,BOOK #d1 ,*APT] #a 
#ahf 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,E>LY 9 ! YE> #ahf ,NI*OLAS ,RO/OV RETURN$ HOME ON LEAVE4 ,D5ISOV WAS 
 GO+ HOME TO ,VORONEZH & ,RO/OV P]SUAD$ HIM TO TRAVEL ) HIM AS F> 
 AS ,MOSC[ & TO /AY ) HIM !RE4 ,MEET+ A COMRADE AT ! LA/ PO/ 
 /ATION BUT ONE BE=E ,MOSC[1 ,D5ISOV HAD DRUNK ?REE BOTTLES ( W9E 
 ) HIM &1 DESPITE ! JOLT+ RUTS ACROSS ! SN[-COV]$ ROAD1 DID 
 NOT ONCE WAKE UP ON ! WAY TO ,MOSC[1 BUT LAY AT ! BOTTOM ( ! SLEI< 
 BESIDE ,RO/OV1 :O GREW MORE & MORE IMPATI5T ! NE>] !Y GOT TO 
 ,MOSC[4 

0,H[ MU* LONG]8 ,H[ MU* LONG]8 ,OH1 !SE 9SUFF]ABLE /REETS1 %OPS1 
 BAK]S' SIGNBO>DS1 /REET LAMPS1 & SLEI<S60 ?\<T ,RO/OV1 :5 !IR 
 LEAVE P]MITS HAD BE5 PASS$ AT ! T[N GATE & !Y HAD 5T]$ 
 ,MOSC[4 

0,D5ISOV6 ,WE'RE H]E6 ,HE'S ASLEEP10 HE ADD$1 LEAN+ =W>D ) HIS 
 :OLE BODY AS IF 9 ?AT POSITION HE HOP$ TO HA/5 ! SPE$ ( ! 
 SLEI<4 

,D5ISOV GAVE NO ANSW]4 

0,!RE'S ! CORN] AT ! CROSSROADS1 :]E ! CABMAN1 ,ZAKH>1 HAS HIS 
 /&1 & !RE'S ,ZAKH> HIMSELF & /ILL ! SAME HORSE6 ,& H]E'S ! 
 LITTLE %OP :]E WE US$ TO BUY G+]BREAD6 ,CAN'T Y\ HURRY UP8 ,N[ 
 !N60 

0,:I* H\SE IS IT80 ASK$ ! DRIV]4 

0,:Y1 ?AT ONE1 RI<T AT ! 5D1 ! BIG ONE4 ,DON'T Y\ SEE8 ,?AT'S \R 
 H\SE10 SAID ,RO/OV4 0,( C\RSE1 IT'S \R H\SE6 ,D5ISOV1 ,D5ISOV6 ,WE'RE 
 ALMO/ !RE60 

,D5ISOV RAIS$ HIS HEAD1 C\<$1 & MADE NO ANSW]4 

0,DMITRI10 SAID ,RO/OV TO HIS VALET ON ! BOX1 0?OSE LI<TS >E 9 \R 
 H\SE1 >5'T !Y80 

0,YES1 SIR1 & !RE'S A LI<T 9 Y\R FA!R'S /UDY40 

0,!N !Y'VE NOT GONE TO B$ YET8 ,:AT DO Y\ ?9K8 ,M9D N[1 DON'T 
 =GET TO PUT \T MY NEW COAT10 ADD$ ,RO/OV1 F+]+ HIS NEW MU/A*E4 
 0,N[ !N1 GET ON10 HE %\T$ TO ! DRIV]4 0,DO WAKE UP1 ,VASKA60 HE W5T 
 ON1 TURN+ TO ,D5ISOV1 :OSE HEAD WAS AGA9 NODD+4 0,COME1 GET ON6 ,Y\ 
 %ALL HAVE ?REE RUBLES = VODKA--GET ON60 ,RO/OV %\T$1 :5 ! 
 SLEI< WAS ONLY ?REE H\SES FROM HIS DOOR4 ,IT SEEM$ TO HIM ! HORSES 
 W]E NOT MOV+ AT ALL4 ,AT LA/ ! SLEI< BORE TO ! RI<T1 DREW UP AT 
 AN 5TRANCE1 & ,RO/OV SAW OV]HEAD ! OLD FAMILI> CORNICE ) A BIT 
 ( PLA/] BROK5 (F1 ! POR*1 & ! PO/ BY ! SIDE ( ! 
 PAVEM5T4 ,HE SPRANG \T BE=E ! SLEI< /OPP$1 & RAN 9TO ! HALL4 
 ,! H\SE /OOD COLD & SIL5T1 AS IF QUITE REG>DLESS ( :O HAD COME TO 
 IT4 ,!RE WAS NO ONE 9 ! HALL4 0,OH ,GOD6 ,IS EV]YONE ALL RI<T80 HE 
 ?\<T1 /OPP+ = A MOM5T ) A S9K+ HE>T1 & !N IMM$IATELY 
 />T+ TO RUN ALONG ! HALL & UP ! W>P$ /EPS ( ! FAMILI> 
 /AIRCASE4 ,! WELL-KN[N OLD DOOR H&LE1 :I* ALWAYS ANG]$ ! 
 C\NTESS :5 IT WAS NOT PROP]LY CLEAN$1 TURN$ AS LOOSELY AS EV]4 ,A 
 SOLIT>Y TALL[ C&LE BURN$ 9 ! ANT]OOM4 

,OLD ,MI*AEL WAS ASLEEP ON ! *E/4 ,PROK(Y1 ! FOOTMAN1 :O WAS SO 
 /RONG ?AT HE C\LD LIFT ! BACK ( ! C>RIAGE FROM BEH9D1 SAT 
 PLAIT+ SLIPP]S \T ( CLO? SELVAGES4 ,HE LOOK$ UP AT ! OP5+ DOOR 
 & HIS EXPRESSION ( SLEEPY 9DIFF]5CE SUDD5LY *ANG$ TO ONE ( 
 DELI<T$ AMAZEM5T4 

0,GRACI\S HEAV5S6 ,! Y\NG C\NT60 HE CRI$1 RECOGNIZ+ HIS Y\NG 
 MA/]4 0,CAN IT BE8 ,MY TREASURE60 & ,PROK(Y1 TREMBL+ ) EXCITEM5T1 
 RU%$ T[>D ! DRAW+ ROOM DOOR1 PROBABLY 9 ORD] TO ANN\NCE HIM1 
 BUT1 *ANG+ HIS M9D1 CAME BACK & /OOP$ TO KISS ! Y\NG MAN'S 
 %\LD]4 

0,ALL WELL80 ASK$ ,RO/OV1 DRAW+ AWAY HIS >M4 

0,YES1 ,GOD BE ?ANK$6 ,YES6 ,!Y'VE JU/ F9I%$ SUPP]4 ,LET ME HAVE A 
 LOOK AT Y\1 Y\R EXCELL5CY40 

0,IS EV]Y?+ QUITE ALL RI<T80 

0,! ,LORD BE ?ANK$1 YES60 

,RO/OV1 :O HAD COMPLETELY =GOTT5 ,D5ISOV1 NOT WI%+ ANYONE TO 
 =E/ALL HIM1 ?REW (F HIS FUR COAT & RAN ON TIPTOE ?R\< ! L>GE 
 D>K BALLROOM4 ,ALL WAS ! SAME3 !RE W]E ! SAME OLD C>D TABLES & 
 ! SAME *&ELI] ) A COV] OV] IT2 BUT SOMEONE HAD ALREADY SE5 ! 
 Y\NG MA/]1 &1 BE=E HE HAD REA*$ ! DRAW+ ROOM1 SOME?+ FLEW 
 \T FROM A SIDE DOOR LIKE A TORNADO & BEGAN HUGG+ & KISS+ HIM4 
 ,ANO!R & YET ANO!R CREATURE ( ! SAME K9D SPRANG FROM A SECOND 
 DOOR & A ?IRD2 MORE HUGG+1 MORE KISS+1 MORE \TCRIES1 & TE>S ( 
 JOY4 ,HE C\LD NOT DI/+UI% :I* WAS ,PAPA1 :I* ,NATA%A1 & :I* 
 ,PETYA4 ,EV]YONE %\T$1 TALK$1 & KISS$ HIM AT ! SAME TIME4 ,ONLY HIS 
 MO!R WAS NOT !RE1 HE NOTIC$ ?AT4 

0,& ,I DID NOT KN[444 ,NI*OLAS444 ,MY D>L+64440 

0,H]E HE IS444 \R [N444 ,KOLYA1 "9 DE> FELL[444 ,H[ HE HAS *ANG$6444 
 ,:]E >E ! C&LES8444 ,TEA64440 

 "9 ,NI*OLAS4 

  

0,& ME1 KISS ME60 

0,DE>E/444 & ME60 

,SONYA1 ,NATA%A1 ,PETYA1 ,ANNA ,MIKHAYLOVNA1 ,V]A1 & ! OLD C\NT W]E ALL 
 HUGG+ HIM1 & ! S]FS1 M5 & MAIDS1 FLOCK$ 9TO ! ROOM1 
 EXCLAIM+ & OH-+ & AH-+4 

,PETYA1 CL++ TO HIS LEGS1 KEPT %\T+1 0,& ME TOO60 

,NATA%A1 AFT] %E HAD PULL$ HIM D[N T[>D H] & COV]$ HIS FACE 
 ) KISSES1 HOLD+ HIM TI<T BY ! SKIRT ( HIS COAT1 SPRANG AWAY & 
 PRANC$ UP & D[N 9 ONE PLACE LIKE A GOAT & %RIEK$ PI]C+LY4 

,ALL >\ND W]E LOV+ EYES GLI/5+ ) TE>S ( JOY1 & ALL >\ND 
 W]E LIPS SEEK+ A KISS4 

,SONYA TOO1 ALL ROSY R$1 CLUNG TO HIS >M &1 RADIANT ) BLISS1 LOOK$ 
 EAG]LY T[>D HIS EYES1 WAIT+ = ! LOOK = :I* %E LONG$4 ,SONYA 
 N[ WAS SIXTE5 & %E WAS V]Y PRETTY1 ESPECIALLY AT ?IS MOM5T ( 
 HAPPY1 RAPTUR\S EXCITEM5T4 ,%E GAZ$ AT HIM1 NOT TAK+ H] EYES (F 
 HIM1 & SMIL+ & HOLD+ H] BREA?4 ,HE GAVE H] A GRATEFUL LOOK1 BUT 
 WAS /ILL EXPECTANT & LOOK+ = SOMEONE4 ,! OLD C\NTESS HAD NOT YET 
 COME4 ,BUT N[ /EPS W]E HE>D AT ! DOOR1 /EPS SO RAPID ?AT !Y C\LD 
 H>DLY BE HIS MO!R'S4 

,YET IT WAS %E1 DRESS$ 9 A NEW G[N :I* HE DID NOT KN[1 MADE S9CE HE 
 HAD LEFT4 ,ALL ! O!RS LET HIM GO1 & HE RAN TO H]4 ,:5 !Y MET1 %E 
 FELL ON HIS BREA/1 SOBB+4 ,%E C\LD NOT LIFT H] FACE1 BUT ONLY PRESS$ 
 IT TO ! COLD BRAID+ ( HIS HUSS>'S JACKET4 ,D5ISOV1 :O HAD COME 9TO 
 ! ROOM UNNOTIC$ BY ANYONE1 /OOD !RE & WIP$ HIS EYES AT ! SI<T4 

0,VASILI ,D5ISOV1 Y\R SON'S FRI5D10 HE SAID1 9TRODUC+ HIMSELF TO ! 
 C\NT1 :O WAS LOOK+ 9QUIR+LY AT HIM4 

0,Y\ >E MO/ WELCOME6 ,I KN[1 ,I KN[10 SAID ! C\NT1 KISS+ & 
 EMBRAC+ ,D5ISOV4 0,NI*OLAS WROTE US444 ,NATA%A1 ,V]A1 LOOK6 ,H]E IS 
 ,D5ISOV60 

,! SAME HAPPY1 RAPTUR\S FACES TURN$ TO ! %AGGY FIGURE ( ,D5ISOV4 

0,D>L+ ,D5ISOV60 SCREAM$ ,NATA%A1 BESIDE H]SELF ) RAPTURE1 
 SPR++ TO HIM1 PUTT+ H] >MS R\ND HIM1 & KISS+ HIM4 ,?IS 
 ESCAPADE MADE EV]YBODY FEEL CONFUS$4 ,D5ISOV BLU%$ TOO1 BUT SMIL$ 
 &1 TAK+ ,NATA%A'S H&1 KISS$ IT4 

,D5ISOV WAS %[N TO ! ROOM PREP>$ = HIM1 & ! ,RO/OVS ALL 
 GA!R$ R\ND ,NI*OLAS 9 ! SITT+ ROOM4 

,! OLD C\NTESS1 NOT LETT+ GO ( HIS H& & KISS+ IT EV]Y MOM5T1 
 SAT BESIDE HIM3 ! RE/1 CR[D+ R\ND HIM1 WAT*$ EV]Y MOVEM5T1 
 WORD1 OR LOOK ( HIS1 NEV] TAK+ !IR BLISSFULLY ADOR+ EYES (F HIM4 
 ,HIS BRO!R & SI/]S /RUGGL$ = ! PLACES NE>E/ TO HIM & 
 DISPUT$ ) ONE ANO!R :O %\LD BR+ HIM HIS TEA1 H&K]*IEF1 & 
 PIPE4 

,RO/OV WAS V]Y HAPPY 9 ! LOVE !Y %[$ HIM2 BUT ! FIR/ MOM5T ( 
 MEET+ HAD BE5 SO BEATIFIC ?AT HIS PRES5T JOY SEEM$ 9SUFFICI5T1 & 
 HE KEPT EXPECT+ SOME?+ MORE1 MORE & YET MORE4 

,NEXT MORN+1 AFT] ! FATIGUES ( !IR J\RNEY1 ! TRAVEL]S SLEPT 
 TILL T5 O'CLOCK4 

,9 ! ROOM NEXT !IR B$ROOM !RE WAS A CONFUSION ( SAB]S1 SAT*ELS1 
 SABRETA*ES1 OP5 PORTMANTEAUS1 & DIRTY BOOTS4 ,TWO FRE%LY CLEAN$ PAIRS 
 ) SPURS HAD JU/ BE5 PLAC$ BY ! WALL4 ,! S]VANTS W]E BR++ 9 
 JUGS & BAS9S1 HOT WAT] = %AV+1 & !IR WELL-BRU%$ CLO!S4 
 ,!RE WAS A MASCUL9E ODOR & A SMELL ( TOBACCO4 

0,HALLOO1 ,GWISKA--MY PIPE60 CAME ,VASILI ,D5ISOV'S HUSKY VOICE4 0,WO/OV1 
 GET UP60 

,RO/OV1 RUBB+ HIS EYES ?AT SEEM$ GLU$ TOGE!R1 RAIS$ HIS DI%EVEL$ 
 HEAD FROM ! HOT PILL[4 

0,:Y1 IS IT LATE80 

0,LATE6 ,IT'S NE>LY T5 O'CLOCK10 ANSW]$ ,NATA%A'S VOICE4 ,A RU/LE ( 
 />*$ PETTICOATS & ! :ISP]+ & LAU<T] ( GIRLS' VOICES CAME 
 FROM ! ADJO9+ ROOM4 ,! DOOR WAS OP5$ A CRACK & !RE WAS A 
 GLIMPSE ( SOME?+ BLUE1 ( RIBBONS1 BLACK HAIR1 & M]RY FACES4 ,IT WAS 
 ,NATA%A1 ,SONYA1 & ,PETYA1 :O HAD COME TO SEE :E!R !Y W]E GETT+ 
 UP4 

0,NI*OLAS6 ,GET UP60 ,NATA%A'S VOICE WAS AGA9 HE>D AT ! DOOR4 

0,DIRECTLY60 

,MEAN:ILE1 ,PETYA1 HAV+ F\ND & SEIZ$ ! SAB]S 9 ! \T] ROOM1 
 ) ! DELI<T BOYS FEEL AT ! SI<T ( A MILIT>Y ELD] BRO!R1 & 
 =GETT+ ?AT IT WAS UNBECOM+ = ! GIRLS TO SEE M5 UNDRESS$1 
 OP5$ ! B$ROOM DOOR4 

0,IS ?IS Y\R SAB]80 HE %\T$4 

,! GIRLS SPRANG ASIDE4 ,D5ISOV HID HIS HAIRY LEGS UND] ! BLANKET1 
 LOOK+ ) A SC>$ FACE AT HIS COMRADE = HELP4 ,! DOOR1 HAV+ LET 
 ,PETYA 91 CLOS$ AGA94 ,A S\ND ( LAU<T] CAME FROM BEH9D IT4 

0,NI*OLAS6 ,COME \T 9 Y\R DRESS+ G[N60 SAID ,NATA%A'S VOICE4 

0,IS ?IS Y\R SAB]80 ASK$ ,PETYA4 0,OR IS IT Y\RS80 HE SAID1 ADDRESS+ 
 ! BLACK-MU/A*$ ,D5ISOV ) S]VILE DEF]5CE4 

,RO/OV HURRI$LY PUT SOME?+ ON HIS FEET1 DREW ON HIS DRESS+ G[N1 & 
 W5T \T4 ,NATA%A HAD PUT ON ONE SPURR$ BOOT & WAS JU/ GETT+ H] 
 FOOT 9TO ! O!R4 ,SONYA1 :5 HE CAME 91 WAS TWIRL+ R\ND & WAS 
 AB\T TO EXP& H] DRESSES 9TO A BALLOON & SIT D[N4 ,!Y W]E DRESS$ 
 ALIKE1 9 NEW PALE-BLUE FROCKS1 & W]E BO? FRE%1 ROSY1 & BRI<T4 
 ,SONYA RAN AWAY1 BUT ,NATA%A1 TAK+ H] BRO!R'S >M1 L$ HIM 9TO ! 
 SITT+ ROOM1 :]E !Y BEGAN TALK+4 ,!Y H>DLY GAVE ONE ANO!R TIME 
 TO ASK QUE/IONS & GIVE REPLIES CONC]N+ A ?\S& LITTLE MATT]S 
 :I* C\LD NOT 9T]E/ ANYONE BUT !MSELVES4 ,NATA%A LAU<$ AT EV]Y 
 WORD HE SAID OR ?AT %E SAID H]SELF1 NOT BECAUSE :AT !Y W]E SAY+ 
 WAS AMUS+1 BUT BECAUSE %E FELT HAPPY & WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL H] JOY 
 :I* EXPRESS$ ITSELF BY LAU<T]4 

0,OH1 H[ NICE1 H[ SPL5DID60 %E SAID TO EV]Y?+4 

,RO/OV FELT ?AT1 UND] ! 9FLU5CE ( ! W>M RAYS ( LOVE1 ?AT 
 *ILDLIKE SMILE :I* HAD NOT ONCE APPE>$ ON HIS FACE S9CE HE LEFT HOME 
 N[ = ! FIR/ TIME AFT] EI<TE5 MON?S AGA9 BRI<T5$ HIS S\L & 
 HIS FACE4 

0,NO1 BUT LI/510 %E SAID1 0N[ Y\ >E QUITE A MAN1 >5'T Y\8 ,I'M 
 AWFULLY GLAD Y\'RE MY BRO!R40 ,%E T\*$ HIS MU/A*E4 0,I WANT TO KN[ 
 :AT Y\ M5 >E LIKE4 ,>E Y\ ! SAME AS WE8 ,NO80 

0,:Y DID ,SONYA RUN AWAY80 ASK$ ,RO/OV4 

0,AH1 YES6 ,?AT'S A :OLE LONG /ORY6 ,H[ >E Y\ GO+ TO SPEAK TO 
 H]--?\ OR Y\80 

0,AS MAY HAPP510 SAID ,RO/OV4 

0,NO1 CALL H] Y\1 PLEASE6 ,I'LL TELL Y\ ALL AB\T IT SOME O!R TIME4 ,NO1 
 ,I'LL TELL Y\ N[4 ,Y\ KN[ ,SONYA'S MY DE>E/ FRI5D4 ,SU* A FRI5D ?AT 
 ,I BURN$ MY >M = H] SAKE4 ,LOOK H]E60 

,%E PULL$ UP H] MUSL9 SLEEVE & %[$ HIM A R$ SC> ON H] LONG1 
 SL5D]1 DELICATE >M1 HI< ABOVE ! ELB[ ON ?AT P>T ?AT IS COV]$ 
 EV5 BY A BALL DRESS4 

0,I BURN$ ?IS TO PROVE MY LOVE = H]4 ,I JU/ HEAT$ A RUL] 9 ! FIRE 
 & PRESS$ IT !RE60 

,SITT+ ON ! S(A ) ! LITTLE CU%IONS ON ITS >MS1 9 :AT US$ TO 
 BE HIS OLD S*OOLROOM1 & LOOK+ 9TO ,NATA%A'S WILDLY BRI<T EYES1 
 ,RO/OV RE5T]$ ?AT WORLD ( HOME & *ILDHOOD :I* HAD NO MEAN+ 
 = ANYONE ELSE1 BUT GAVE HIM SOME ( ! BE/ JOYS ( HIS LIFE2 & ! 
 BURN+ ( AN >M ) A RUL] AS A PRO( ( LOVE DID NOT SEEM TO HIM 
 S5SELESS1 HE UND]/OOD & WAS NOT SURPRIS$ AT IT4 

0,WELL1 & IS ?AT ALL80 HE ASK$4 

0,WE >E SU* FRI5DS1 SU* FRI5DS6 ,ALL ?AT RUL] BUS9ESS WAS JU/ 
 NONS5SE1 BUT WE >E FRI5DS =EV]4 ,%E1 IF %E LOVES ANYONE1 DOES IT 
 = LIFE1 BUT ,I DON'T UND]/& ?AT1 ,I =GET QUICKLY40 

0,WELL1 :AT !N80 

0,WELL1 %E LOVES ME & Y\ LIKE ?AT40 

,NATA%A SUDD5LY FLU%$4 

0,:Y1 Y\ REMEMB] BE=E Y\ W5T AWAY8444 ,WELL1 %E SAYS Y\ >E TO 
 =GET ALL ?AT4444 ,%E SAYS3 ',I %ALL LOVE HIM ALWAYS1 BUT LET HIM BE 
 FREE4' ,ISN'T ?AT LOVELY & NOBLE6 ,YES1 V]Y NOBLE8 ,ISN'T IT80 ASK$ 
 ,NATA%A1 SO S]I\SLY & EXCIT$LY ?AT IT WAS EVID5T ?AT :AT %E WAS 
 N[ SAY+ %E HAD TALK$ ( BE=E1 ) TE>S4 

,RO/OV BECAME ?\<TFUL4 

0,I NEV] GO BACK ON MY WORD10 HE SAID4 0,BESIDES1 ,SONYA IS SO *>M+ ?AT 
 ONLY A FOOL W\LD R5\NCE SU* HAPP9ESS40 

0,NO1 NO60 CRI$ ,NATA%A1 0%E & ,I HAVE ALREADY TALK$ IT OV]4 ,WE KNEW 
 Y\'D SAY SO4 ,BUT IT WON'T DO1 BECAUSE Y\ SEE1 IF Y\ SAY ?AT--IF 
 Y\ CONSID] Y\RSELF B\ND BY Y\R PROMISE--IT WILL SEEM AS IF %E 
 HAD NOT MEANT IT S]I\SLY4 ,IT MAKES IT AS IF Y\ W]E M>RY+ H] 
 BECAUSE Y\ MU/1 & ?AT W\LDN'T DO AT ALL40 

,RO/OV SAW ?AT IT HAD BE5 WELL CONSID]$ BY !M4 ,SONYA HAD ALREADY 
 /RUCK HIM BY H] BEAUTY ON ! PREC$+ DAY4 ,TODAY1 :5 HE HAD CAU<T A 
 GLIMPSE ( H]1 %E SEEM$ /ILL MORE LOVELY4 ,%E WAS A *>M+ GIRL ( 
 SIXTE51 EVID5TLY PASSIONATELY 9 LOVE ) HIM 7HE DID NOT D\BT ?AT 
 = AN 9/ANT74 ,:Y %\LD HE NOT LOVE H] N[1 & EV5 M>RY H]1 
 ,RO/OV ?\<T1 BUT JU/ N[ !RE W]E SO MANY O!R PLEASURES & 
 9T]E/S BE=E HIM6 0,YES1 !Y HAVE TAK5 A WISE DECISION10 HE ?\<T1 
 0,I MU/ REMA9 FREE40 

0,WELL !N1 ?AT'S EXCELL5T10 SAID HE4 0,WE'LL TALK IT OV] LAT] ON4 ,OH1 
 H[ GLAD ,I AM TO HAVE Y\60 

0,WELL1 & >E Y\ /ILL TRUE TO ,BORIS80 HE CONT9U$4 

0,OH1 :AT NONS5SE60 CRI$ ,NATA%A1 LAU<+4 0,I DON'T ?9K AB\T HIM OR 
 ANYONE ELSE1 & ,I DON'T WANT ANY?+ ( ! K9D40 

0,DE> ME6 ,!N :AT >E Y\ UP TO N[80 

0,N[80 REPEAT$ ,NATA%A1 & A HAPPY SMILE LIT UP H] FACE4 0,HAVE Y\ SE5 
 ,DUPORT80 

0,NO40 

0,NOT SE5 ,DUPORT--! FAM\S DANC]8 ,WELL !N1 Y\ WON'T UND]/&4 
 ,?AT'S :AT ,I'M UP TO40 

,CURV+ H] >MS1 ,NATA%A HELD \T H] SKIRTS AS DANC]S DO1 RAN BACK A 
 FEW /EPS1 TURN$1 CUT A CAP]1 BR\<T H] LITTLE FEET %>PLY TOGE!R1 
 & MADE SOME /EPS ON ! V]Y TIPS ( H] TOES4 

0,SEE1 ,I'M /&+6 ,SEE60 %E SAID1 BUT C\LD NOT MA9TA9 H]SELF ON H] 
 TOES ANY LONG]4 0,SO ?AT'S :AT ,I'M UP TO6 ,I'LL NEV] M>RY ANYONE1 BUT 
 WILL BE A DANC]4 ,ONLY DON'T TELL ANYONE40 

,RO/OV LAU<$ SO L\D & M]RILY ?AT ,D5ISOV1 9 HIS B$ROOM1 FELT 
 5VI\S & ,NATA%A C\LD NOT HELP JO9+ 94 

0,NO1 BUT DON'T Y\ ?9K IT'S NICE80 %E KEPT REPEAT+4 

0,NICE6 ,& SO Y\ NO LONG] WI% TO M>RY ,BORIS80 

,NATA%A FL>$ UP4 0,I DON'T WANT TO M>RY ANYONE4 ,& ,I'LL TELL HIM SO 
 :5 ,I SEE HIM60 

0,DE> ME60 SAID ,RO/OV4 

0,BUT ?AT'S ALL RUBBI%10 ,NATA%A *ATT]$ ON4 0,& IS ,D5ISOV NICE80 %E 
 ASK$4 

0,YES1 9DE$60 

0,OH1 WELL !N1 GOOD-BY3 GO & DRESS4 ,IS HE V]Y T]RIBLE1 ,D5ISOV80 

0,:Y T]RIBLE80 ASK$ ,NI*OLAS4 0,NO1 ,VASKA IS A SPL5DID FELL[40 

0,Y\ CALL HIM ,VASKA8 ,?AT'S FUNNY6 ,& IS HE V]Y NICE80 

0,V]Y40 

0,WELL !N1 BE QUICK4 ,WE'LL ALL HAVE BREAKFA/ TOGE!R40 

,& ,NATA%A ROSE & W5T \T ( ! ROOM ON TIPTOE1 LIKE A BALLET DANC]1 
 BUT SMIL+ AS ONLY HAPPY GIRLS ( FIFTE5 CAN SMILE4 ,:5 ,RO/OV MET 
 ,SONYA 9 ! DRAW+ ROOM1 HE R$D5$4 ,HE DID NOT KN[ H[ TO BEHAVE ) 
 H]4 ,! EV5+ BE=E1 9 ! FIR/ HAPPY MOM5T ( MEET+1 !Y HAD 
 KISS$ EA* O!R1 BUT TODAY !Y FELT IT C\LD NOT BE DONE2 HE FELT ?AT 
 EV]YBODY1 9CLUD+ HIS MO!R & SI/]S1 WAS LOOK+ 9QUIR+LY AT 
 HIM & WAT*+ TO SEE H[ HE W\LD BEHAVE ) H]4 ,HE KISS$ H] H& 
 & ADDRESS$ H] NOT AS ?\ BUT AS Y\--,SONYA4 ,BUT !IR EYES MET 
 & SAID ?\1 & EX*ANG$ T5D] KISSES4 ,H] LOOKS ASK$ HIM TO =GIVE 
 H] = HAV+ D>$1 BY ,NATA%A'S 9T]M$IACY1 TO REM9D HIM ( HIS 
 PROMISE1 & !N ?ANK$ HIM = HIS LOVE4 ,HIS LOOKS ?ANK$ H] = 
 (F]+ HIM HIS FRE$OM & TOLD H] ?AT ONE WAY OR ANO!R HE W\LD 
 NEV] CEASE TO LOVE H]1 = ?AT W\LD BE IMPOSSIBLE4 

0,H[ /RANGE IT IS10 SAID ,V]A1 SELECT+ A MOM5T :5 ALL W]E SIL5T1 
 0?AT ,SONYA & ,NI*OLAS N[ SAY Y\ TO ONE ANO!R & MEET LIKE 
 /RANG]S40 

,V]A'S REM>K WAS CORRECT1 AS H] REM>KS ALWAYS W]E1 BUT1 LIKE MO/ ( 
 H] OBS]VATIONS1 IT MADE EV]YONE FEEL UNCOM=TABLE1 NOT ONLY ,SONYA1 
 ,NI*OLAS1 & ,NATA%A1 BUT EV5 ! OLD C\NTESS1 :O--DREAD+ ?IS 
 LOVE AFFAIR :I* MI<T H9D] ,NI*OLAS FROM MAK+ A BRILLIANT MAT*--BLU%$ 
 LIKE A GIRL4 

,D5ISOV1 TO ,RO/OV'S SURPRISE1 APPE>$ 9 ! DRAW+ ROOM ) POMAD$ 
 HAIR1 P]FUM$1 & 9 A NEW UNI=M1 LOOK+ JU/ AS SM>T AS HE MADE 
 HIMSELF :5 GO+ 9TO BATTLE1 & HE WAS MORE AMIABLE TO ! LADIES & 
 G5TLEM5 ?AN ,RO/OV HAD EV] EXPECT$ TO SEE HIM4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfh 3 ,BOOK #d1 ,*APT] #a -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,FEBRU>Y #a#a1 #bag 3 ,BOOK #d1 ,*APT] #a -- ,ADD$4 

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