,EPILOGUE #a1 ,*APT] #ab 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,AS 9 EV]Y L>GE H\SEHOLD1 !RE W]E AT ,BALD ,HILLS SEV]AL P]FECTLY 
 DI/9CT WORLDS :I* M]G$ 9TO ONE H>MONI\S :OLE1 ?\< EA* 
 RETA9$ ITS [N PECULI>ITIES & MADE CONCESSIONS TO ! O!RS4 ,EV]Y 
 EV5T1 JOYFUL OR SAD1 ?AT TOOK PLACE 9 ?AT H\SE WAS IMPORTANT TO ALL 
 !SE WORLDS1 BUT EA* HAD ITS [N SPECIAL REASONS TO REJOICE OR GRIEVE 
 OV] ?AT OCCURR5CE 9DEP5D5TLY ( ! O!RS4 

,= 9/ANCE1 ,PI]RE'S RETURN WAS A JOYFUL & IMPORTANT EV5T & !Y 
 ALL FELT IT TO BE SO4 

,! S]VANTS--! MO/ RELIABLE JUDGES ( !IR MA/]S BECAUSE !Y 
 JUDGE NOT BY !IR CONV]SATION OR EXPRESSIONS ( FEEL+ BUT BY !IR 
 ACTS & WAY ( LIFE--W]E GLAD ( ,PI]RE'S RETURN BECAUSE !Y KNEW 
 ?AT :5 HE WAS !RE ,C\NT ,NI*OLAS W\LD CEASE GO+ EV]Y DAY TO 
 ATT5D TO ! E/ATE1 & W\LD BE 9 BETT] SPIRITS & TEMP]1 & ALSO 
 BECAUSE !Y W\LD ALL RECEIVE H&SOME PRES5TS = ! HOLIDAYS4 

,! *ILDR5 & !IR GOV]NESSES W]E GLAD ( ,PI]RE'S RETURN BECAUSE NO 
 ONE ELSE DREW !M 9TO ! SOCIAL LIFE ( ! H\SEHOLD AS HE DID4 ,HE 
 ALONE C\LD PLAY ON ! CLAVI*ORD ?AT ECOSSAISE 7HIS ONLY PIECE7 TO 
 :I*1 AS HE SAID1 ALL POSSIBLE DANCES C\LD BE DANC$1 & !Y FELT SURE 
 HE HAD BR\<T PRES5TS = !M ALL4 

,Y\NG ,NI*OLAS1 N[ A SLIM LAD ( FIFTE51 DELICATE & 9TELLIG5T1 ) 
 CURLY LI<T-BR[N HAIR & BEAUTIFUL EYES1 WAS DELI<T$ BECAUSE ,UNCLE 
 ,PI]RE AS HE CALL$ HIM WAS ! OBJECT ( HIS RAPTUR\S & PASSIONATE 
 AFFECTION4 ,NO ONE HAD 9/ILL$ 9TO HIM ?IS LOVE = ,PI]RE :OM HE SAW 
 ONLY OCCASIONALLY4 ,C\NTESS ,M>Y :O HAD BR\<T HIM UP HAD DONE H] 
 UTMO/ TO MAKE HIM LOVE H] HUSB& AS %E LOV$ HIM1 & LITTLE ,NI*OLAS 
 DID LOVE HIS UNCLE1 BUT LOV$ HIM ) JU/ A %ADE ( CONTEMPT4 ,PI]RE1 
 H[EV]1 HE ADOR$4 ,HE DID NOT WANT TO BE AN HUSS> OR A ,KNI<T ( ,/4 
 ,GEORGE LIKE HIS UNCLE ,NI*OLAS2 HE WANT$ TO BE LE>N$1 WISE1 & K9D 
 LIKE ,PI]RE4 ,9 ,PI]RE'S PRES5CE HIS FACE ALWAYS %ONE ) PLEASURE & 
 HE FLU%$ & WAS BREA?LESS :5 ,PI]RE SPOKE TO HIM4 ,HE DID NOT MISS A 
 S+LE WORD HE UTT]$1 & W\LD AFT]W>DS1 ) ,DESSALLES OR BY 
 HIMSELF1 RECALL & RECONSID] ! MEAN+ ( EV]Y?+ ,PI]RE HAD SAID4 
 ,PI]RE'S PA/ LIFE & HIS UNHAPP9ESS PRIOR TO #ahab 7( :I* Y\NG 
 ,NI*OLAS HAD =M$ A VAGUE POETIC PICTURE FROM SOME WORDS HE HAD 
 OV]HE>D71 HIS ADV5TURES 9 ,MOSC[1 HIS CAPTIVITY1 ,PLATON ,K>ATAEV 7( 
 :OM HE HAD HE>D FROM ,PI]RE71 HIS LOVE = ,NATA%A 7( :OM ! LAD WAS 
 ALSO P>TICUL>LY FOND71 & ESPECIALLY ,PI]RE'S FRI5D%IP ) ! 
 FA!R :OM ,NI*OLAS C\LD NOT REMEMB]--ALL ?IS MADE ,PI]RE 9 HIS 
 EYES A H]O & A SA9T4 

,FROM BROK5 REM>KS AB\T ,NATA%A & HIS FA!R1 FROM ! EMOTION ) 
 :I* ,PI]RE SPOKE ( ?AT DEAD FA!R1 & FROM ! C>EFUL1 REV]5T 
 T5D]NESS ) :I* ,NATA%A SPOKE ( HIM1 ! BOY1 :O WAS ONLY JU/ 
 BEG9N+ TO GUESS :AT LOVE IS1 D]IV$ ! NOTION ?AT HIS FA!R HAD 
 LOV$ ,NATA%A & :5 DY+ HAD LEFT H] TO HIS FRI5D4 ,BUT ! FA!R 
 :OM ! BOY DID NOT REMEMB] APPE>$ TO HIM A DIV9ITY :O C\LD NOT BE 
 PICTUR$1 & ( :OM HE NEV] ?\<T )\T A SWELL+ HE>T & TE>S 
 ( SADNESS & RAPTURE4 ,SO ! BOY ALSO WAS HAPPY ?AT ,PI]RE HAD >RIV$4 

,! GUE/S WELCOM$ ,PI]RE BECAUSE HE ALWAYS HELP$ TO 5LIV5 & UNITE 
 ANY COMPANY HE WAS 94 

,! GR[N-UP MEMB]S ( ! FAMILY1 NOT TO M5TION HIS WIFE1 W]E PLEAS$ 
 TO HAVE BACK A FRI5D :OSE PRES5CE MADE LIFE RUN MORE SMOO?LY & 
 PEACEFULLY4 

,! OLD LADIES W]E PLEAS$ ) ! PRES5TS HE BR\<T !M1 & 
 ESPECIALLY ?AT ,NATA%A W\LD N[ BE H]SELF AGA94 

,PI]RE FELT ! DIFF]5T \TLOOKS ( !SE V>I\S WORLDS & MADE HA/E 
 TO SATISFY ALL !IR EXPECTATIONS4 

,?\< ! MO/ ABS5T-M9D$ & =GETFUL ( M51 ,PI]RE1 ) ! AID 
 ( A LI/ HIS WIFE DREW UP1 HAD N[ B\<T EV]Y?+1 NOT =GETT+ HIS 
 MO!R--& BRO!R-9-LAW'S COMMISSIONS1 NOR ! DRESS MAT]IAL = 
 A PRES5T TO ,BELOVA1 NOR TOYS = HIS WIFE'S NEPHEWS4 ,9 ! E>LY DAYS ( 
 HIS M>RIAGE IT HAD SEEM$ /RANGE TO HIM ?AT HIS WIFE %\LD EXPECT HIM 
 NOT TO =GET TO PROCURE ALL ! ?+S HE UND]TOOK TO BUY1 & HE HAD 
 BE5 TAK5 ABACK BY H] S]I\S ANNOYANCE :5 ON HIS FIR/ TRIP HE =GOT 
 EV]Y?+4 ,BUT 9 TIME HE GREW US$ TO ?IS DEM&4 ,KN[+ ?AT ,NATA%A 
 ASK$ NO?+ = H]SELF1 & GAVE HIM COMMISSIONS = O!RS ONLY :5 
 HE HIMSELF HAD (F]$ TO UND]TAKE !M1 HE N[ F\ND AN UNEXPECT$ & 
 *ILDLIKE PLEASURE 9 ?IS PUR*ASE ( PRES5TS = EV]YONE 9 ! H\SE1 
 & NEV] =GOT ANY?+4 ,IF HE N[ 9CURR$ ,NATA%A'S C5SURE IT WAS 
 ONLY = BUY+ TOO MANY & TOO EXP5SIVE ?+S4 ,TO H] O!R DEFECTS 
 7AS MO/ PEOPLE ?\<T !M1 BUT :I* TO ,PI]RE W]E QUALITIES7 ( 
 UNTID9ESS & NEGLECT ( H]SELF1 %E N[ ADD$ /+9ESS4 

,FROM ! TIME ?AT ,PI]RE BEGAN LIFE AS A FAMILY MAN ON A FOOT+ 
 5TAIL+ HEAVY EXP5DITURE1 HE HAD NOTIC$ TO HIS SURPRISE ?AT HE SP5T 
 ONLY HALF AS MU* AS BE=E1 & ?AT HIS AFFAIRS--:I* HAD BE5 9 
 DISORD] ( LATE1 *IEFLY BECAUSE ( HIS FIR/ WIFE'S DEBTS--HAD 
 BEGUN TO IMPROVE4 

,LIFE WAS *EAP] BECAUSE IT WAS CIRCUMSCRIB$3 ?AT MO/ EXP5SIVE LUXURY1 
 ! K9D ( LIFE ?AT CAN BE *ANG$ AT ANY MOM5T1 WAS NO LONG] HIS NOR 
 DID HE WI% = IT4 ,HE FELT ?AT HIS WAY ( LIFE HAD N[ BE5 SETTL$ ONCE 
 = ALL TILL DEA? & ?AT TO *ANGE IT WAS NOT 9 HIS P[]1 & SO ?AT 
 WAY ( LIFE PROV$ ECONOMICAL4 

,) A M]RY1 SMIL+ FACE ,PI]RE WAS SORT+ HIS PUR*ASES4 

0,:AT DO Y\ ?9K ( ?IS80 SAID HE1 UNROLL+ A PIECE ( /UFF LIKE A 
 %OPMAN4 

,NATA%A1 :O WAS SITT+ OPPOSITE TO HIM ) H] ELDE/ DAU<T] ON H] 
 LAP1 TURN$ H] SP>KL+ EYES SWIFTLY FROM H] HUSB& TO ! ?+S HE 
 %[$ H]4 

0,?AT'S = ,BELOVA8 ,EXCELL5T60 ,%E FELT ! QUALITY ( ! MAT]IAL4 0,IT 
 WAS A RUBLE AN >%91 ,I SUPPOSE80 

,PI]RE TOLD H] ! PRICE4 

0,TOO DE>60 ,NATA%A REM>K$4 0,H[ PLEAS$ ! *ILDR5 WILL BE & ,MAMA 
 TOO6 ,ONLY Y\ NE$ NOT HAVE B\<T ME ?IS10 %E ADD$1 UNABLE TO SUPPRESS 
 A SMILE AS %E GAZ$ ADMIR+LY AT A GOLD COMB SET ) PE>LS1 ( A K9D 
 !N JU/ COM+ 9TO FA%ION4 

0,ADELE TEMPT$ ME3 %E KEPT ON TELL+ ME TO BUY IT10 RETURN$ ,PI]RE4 

0,:5 AM ,I TO WE> IT80 & ,NATA%A /UCK IT 9 H] COIL ( HAIR4 0,:5 ,I 
 TAKE LITTLE ,MA%A 9TO SOCIETY8 ,P]HAPS !Y WILL BE FA%IONABLE AGA9 BY 
 !N4 ,WELL1 LET'S GO N[40 

,& COLLECT+ ! PRES5TS !Y W5T FIR/ TO ! NURS]Y & !N TO ! 
 OLD C\NTESS' ROOMS4 

,! C\NTESS WAS SITT+ ) H] COMPANION ,BELOVA1 PLAY+ GR&-PATI5CE 
 AS USUAL1 :5 ,PI]RE & ,NATA%A CAME 9TO ! DRAW+ ROOM ) P>CELS 
 UND] !IR >MS4 

,! C\NTESS WAS N[ OV] SIXTY1 WAS QUITE GRAY1 & WORE A CAP ) A 
 FRILL ?AT SURR\ND$ H] FACE4 ,H] FACE HAD %RIVEL$1 H] UPP] LIP HAD 
 SUNK 91 & H] EYES W]E DIM4 

,AFT] ! DEA?S ( H] SON & HUSB& 9 SU* RAPID SUCCESSION1 %E FELT 
 H]SELF A BE+ ACCID5TALLY =GOTT5 9 ?IS WORLD & LEFT )\T AIM 
 OR OBJECT = H] EXI/5CE4 ,%E ATE1 DRANK1 SLEPT1 OR KEPT AWAKE1 BUT DID 
 NOT LIVE4 ,LIFE GAVE H] NO NEW IMPRESSIONS4 ,%E WANT$ NO?+ FROM LIFE 
 BUT TRANQUILITY1 & ?AT TRANQUILITY ONLY DEA? C\LD GIVE H]4 ,BUT 
 UNTIL DEA? CAME %E HAD TO GO ON LIV+1 ?AT IS1 TO USE H] VITAL 
 =CES4 ,A PECULI>ITY ONE SEES 9 V]Y Y\NG *ILDR5 & V]Y OLD PEOPLE 
 WAS P>TICUL>LY EVID5T 9 H]4 ,H] LIFE HAD NO EXT]NAL AIMS--ONLY 
 A NE$ TO EX]CISE H] V>I\S FUNCTIONS & 9CL9ATIONS WAS APP>5T4 
 ,%E HAD TO EAT1 SLEEP1 ?9K1 SPEAK1 WEEP1 WORK1 GIVE V5T TO H] ANG]1 
 & SO ON1 M]ELY BECAUSE %E HAD A /OMA*1 A BRA91 MUSCLES1 N]VES1 & 
 A LIV]4 ,%E DID !SE ?+S NOT UND] ANY EXT]NAL IMPULSE AS PEOPLE 9 
 ! FULL VIGOR ( LIFE DO1 :5 BEH9D ! PURPOSE = :I* !Y /RIVE 
 ?AT ( EX]CIS+ !IR FUNCTIONS REMA9S UNNOTIC$4 ,%E TALK$ ONLY 
 BECAUSE %E PHYSICALLY NE$$ TO EX]CISE H] TONGUE & LUNGS4 ,%E CRI$ 
 AS A *ILD DOES1 BECAUSE H] NOSE HAD TO BE CLE>$1 & SO ON4 ,:AT = 
 PEOPLE 9 !IR FULL VIGOR IS AN AIM WAS = H] EVID5TLY M]ELY A 
 PRETEXT4 

,?US 9 ! MORN+--ESPECIALLY IF %E HAD EAT5 ANY?+ RI* ! 
 DAY BE=E--%E FELT A NE$ ( BE+ ANGRY & W\LD *OOSE AS ! 
 H&IE/ PRETEXT ,BELOVA'S DEAFNESS4 

,%E W\LD BEG9 TO SAY SOME?+ TO H] 9 A L[ TONE FROM ! O!R 5D 
 ( ! ROOM4 

0,IT SEEMS A LITTLE W>M] TODAY1 MY DE>10 %E W\LD MURMUR4 

,& :5 ,BELOVA REPLI$3 0,OH YES1 !Y'VE COME10 %E W\LD MUTT] ANGRILY3 
 0,O ,LORD6 ,H[ /UPID & DEAF %E IS60 

,ANO!R PRETEXT W\LD BE H] SNUFF1 :I* W\LD SEEM TOO DRY OR TOO DAMP 
 OR NOT RUBB$ F9E 5\<4 ,AFT] !SE FITS ( IRRITABILITY H] FACE W\LD 
 GR[ YELL[1 & H] MAIDS KNEW BY 9FALLIBLE SYMPTOMS :5 ,BELOVA W\LD 
 AGA9 BE DEAF1 ! SNUFF DAMP1 & ! C\NTESS' FACE YELL[4 ,JU/ AS %E 
 NE$$ TO WORK (F H] SPLE5 SO %E HAD SOMETIMES TO EX]CISE H] 
 /ILL-EXI/+ FACULTY ( ?9K+--& ! PRETEXT = ?AT WAS A 
 GAME ( PATI5CE4 ,:5 %E NE$$ TO CRY1 ! DECEAS$ C\NT W\LD BE ! 
 PRETEXT4 ,:5 %E WANT$ TO BE AGITAT$1 ,NI*OLAS & HIS HEAL? W\LD BE 
 ! PRETEXT1 & :5 %E FELT A NE$ TO SPEAK SPITEFULLY1 ! PRETEXT 
 W\LD BE ,C\NTESS ,M>Y4 ,:5 H] VOCAL ORGANS NE$$ EX]CISE1 :I* WAS 
 USUALLY T[>D SEV5 O'CLOCK :5 %E HAD HAD AN AFT]-D9N] RE/ 9 A 
 D>K5$ ROOM1 ! PRETEXT W\LD BE ! RETELL+ ( ! SAME /ORIES OV] 
 & OV] AGA9 TO ! SAME AUDI5CE4 

,! OLD LADY'S CONDITION WAS UND]/OOD BY ! :OLE H\SEHOLD ?\< NO 
 ONE EV] SPOKE ( IT1 & !Y ALL MADE EV]Y POSSIBLE EF=T TO SATISFY 
 H] NE$S4 ,ONLY BY A R>E GLANCE EX*ANG$ ) A SAD SMILE BETWE5 
 ,NI*OLAS1 ,PI]RE1 ,NATA%A1 & ,C\NTESS ,M>Y WAS ! COMMON UND]/&+ 
 ( H] CONDITION EXPRESS$4 

,BUT ?OSE GLANCES EXPRESS$ SOME?+ MORE3 !Y SAID ?AT %E HAD PLAY$ 
 H] P>T 9 LIFE1 ?AT :AT !Y N[ SAW WAS NOT H] :OLE SELF1 ?AT WE 
 MU/ ALL BECOME LIKE H]1 & ?AT !Y W]E GLAD TO YIELD TO H]1 TO 
 RE/RA9 !MSELVES = ?IS ONCE PRECI\S BE+ =M]LY AS FULL ( LIFE 
 AS !MSELVES1 BUT N[ SO MU* TO BE PITI$4 0,MEM5TO MORI10 
 SAID !SE GLANCES4 

,ONLY ! REALLY HE>TLESS1 ! /UPID ONES ( ?AT H\SEHOLD1 & ! 
 LITTLE *ILDR5 FAIL$ TO UND]/& ?IS & AVOID$ H]4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfh 3 ,EPILOGUE #a1 ,*APT] #ab -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,FEBRU>Y #a#a1 #bag 3 ,EPILOGUE #a1 ,*APT] #ab -- ,ADD$4 

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