURPLE VE9S W]E LY+ ON ! QUILT2 HIS LEFT EYE GAZ$ /RAI<T 
 BE=E HIM1 HIS RI<T EYE WAS AWRY1 & HIS BR[S & LIPS MOTIONLESS4 ,HE 
 SEEM$ ALTOGE!R SO ?91 SMALL1 & PA!TIC4 ,HIS FACE SEEM$ TO HAVE 
 %RIVEL$ OR MELT$2 HIS FEATURES HAD GR[N SMALL]4 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y W5T UP 
 & KISS$ HIS H&4 ,HIS LEFT H& PRESS$ H]S SO ?AT %E UND]/OOD 
 ?AT HE HAD LONG BE5 WAIT+ = H] TO COME4 ,HE TWIT*$ H] H&1 & 
 HIS BR[S & LIPS QUIV]$ ANGRILY4 

,%E LOOK$ AT HIM 9 DISMAY TRY+ TO GUESS :AT HE WANT$ ( H]4 ,:5 
 %E *ANG$ H] POSITION SO ?AT HIS LEFT EYE C\LD SEE H] FACE HE CALM$ 
 D[N1 NOT TAK+ HIS EYES (F H] = SOME SECONDS4 ,!N HIS LIPS & 
 TONGUE MOV$1 S\NDS CAME1 & HE BEGAN TO SPEAK1 GAZ+ TIMIDLY & 
 IMPLOR+LY AT H]1 EVID5TLY AFRAID ?AT %E MI<T NOT UND]/&4 

,/RA9+ ALL H] FACULTIES ,PR9CESS ,M>Y LOOK$ AT HIM4 ,! COMIC EF=TS 
 ) :I* HE MOV$ HIS TONGUE MADE H] DROP H] EYES & ) DIFFICULTY 
 REPRESS ! SOBS ?AT ROSE TO H] ?ROAT4 ,HE SAID SOME?+1 REPEAT+ ! 
 SAME WORDS SEV]AL TIMES4 ,%E C\LD NOT UND]/& !M1 BUT TRI$ TO 
 GUESS :AT HE WAS SAY+ & 9QUIR+LY REPEAT$ ! WORDS HE UTT]$4 

0,MMM444>444ATE444ATE4440 HE REPEAT$ SEV]AL TIMES4 

,IT WAS QUITE IMPOSSIBLE TO UND]/& !SE S\NDS4 ,! DOCTOR ?\<T HE 
 HAD GUESS$ !M1 & 9QUIR+LY REPEAT$3 0,M>Y1 >E Y\ 
 AFRAID80 ,! PR9CE %OOK HIS HEAD1 AGA9 REPEAT$ ! SAME S\NDS4 

0,MY M9D1 MY M9D A*ES80 QUE/ION$ ,PR9CESS ,M>Y4 

,HE MADE A MUMBL+ S\ND 9 CONFIRMATION ( ?IS1 TOOK H] H&1 & BEGAN 
 PRESS+ IT TO DIFF]5T P>TS ( HIS BREA/ AS IF TRY+ TO F9D ! 
 RI<T PLACE = IT4 

0,ALWAYS ?\<TS444 AB\T Y\444 ?\<TS4440 HE !N UTT]$ MU* MORE 
 CLE>LY ?AN HE HAD DONE BE=E1 N[ ?AT HE WAS SURE ( BE+ UND]/OOD4 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y PRESS$ H] HEAD AGA9/ HIS H&1 TRY+ TO HIDE H] SOBS 
 & TE>S4 

,HE MOV$ HIS H& OV] H] HAIR4 

0,I HAVE BE5 CALL+ Y\ ALL NI<T4440 HE BR\<T \T4 

0,IF ONLY ,I HAD KN[N4440 %E SAID ?R\< H] TE>S4 0,I WAS AFRAID TO COME 
 940 

,HE PRESS$ H] H&4 

0,W]5'T Y\ ASLEEP80 

0,NO1 ,I DID NOT SLEEP10 SAID ,PR9CESS ,M>Y1 %AK+ H] HEAD4 

,UNCONSCI\SLY IMITAT+ H] FA!R1 %E N[ TRI$ TO EXPRESS H]SELF AS HE 
 DID1 AS MU* AS POSSIBLE BY SIGNS1 & H] TONGUE TOO SEEM$ TO MOVE ) 
 DIFFICULTY4 

0,DE> ONE444 ,DE>E/4440 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y C\LD NOT QUITE MAKE \T :AT HE 
 HAD SAID1 BUT FROM HIS LOOK IT WAS CLE> ?AT HE HAD UTT]$ A T5D] 
 C>ESS+ WORD SU* AS HE HAD NEV] US$ TO H] BE=E4 0,:Y DIDN'T Y\ 
 COME 980 

0,& ,I WAS WI%+ = HIS DEA?60 ?\<T ,PR9CESS ,M>Y4 

,HE WAS SIL5T A:ILE4 

0,?ANK Y\444 DAU<T] DE>6444 = ALL1 = ALL444 =GIVE6444 ?ANK 
 Y\6444 =GIVE6444 ?ANK Y\64440 & TE>S BEGAN TO FL[ FROM HIS EYES4 
 0,CALL ,&REW60 HE SAID SUDD5LY1 & A *ILDI%1 TIMID EXPRESSION ( D\BT 
 %[$ ITSELF ON HIS FACE AS HE SPOKE4 

,HE HIMSELF SEEM$ AW>E ?AT HIS DEM& WAS MEAN+LESS4 ,SO AT LEA/ IT 
 SEEM$ TO ,PR9CESS ,M>Y4 

0,I HAVE A LETT] FROM HIM10 %E REPLI$4 

,HE GLANC$ AT H] ) TIMID SURPRISE4 

0,:]E IS HE80 

0,HE'S ) ! >MY1 ,FA!R1 AT ,SMOL5SK40 

,HE CLOS$ HIS EYES & REMA9$ SIL5T A LONG TIME4 ,!N AS IF 9 ANSW] 
 TO HIS D\BTS & TO CONFIRM ! FACT ?AT N[ HE UND]/OOD & 
 REMEMB]$ EV]Y?+1 HE NODD$ HIS HEAD & REOP5$ HIS EYES4 

0,YES10 HE SAID1 S(TLY & DI/9CTLY4 0,RUSSIA HAS P]I%$4 ,!Y'VE 
 DE/ROY$ H]40 

,& HE BEGAN TO SOB1 & AGA9 TE>S FL[$ FROM HIS EYES4 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y 
 C\LD NO LONG] RE/RA9 H]SELF & WEPT :ILE %E GAZ$ AT HIS FACE4 

,AGA9 HE CLOS$ HIS EYES4 ,HIS SOBS CEAS$1 HE PO9T$ TO HIS EYES1 & 
 ,TIKHON1 UND]/&+ HIM1 WIP$ AWAY ! TE>S4 

,!N HE AGA9 OP5$ HIS EYES & SAID SOME?+ NONE ( !M C\LD 
 UND]/& = A LONG TIME1 TILL AT LA/ ,TIKHON UND]/OOD & REPEAT$ 
 IT4 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y HAD S\<T ! MEAN+ ( HIS WORDS 9 ! MOOD 9 :I* 
 HE HAD JU/ BE5 SPEAK+4 ,%E ?\<T HE WAS SPEAK+ ( ,RUSSIA1 OR 
 ,PR9CE ,&REW1 ( H]SELF1 ( HIS GR&SON1 OR ( HIS [N DEA?1 & SO 
 %E C\LD NOT GUESS HIS WORDS4 

0,PUT ON Y\R :ITE DRESS4 ,I LIKE IT10 WAS :AT HE SAID4 

,HAV+ UND]/OOD ?IS ,PR9CESS ,M>Y SOBB$ /ILL L\D]1 & ! DOCTOR 
 TAK+ H] >M L$ H] \T TO ! V]&A1 SOO?+ H] & TRY+ TO 
 P]SUADE H] TO PREP>E = H] J\RNEY4 ,:5 %E HAD LEFT ! ROOM ! 
 PR9CE AGA9 BEGAN SPEAK+ AB\T HIS SON1 AB\T ! W>1 & AB\T ! 
 ,EMP]OR1 ANGRILY TWIT*+ HIS BR[S & RAIS+ HIS HO>SE VOICE1 & 
 !N HE HAD A SECOND & F9AL /ROKE4 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y /AY$ ON ! V]&A4 ,! DAY HAD CLE>$1 IT WAS HOT & 
 SUNNY4 ,%E C\LD UND]/& NO?+1 ?9K ( NO?+ & FEEL NO?+1 
 EXCEPT PASSIONATE LOVE = H] FA!R1 LOVE SU* AS %E ?\<T %E HAD 
 NEV] FELT TILL ?AT MOM5T4 ,%E RAN \T SOBB+ 9TO ! G>D5 & AS 
 F> AS ! POND1 ALONG ! AV5UES ( Y\NG LIME TREES ,PR9CE ,&REW HAD 
 PLANT$4 

0,YES444 ,I444 ,I444 ,I WI%$ = HIS DEA?6 ,YES1 ,I WANT$ IT TO 5D 
 QUICK]4444 ,I WI%$ TO BE AT PEACE4444 ,& :AT WILL BECOME ( ME8 ,:AT 
 USE WILL PEACE BE :5 HE IS NO LONG] H]E80 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y MURMUR$1 
 PAC+ ! G>D5 ) HURRI$ /EPS & PRESS+ H] H&S TO H] BOSOM 
 :I* HEAV$ ) CONVULSIVE SOBS4 

,:5 %E HAD COMPLET$ ! T\R ( ! G>D51 :I* BR\<T H] AGA9 TO 
 ! H\SE1 %E SAW ,MADEMOISELLE ,B\RI5NE--:O HAD REMA9$ AT 
 ,BOGU*>OVO & DID NOT WI% TO LEAVE IT--COM+ T[>D H] ) A 
 /RANG]4 ,?IS WAS ! ,M>%AL ( ! ,NOBILITY ( ! DI/RICT1 :O HAD 
 COME P]SONALLY TO PO9T \T TO ! PR9CESS ! NECESSITY = H] PROMPT 
 DEP>TURE4 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y LI/5$ )\T UND]/&+ HIM2 %E L$ HIM 
 TO ! H\SE1 (F]$ HIM LUN*1 & SAT D[N ) HIM4 ,!N1 EXCUS+ 
 H]SELF1 %E W5T TO ! DOOR ( ! OLD PR9CE'S ROOM4 ,! DOCTOR CAME 
 \T ) AN AGITAT$ FACE & SAID %E C\LD NOT 5T]4 

0,GO AWAY1 ,PR9CESS6 ,GO AWAY444 GO AWAY60 

,%E RETURN$ TO ! G>D5 & SAT D[N ON ! GRASS AT ! FOOT ( ! 
 SLOPE BY ! POND1 :]E NO ONE C\LD SEE H]4 ,%E DID NOT KN[ H[ LONG 
 %E HAD BE5 !RE :5 %E WAS >\S$ BY ! S\ND ( A WOMAN'S 
 FOOT/EPS RUNN+ ALONG ! PA?4 ,%E ROSE & SAW ,DUNYA%A H] MAID1 :O 
 WAS EVID5TLY LOOK+ = H]1 & :O /OPP$ SUDD5LY AS IF 9 AL>M ON 
 SEE+ H] MI/RESS4 

0,PLEASE COME1 ,PR9CESS444 ,! ,PR9CE10 SAID ,DUNYA%A 9 A BREAK+ VOICE4 

0,IMM$IATELY1 ,I'M COM+1 ,I'M COM+60 REPLI$ ! PR9CESS HURRI$LY1 NOT 
 GIV+ ,DUNYA%A TIME TO F9I% :AT %E WAS SAY+1 & TRY+ TO AVOID 
 SEE+ ! GIRL %E RAN T[>D ! H\SE4 

0,PR9CESS1 IT'S ,GOD'S WILL6 ,Y\ MU/ BE PREP>$ = EV]Y?+10 SAID ! 
 ,M>%AL1 MEET+ H] AT ! H\SE DOOR4 

0,LET ME ALONE2 IT'S NOT TRUE60 %E CRI$ ANGRILY TO HIM4 

,! DOCTOR TRI$ TO /OP H]4 ,%E PU%$ HIM ASIDE & RAN TO H] FA!R'S 
 DOOR4 0,:Y >E !SE PEOPLE ) FRI<T5$ FACES /OPP+ ME8 ,I DON'T 
 WANT ANY ( !M6 ,& :AT >E !Y DO+ H]E80 %E ?\<T4 ,%E OP5$ 
 ! DOOR & ! BRI<T DAYLI<T 9 ?AT PREVI\SLY D>K5$ ROOM />TL$ 
 H]4 ,9 ! ROOM W]E H] NURSE & O!R WOM54 ,!Y ALL DREW BACK FROM 
 ! B$1 MAK+ WAY = H]4 ,HE WAS /ILL LY+ ON ! B$ AS BE=E1 BUT 
 ! /]N EXPRESSION ( HIS QUIET FACE MADE ,PR9CESS ,M>Y /OP %ORT ON 
 ! ?RE%OLD4 

0,NO1 HE'S NOT DEAD--IT'S IMPOSSIBLE60 %E TOLD H]SELF & APPROA*$ 
 HIM1 & REPRESS+ ! T]ROR ?AT SEIZ$ H]1 %E PRESS$ H] LIPS TO 
 HIS *EEK4 ,BUT %E /EPP$ BACK IMM$IATELY4 ,ALL ! =CE ( ! 
 T5D]NESS %E HAD BE5 FEEL+ = HIM VANI%$ 9/ANTLY & WAS 
 REPLAC$ BY A FEEL+ ( HORROR AT :AT LAY !RE BE=E H]4 0,NO1 HE IS 
 NO MORE6 ,HE IS NOT1 BUT H]E :]E HE WAS IS SOME?+ UNFAMILI> & 
 HO/ILE1 SOME DREADFUL1 T]RIFY+1 & REPELL5T MY/]Y60 ,& HID+ H] 
 FACE 9 H] H&S1 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y SANK 9TO ! >MS ( ! DOCTOR1 :O 
 HELD H] UP4 

,9 ! PRES5CE ( ,TIKHON & ! DOCTOR ! WOM5 WA%$ :AT HAD BE5 
 ! PR9CE1 TI$ HIS HEAD UP ) A H&K]*IEF ?AT ! M\? %\LD NOT 
 /IFF5 :ILE OP51 & ) ANO!R H&K]*IEF TI$ TOGE!R ! LEGS 
 ?AT W]E ALREADY SPREAD+ AP>T4 ,!N !Y DRESS$ HIM 9 UNI=M ) 
 HIS DECORATIONS & PLAC$ HIS %RIVEL$ LITTLE BODY ON A TABLE4 ,HEAV5 
 ONLY KN[S :O >RANG$ ALL ?IS & :51 BUT IT ALL GOT DONE AS IF ( 
 ITS [N ACCORD4 ,T[>D NI<T C&LES W]E BURN+ R\ND HIS C(F91 A PALL 
 WAS SPREAD OV] IT1 ! FLOOR WAS /REWN ) SPRAYS ( JUNIP]1 A PR9T$ 
 B& WAS TUCK$ 9 UND] HIS %RIVEL$ HEAD1 & 9 A CORN] ( ! ROOM 
 SAT A *ANT] READ+ ! PSALMS4 

,JU/ AS HORSES %Y & SNORT & GA!R AB\T A DEAD HORSE1 SO ! 9MATES 
 ( ! H\SE & /RANG]S CR[D$ 9TO ! DRAW+ ROOM R\ND ! C(F9--! 
 ,M>%AL1 ! VILLAGE ,ELD]1 PEASANT WOM5--& ALL ) FIX$ & 
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