,BOOK #a#b1 ,*APT] #h 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,SONYA'S LETT] WRITT5 FROM ,TROITSA1 :I* HAD COME AS AN ANSW] TO 
 ,NI*OLAS' PRAY]1 WAS PROMPT$ BY ?IS3 ! ?\<T ( GETT+ ,NI*OLAS 
 M>RI$ TO AN HEIRESS OCCUPI$ ! OLD C\NTESS' M9D MORE & MORE4 ,%E 
 KNEW ?AT ,SONYA WAS ! *IEF OB/ACLE TO ?IS HAPP5+1 & ,SONYA'S LIFE 
 9 ! C\NTESS' H\SE HAD GR[N H>D] & H>D]1 ESPECIALLY AFT] !Y 
 HAD RECEIV$ A LETT] FROM ,NI*OLAS TELL+ ( HIS MEET+ ) ,PR9CESS 
 ,M>Y 9 ,BOGU*>OVO4 ,! C\NTESS LET NO OCCASION SLIP ( MAK+ 
 HUMILIAT+ OR CRUEL ALLUSIONS TO ,SONYA4 

,BUT A FEW DAYS BE=E !Y LEFT ,MOSC[1 MOV$ & EXCIT$ BY ALL ?AT WAS 
 GO+ ON1 %E CALL$ ,SONYA TO H] &1 9/EAD ( REPROA*+ & MAK+ 
 DEM&S ON H]1 TE>FULLY IMPLOR$ H] TO SACRIFICE H]SELF & REPAY ALL 
 ?AT ! FAMILY HAD DONE = H] BY BREAK+ (F H] 5GAGEM5T ) 
 ,NI*OLAS4 

0,I %ALL NOT BE AT PEACE TILL Y\ PROMISE ME ?IS40 

,SONYA BUR/ 9TO HY/]ICAL TE>S & REPLI$ ?R\< H] SOBS ?AT %E 
 W\LD DO ANY?+ & WAS PREP>$ = ANY?+1 BUT GAVE NO ACTUAL 
 PROMISE & C\LD NOT BR+ H]SELF TO DECIDE TO DO :AT WAS DEM&$ ( 
 H]4 ,%E MU/ SACRIFICE H]SELF = ! FAMILY ?AT HAD RE>$ & BR\<T 
 H] UP4 ,TO SACRIFICE H]SELF = O!RS WAS ,SONYA'S HABIT4 ,H] POSITION 9 
 ! H\SE WAS SU* ?AT ONLY BY SACRIFICE C\LD %E %[ H] WOR?1 & 
 %E WAS ACCU/OM$ TO ?IS & LOV$ DO+ IT4 ,BUT 9 ALL H] =M] ACTS 
 ( SELF-SACRIFICE %E HAD BE5 HAPPILY CONSCI\S ?AT !Y RAIS$ H] 9 
 H] [N E/EEM & 9 ?AT ( O!RS1 & SO MADE H] MORE WOR?Y ( 
 ,NI*OLAS :OM %E LOV$ MORE ?AN ANY?+ 9 ! WORLD4 ,BUT N[ !Y 
 WANT$ H] TO SACRIFICE ! V]Y ?+ ?AT CON/ITUT$ ! :OLE REW>D 
 = H] SELF-SACRIFICE & ! :OLE MEAN+ ( H] LIFE4 ,& = ! 
 FIR/ TIME %E FELT BITT]NESS AGA9/ ?OSE :O HAD BE5 H] B5EFACTORS 
 ONLY TO TORTURE H] ! MORE PA9FULLY2 %E FELT JEAL\S ( ,NATA%A :O 
 HAD NEV] EXP]I5C$ ANY?+ ( ?IS SORT1 HAD NEV] NE$$ TO SACRIFICE 
 H]SELF1 BUT MADE O!RS SACRIFICE !MSELVES = H] & YET WAS BELOV$ 
 BY EV]YBODY4 ,& = ! FIR/ TIME ,SONYA FELT ?AT \T ( H] PURE1 
 QUIET LOVE = ,NI*OLAS A PASSIONATE FEEL+ WAS BEG9N+ TO GR[ UP 
 :I* WAS /RONG] ?AN PR9CIPLE1 VIRTUE1 OR RELIGION4 ,UND] ! 
 9FLU5CE ( ?IS FEEL+ ,SONYA1 :OSE LIFE ( DEP5D5CE HAD TAU<T H] 
 9VOLUNT>ILY TO BE SECRETIVE1 HAV+ ANSW]$ ! C\NTESS 9 VAGUE 
 G5]AL T]MS1 AVOID$ TALK+ ) H] & RESOLV$ TO WAIT TILL %E 
 %\LD SEE ,NI*OLAS1 NOT 9 ORD] TO SET HIM FREE BUT ON ! CONTR>Y AT 
 ?AT MEET+ TO B9D HIM TO H] =EV]4 

,! BU/LE & T]ROR ( ! ,RO/OVS' LA/ DAYS 9 ,MOSC[ /IFL$ ! 
 GLOOMY ?\<TS ?AT OPPRESS$ ,SONYA4 ,%E WAS GLAD TO F9D ESCAPE FROM 
 !M 9 PRACTICAL ACTIVITY4 ,BUT :5 %E HE>D ( ,PR9CE ,&REW'S PRES5CE 
 9 !IR H\SE1 DESPITE H] S9C]E PITY = HIM & = ,NATA%A1 %E WAS 
 SEIZ$ BY A JOYFUL & SUP]/ITI\S FEEL+ ?AT ,GOD DID NOT 9T5D H] 
 TO BE SEP>AT$ FROM ,NI*OLAS4 ,%E KNEW ?AT ,NATA%A LOV$ NO ONE BUT 
 ,PR9CE ,&REW & HAD NEV] CEAS$ TO LOVE HIM4 ,%E KNEW ?AT BE+ ?R[N 
 TOGE!R AGA9 UND] SU* T]RIBLE CIRCUM/ANCES !Y W\LD AGA9 FALL 9 
 LOVE ) ONE ANO!R1 & ?AT ,NI*OLAS W\LD !N NOT BE ABLE TO M>RY 
 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y AS !Y W\LD BE )9 ! PROHIBIT$ DEGREES ( AFF9ITY4 
 ,DESPITE ALL ! T]ROR ( :AT HAD HAPP5$ DUR+ ?OSE LA/ DAYS & 
 DUR+ ! FIR/ DAYS ( !IR J\RNEY1 ?IS FEEL+ ?AT ,PROVID5CE WAS 
 9T]V5+ 9 H] P]SONAL AFFAIRS *E]$ ,SONYA4 

,AT ! ,TROITSA MONA/]Y ! ,RO/OVS FIR/ BROKE !IR J\RNEY = A :OLE 
 DAY4 

,?REE L>GE ROOMS W]E ASSIGN$ TO !M 9 ! MONA/]Y HO/ELRY1 ONE ( 
 :I* WAS OCCUPI$ BY ,PR9CE ,&REW4 ,! W\ND$ MAN WAS MU* BETT] ?AT 
 DAY & ,NATA%A WAS SITT+ ) HIM4 ,9 ! NEXT ROOM SAT ! C\NT & 
 C\NTESS RESPECTFULLY CONV]S+ ) ! PRIOR1 :O WAS CALL+ ON !M 
 AS OLD ACQUA9TANCES & B5EFACTORS ( ! MONA/]Y4 ,SONYA WAS !RE 
 TOO1 TORM5T$ BY CURIOSITY AS TO :AT ,PR9CE ,&REW & ,NATA%A W]E 
 TALK+ AB\T4 ,%E HE>D ! S\ND ( !IR VOICES ?R\< ! DOOR4 ,?AT 
 DOOR OP5$ & ,NATA%A CAME \T1 LOOK+ EXCIT$4 ,NOT NOTIC+ ! MONK1 
 :O HAD RIS5 TO GREET H] & WAS DRAW+ BACK ! WIDE SLEEVE ON HIS 
 RI<T >M1 %E W5T UP TO ,SONYA & TOOK H] H&4 

0,NATA%A1 :AT >E Y\ AB\T8 ,COME H]E60 SAID ! C\NTESS4 

,NATA%A W5T UP TO ! MONK = HIS BLESS+1 & HE ADVIS$ H] TO PRAY 
 = AID TO ,GOD & ,HIS SA9T4 

,AS SOON AS ! PRIOR )DREW1 ,NATA%A TOOK H] FRI5D BY ! H& & 
 W5T ) H] 9TO ! UNOCCUPI$ ROOM4 

0,SONYA1 WILL HE LIVE80 %E ASK$4 0,SONYA1 H[ HAPPY ,I AM1 & H[ 
 UNHAPPY6444 ,SONYA1 DOVEY1 EV]Y?+ IS AS IT US$ TO BE4 ,IF ONLY HE 
 LIVES6 ,HE CANNOT444 BECAUSE444 BECAUSE444 (4440 & ,NATA%A BUR/ 9TO 
 TE>S4 

0,YES6 ,I KNEW IT6 ,?ANK ,GOD60 MURMUR$ ,SONYA4 0,HE WILL LIVE40 

,SONYA WAS NOT LESS AGITAT$ ?AN H] FRI5D BY ! LATT]'S FE> & GRIEF 
 & BY H] [N P]SONAL FEEL+S :I* %E %>$ ) NO ONE4 ,SOBB+1 
 %E KISS$ & COM=T$ ,NATA%A4 0,IF ONLY HE LIVES60 %E ?\<T4 ,HAV+ 
 WEPT1 TALK$1 & WIP$ AWAY !IR TE>S1 ! TWO FRI5DS W5T TOGE!R TO 
 ,PR9CE ,&REW'S DOOR4 ,NATA%A OP5$ IT CAUTI\SLY & GLANC$ 9TO ! 
 ROOM1 ,SONYA /&+ BESIDE H] AT ! HALF-OP5 DOOR4 

,PR9CE ,&REW WAS LY+ RAIS$ HI< ON ?REE PILL[S4 ,HIS PALE FACE WAS 
 CALM1 HIS EYES CLOS$1 & !Y C\LD SEE HIS REGUL> BREA?+4 

0,O1 ,NATA%A60 ,SONYA SUDD5LY ALMO/ SCREAM$1 CAT*+ H] COMPANION'S >M 
 & /EPP+ BACK FROM ! DOOR4 

0,:AT8 ,:AT IS IT80 ASK$ ,NATA%A4 

0,IT'S ?AT1 ?AT4440 SAID ,SONYA1 ) A :ITE FACE & TREMBL+ LIPS4 

,NATA%A S(TLY CLOS$ ! DOOR & W5T ) ,SONYA TO ! W9D[1 NOT YET 
 UND]/&+ :AT ! LATT] WAS TELL+ H]4 

0,Y\ REMEMB]10 SAID ,SONYA ) A SOLEMN & FRI<T5$ EXPRESSION4 0,Y\ 
 REMEMB] :5 ,I LOOK$ 9 ! MIRROR = Y\444 AT ,OTRADNOE AT ,*RI/MAS8 
 ,DO Y\ REMEMB] :AT ,I SAW80 

0,YES1 YES60 CRI$ ,NATA%A OP5+ H] EYES WIDE1 & VAGUELY RECALL+ 
 ?AT ,SONYA HAD TOLD H] SOME?+ AB\T ,PR9CE ,&REW :OM %E HAD SE5 
 LY+ D[N4 

0,Y\ REMEMB]80 ,SONYA W5T ON4 0,I SAW IT !N & TOLD EV]YBODY1 Y\ & 
 ,DUNYA%A4 ,I SAW HIM LY+ ON A B$10 SAID %E1 MAK+ A GE/URE ) H] 
 H& & A LIFT$ F+] AT EA* DETAIL1 0& ?AT HE HAD HIS EYES CLOS$ 
 & WAS COV]$ JU/ ) A P9K QUILT1 & ?AT HIS H&S W]E FOLD$10 
 %E CONCLUD$1 CONV9C+ H]SELF ?AT ! DETAILS %E HAD JU/ SE5 W]E 
 EXACTLY :AT %E HAD SE5 9 ! MIRROR4 

,%E HAD 9 FACT SE5 NO?+ !N BUT HAD M5TION$ ! FIR/ ?+ ?AT 
 CAME 9TO H] HEAD1 BUT :AT %E HAD 9V5T$ !N SEEM$ TO H] N[ AS 
 REAL AS ANY O!R RECOLLECTION4 ,%E NOT ONLY REMEMB]$ :AT %E HAD !N 
 SAID--?AT HE TURN$ TO LOOK AT H] & SMIL$ & WAS COV]$ ) 
 SOME?+ R$--BUT WAS FIRMLY CONV9C$ ?AT %E HAD !N SE5 & 
 SAID ?AT HE WAS COV]$ ) A P9K QUILT & ?AT HIS EYES W]E CLOS$4 

0,YES1 YES1 IT REALLY WAS P9K60 CRI$ ,NATA%A1 :O N[ ?\<T %E TOO 
 REMEMB]$ ! WORD P9K BE+ US$1 & SAW 9 ?IS ! MO/ 
 EXTRAORD9>Y & MY/]I\S P>T ( ! PR$ICTION4 

0,BUT :AT DOES IT MEAN80 %E ADD$ M$ITATIVELY4 

0,OH1 ,I DON'T KN[1 IT IS ALL SO /RANGE10 REPLI$ ,SONYA1 CLUT*+ AT H] 
 HEAD4 

,A FEW M9UTES LAT] ,PR9CE ,&REW RANG & ,NATA%A W5T TO HIM1 BUT ,SONYA1 
 FEEL+ UNUSUALLY EXCIT$ & T\*$1 REMA9$ AT ! W9D[ ?9K+ 
 AB\T ! /RANG5ESS ( :AT HAD OCCURR$4 

,!Y HAD AN OPPORTUNITY ?AT DAY TO S5D LETT]S TO ! >MY1 & ! 
 C\NTESS WAS WRIT+ TO H] SON4 

0,SONYA60 SAID ! C\NTESS1 RAIS+ H] EYES FROM H] LETT] AS H] NIECE 
 PASS$1 0,SONYA1 WON'T Y\ WRITE TO ,NI*OLAS80 ,%E SPOKE 9 A S(T1 
 TREMUL\S VOICE1 & 9 ! WE>Y EYES ?AT LOOK$ OV] H] SPECTACLES 
 ,SONYA READ ALL ?AT ! C\NTESS MEANT TO CONVEY ) !SE WORDS4 ,?OSE 
 EYES EXPRESS$ 5TREATY1 %AME AT HAV+ TO ASK1 FE> ( A REFUSAL1 & 
 READ9ESS = REL5TLESS HATR$ 9 CASE ( SU* REFUSAL4 

,SONYA W5T UP TO ! C\NTESS &1 KNEEL+ D[N1 KISS$ H] H&4 

0,YES1 ,MAMA1 ,I WILL WRITE10 SAID %E4 

,SONYA WAS S(T5$1 EXCIT$1 & T\*$ BY ALL ?AT HAD OCCURR$ ?AT 
 DAY1 ESPECIALLY BY ! MY/]I\S FULFILLM5T %E HAD JU/ SE5 ( H] 
 VISION4 ,N[ ?AT %E KNEW ?AT ! R5EWAL ( ,NATA%A'S RELATIONS ) 
 ,PR9CE ,&REW W\LD PREV5T ,NI*OLAS FROM M>RY+ ,PR9CESS ,M>Y1 %E WAS 
 JOYFULLY CONSCI\S ( A RETURN ( ?AT SELF-SACRIFIC+ SPIRIT 9 :I* 
 %E WAS ACCU/OM$ TO LIVE & LOV$ TO LIVE4 ,SO ) A JOYFUL 
 CONSCI\SNESS ( P]=M+ A MAGNANIM\S DE$--9T]RUPT$ SEV]AL 
 TIMES BY ! TE>S ?AT DIMM$ H] VELVETY BLACK EYES--%E WROTE ?AT 
 T\*+ LETT] ! >RIVAL ( :I* HAD SO AMAZ$ ,NI*OLAS4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfh 3 ,BOOK #a#b1 ,*APT] #h -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,FEBRU>Y #a#a1 #bag 3 ,BOOK #a#b1 ,*APT] #h -- ,ADD$4 

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