,BOOK #d1 ,*APT] #h 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

0,DE>E/10 SAID ! LITTLE PR9CESS AFT] BREAKFA/ ON ! MORN+ ( ! 
 N9ETE5? ,M>*1 & H] D[NY LITTLE LIP ROSE FROM OLD HABIT1 BUT AS 
 SORR[ WAS MANIFE/ 9 EV]Y SMILE1 ! S\ND ( EV]Y WORD1 & EV5 
 EV]Y FOOT/EP 9 ?AT H\SE S9CE ! T]RIBLE NEWS HAD COME1 SO N[ ! 
 SMILE ( ! LITTLE PR9CESS--9FLU5C$ BY ! G5]AL MOOD ?\< 
 )\T KN[+ ITS CAUSE--WAS SU* AS TO REM9D ONE /ILL MORE ( 
 ! G5]AL SORR[4 

0,DE>E/1 ,I'M AFRAID ?IS MORN+'S FRUS*TIQUE "9--AS ,FOKA ! COOK 
 CALLS IT--HAS DISAGRE$ ) ME40 

 "9 ,FRUH/UCK3 BREAKFA/4 

  

0,:AT IS ! MATT] ) Y\1 MY D>L+8 ,Y\ LOOK PALE4 ,OH1 Y\ >E V]Y 
 PALE60 SAID ,PR9CESS ,M>Y 9 AL>M1 RUNN+ ) H] S(T1 POND]\S /EPS 
 UP TO H] SI/]-9-LAW4 

0,Y\R EXCELL5CY1 %\LD NOT ,M>Y ,BOGDANOVNA BE S5T =80 SAID ONE ( ! 
 MAIDS :O WAS PRES5T4 7,M>Y ,BOGDANOVNA WAS A MIDWIFE FROM ! NEI<BOR+ 
 T[N1 :O HAD BE5 AT ,BALD ,HILLS = ! LA/ =TNI<T47 

0,OH YES10 ASS5T$ ,PR9CESS ,M>Y1 0P]HAPS ?AT'S IT4 ,I'LL GO4 ,C\RAGE1 MY 
 ANGEL40 ,%E KISS$ ,LISE & WAS AB\T TO LEAVE ! ROOM4 

0,OH1 NO1 NO60 ,& BESIDES ! PALLOR & ! PHYSICAL SUFF]+ ON ! 
 LITTLE PR9CESS' FACE1 AN EXPRESSION ( *ILDI% FE> ( 9EVITABLE PA9 
 %[$ ITSELF4 

0,NO1 IT'S ONLY 9DIGE/ION8444 ,SAY IT'S ONLY 9DIGE/ION1 SAY SO1 ,M>Y6 
 ,SAY4440 ,& ! LITTLE PR9CESS BEGAN TO CRY CAPRICI\SLY LIKE A SUFF]+ 
 *ILD & TO WR+ H] LITTLE H&S EV5 ) SOME AFFECTATION4 ,PR9CESS 
 ,M>Y RAN \T ( ! ROOM TO FET* ,M>Y ,BOGDANOVNA4 

0,MON ,DIEU6 ,MON ,DIEU6 ,OH60 %E HE>D AS %E LEFT ! ROOM4 

,! MIDWIFE WAS ALREADY ON H] WAY TO MEET H]1 RUBB+ H] SMALL1 PLUMP 
 :ITE H&S ) AN AIR ( CALM IMPORTANCE4 

0,M>Y ,BOGDANOVNA1 ,I ?9K IT'S BEG9N+60 SAID ,PR9CESS ,M>Y LOOK+ AT 
 ! MIDWIFE ) WIDE-OP5 EYES ( AL>M4 

0,WELL1 ! ,LORD BE ?ANK$1 ,PR9CESS10 SAID ,M>Y ,BOGDANOVNA1 NOT HA/5+ 
 H] /EPS4 0,Y\ Y\NG LADIES %\LD NOT KN[ ANY?+ AB\T IT40 

0,BUT H[ IS IT ! DOCTOR FROM ,MOSC[ IS NOT H]E YET80 SAID ! PR9CESS4 
 7,9 ACCORDANCE ) ,LISE'S & ,PR9CE ,&REW'S WI%ES !Y HAD S5T 9 
 GOOD TIME TO ,MOSC[ = A DOCTOR & W]E EXPECT+ HIM AT ANY MOM5T47 

0,NO MATT]1 ,PR9CESS1 DON'T BE AL>M$10 SAID ,M>Y ,BOGDANOVNA4 0,WE'LL 
 MANAGE V]Y WELL )\T A DOCTOR40 

,FIVE M9UTES LAT] ,PR9CESS ,M>Y FROM H] ROOM HE>D SOME?+ HEAVY BE+ 
 C>RI$ BY4 ,%E LOOK$ \T4 ,! M5 S]VANTS W]E C>RY+ ! L>GE 
 LEA!R S(A FROM ,PR9CE ,&REW'S /UDY 9TO ! B$ROOM4 ,ON !IR FACES 
 WAS A QUIET & SOLEMN LOOK4 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y SAT ALONE 9 H] ROOM LI/5+ TO ! S\NDS 9 ! H\SE1 
 N[ & !N OP5+ H] DOOR :5 SOMEONE PASS$ & WAT*+ :AT WAS 
 GO+ ON 9 ! PASSAGE4 ,SOME WOM5 PASS+ ) QUIET /EPS 9 & \T ( 
 ! B$ROOM GLANC$ AT ! PR9CESS & TURN$ AWAY4 ,%E DID NOT V5TURE 
 TO ASK ANY QUE/IONS1 & %UT ! DOOR AGA91 N[ SITT+ D[N 9 H] 
 EASY *AIR1 N[ TAK+ H] PRAY] BOOK1 N[ KNEEL+ BE=E ! ICON 
 /&4 ,TO H] SURPRISE & DI/RESS %E F\ND ?AT H] PRAY]S DID NOT 
 CALM H] EXCITEM5T4 ,SUDD5LY H] DOOR OP5$ S(TLY & H] OLD NURSE1 
 ,PRASKOVYA ,SAVI%NA1 :O H>DLY EV] CAME TO ?AT ROOM AS ! OLD PR9CE 
 HAD =BIDD5 IT1 APPE>$ ON ! ?RE%OLD ) A %AWL R\ND H] HEAD4 

0,I'VE COME TO SIT ) Y\ A BIT1 ,MA%A10 SAID ! NURSE1 0& H]E ,I'VE 
 BR\<T ! PR9CE'S W$D+ C&LES TO LI<T BE=E HIS SA9T1 MY ANGEL10 
 %E SAID ) A SI<4 

0,OH1 NURSE1 ,I'M SO GLAD60 

0,GOD IS M]CIFUL1 BIRDIE40 

,! NURSE LIT ! GILT C&LES BE=E ! ICONS & SAT D[N BY ! DOOR 
 ) H] KNITT+4 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y TOOK A BOOK & BEGAN READ+4 ,ONLY :5 
 FOOT/EPS OR VOICES W]E HE>D DID !Y LOOK AT ONE ANO!R1 ! PR9CESS 
 ANXI\S & 9QUIR+1 ! NURSE 5C\RAG+4 ,EV]YONE 9 ! H\SE WAS 
 DOM9AT$ BY ! SAME FEEL+ ?AT ,PR9CESS ,M>Y EXP]I5C$ AS %E SAT 9 
 H] ROOM4 ,BUT [+ TO ! SUP]/ITION ?AT ! FEW] ! PEOPLE :O KN[ 
 ( IT ! LESS A WOMAN 9 TRAVAIL SUFF]S1 EV]YONE TRI$ TO PRET5D NOT 
 TO KN[2 NO ONE SPOKE ( IT1 BUT AP>T FROM ! ORD9>Y /AID & 
 RESPECTFUL GOOD MANN]S HABITUAL 9 ! PR9CE'S H\SEHOLD1 A COMMON 
 ANXIETY1 A S(T5+ ( ! HE>T1 & A CONSCI\SNESS ?AT SOME?+ 
 GREAT & MY/]I\S WAS BE+ ACCOMPLI%$ AT ?AT MOM5T MADE ITSELF 
 FELT4 

,!RE WAS NO LAU<T] 9 ! MAIDS' L>GE HALL4 ,9 ! M5 S]VANTS' HALL 
 ALL SAT WAIT+1 SIL5TLY & AL]T4 ,9 ! \TLY+ S]FS' QU>T]S 
 TOR*ES & C&LES W]E BURN+ & NO ONE SLEPT4 ,! OLD PR9CE1 
 /EPP+ ON HIS HEELS1 PAC$ UP & D[N HIS /UDY & S5T ,TIKHON TO ASK 
 ,M>Y ,BOGDANOVNA :AT NEWS4--0,SAY ONLY ?AT '! PR9CE TOLD ME TO 
 ASK1' & COME & TELL ME H] ANSW]40 

0,9=M ! PR9CE ?AT LABOR HAS BEGUN10 SAID ,M>Y ,BOGDANOVNA1 GIV+ ! 
 MESS5G] A SIGNIFICANT LOOK4 

,TIKHON W5T & TOLD ! PR9CE4 

0,V]Y GOOD60 SAID ! PR9CE CLOS+ ! DOOR BEH9D HIM1 & ,TIKHON DID 
 NOT HE> ! SLI<TE/ S\ND FROM ! /UDY AFT] ?AT4 

,AFT] A :ILE HE RE5T]$ IT AS IF TO SNUFF ! C&LES1 &1 SEE+ ! 
 PR9CE WAS LY+ ON ! S(A1 LOOK$ AT HIM1 NOTIC$ HIS P]TURB$ FACE1 
 %OOK HIS HEAD1 & GO+ UP TO HIM SIL5TLY KISS$ HIM ON ! %\LD] 
 & LEFT ! ROOM )\T SNUFF+ ! C&LES OR SAY+ :Y HE HAD 
 5T]$4 ,! MO/ SOLEMN MY/]Y 9 ! WORLD CONT9U$ ITS C\RSE4 
 ,EV5+ PASS$1 NI<T CAME1 & ! FEEL+ ( SUSP5SE & S(T5+ ( 
 HE>T 9 ! PRES5CE ( ! UNFA?OMABLE DID NOT LESS5 BUT 9CREAS$4 ,NO 
 ONE SLEPT4 

,IT WAS ONE ( ?OSE ,M>* NI<TS :5 W9T] SEEMS TO WI% TO RESUME ITS 
 SWAY & SCATT]S ITS LA/ SN[S & /ORMS ) DESP]ATE FURY4 ,A RELAY 
 ( HORSES HAD BE5 S5T UP ! HI<ROAD TO MEET ! ,G]MAN DOCTOR FROM 
 ,MOSC[ :O WAS EXPECT$ EV]Y MOM5T1 & M5 ON HORSEBACK ) LANT]NS 
 W]E S5T TO ! CROSSROADS TO GUIDE HIM OV] ! C\NTRY ROAD ) ITS 
 HOLL[S & SN[-COV]$ POOLS ( WAT]4 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y HAD LONG S9CE PUT ASIDE H] BOOK3 %E SAT SIL5T1 H] 
 LUM9\S EYES FIX$ ON H] NURSE'S WR9KL$ FACE 7EV]Y L9E ( :I* %E 
 KNEW SO WELL71 ON ! LOCK ( GRAY HAIR ?AT ESCAP$ FROM UND] ! 
 K]*IEF1 & ! LOOSE SK9 ?AT HUNG UND] H] *94 

,NURSE ,SAVI%NA1 KNITT+ 9 H&1 WAS TELL+ 9 L[ TONES1 SC>CELY 
 HE>+ OR UND]/&+ H] [N WORDS1 :AT %E HAD TOLD HUNDR$S ( 
 TIMES BE=E3 H[ ! LATE PR9CESS HAD GIV5 BIR? TO ,PR9CESS ,M>Y 9 
 ,KI%5EV ) ONLY A ,MOLDAVIAN PEASANT WOMAN TO HELP 9/EAD ( A MIDWIFE4 

0,GOD IS M]CIFUL1 DOCTORS >E NEV] NE$$10 %E SAID4 

,SUDD5LY A GU/ ( W9D BEAT VIOL5TLY AGA9/ ! CASEM5T ( ! W9D[1 
 FROM :I* ! D\BLE FRAME HAD BE5 REMOV$ 7BY ORD] ( ! PR9CE1 ONE 
 W9D[ FRAME WAS REMOV$ 9 EA* ROOM AS SOON AS ! L>KS RETURN$71 &1 
 =C+ OP5 A LOOSELY CLOS$ LAT*1 SET ! DAMASK CURTA9 FLAPP+ & 
 BLEW \T ! C&LE ) ITS *ILL1 SN[Y DRAFT4 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y %UDD]$2 
 H] NURSE1 PUTT+ D[N ! /OCK+ %E WAS KNITT+1 W5T TO ! W9D[ 
 & LEAN+ \T TRI$ TO CAT* ! OP5 CASEM5T4 ,! COLD W9D FLAPP$ 
 ! 5DS ( H] K]*IEF & H] LOOSE LOCKS ( GRAY HAIR4 

0,PR9CESS1 MY DE>1 !RE'S SOMEONE DRIV+ UP ! AV5UE60 %E SAID1 
 HOLD+ ! CASEM5T & NOT CLOS+ IT4 0,) LANT]NS4 ,MO/ LIKELY ! 
 DOCTOR40 

0,OH1 MY ,GOD6 ?ANK ,GOD60 SAID ,PR9CESS ,M>Y4 0,I MU/ GO & MEET HIM1 HE 
 DOES NOT KN[ ,RUSSIAN40 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y ?REW A %AWL OV] H] HEAD & RAN TO MEET ! NEWCOM]4 ,AS 
 %E WAS CROSS+ ! ANT]OOM %E SAW ?R\< ! W9D[ A C>RIAGE ) 
 LANT]NS1 /&+ AT ! 5TRANCE4 ,%E W5T \T ON ! /AIRS4 ,ON A 
 BANI/] PO/ /OOD A TALL[ C&LE :I* GUTT]$ 9 ! DRAFT4 ,ON ! 
 L&+ BEL[1 ,PHILIP1 ! FOOTMAN1 /OOD LOOK+ SC>$ & HOLD+ 
 ANO!R C&LE4 ,/ILL L[]1 BEYOND ! TURN ( ! /AIRCASE1 ONE C\LD 
 HE> ! FOOT/EP ( SOMEONE 9 ?ICK FELT BOOTS1 & A VOICE ?AT SEEM$ 
 FAMILI> TO ,PR9CESS ,M>Y WAS SAY+ SOME?+4 

0,?ANK ,GOD60 SAID ! VOICE4 0,& ,FA!R80 

0,GONE TO B$10 REPLI$ ! VOICE ( ,DEMYAN ! H\SE /EW>D1 :O WAS 
 D[N/AIRS4 

,!N ! VOICE SAID SOME?+ MORE1 ,DEMYAN REPLI$1 & ! /EPS 9 ! 
 FELT BOOTS APPROA*$ ! UNSE5 B5D ( ! /AIRCASE MORE RAPIDLY4 

0,IT'S ,&REW60 ?\<T ,PR9CESS ,M>Y4 0,NO IT CAN'T BE1 ?AT W\LD BE TOO 
 EXTRAORD9>Y10 & AT ! V]Y MOM5T %E ?\<T ?IS1 ! FACE & 
 FIGURE ( ,PR9CE ,&REW1 9 A FUR CLOAK ! DEEP COLL> ( :I* COV]$ 
 ) SN[1 APPE>$ ON ! L&+ :]E ! FOOTMAN /OOD ) ! 
 C&LE4 ,YES1 IT WAS HE1 PALE1 ?91 ) A *ANG$ & /RANGELY S(T5$ 
 BUT AGITAT$ EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE4 ,HE CAME UP ! /AIRS & EMBRAC$ 
 HIS SI/]4 

0,Y\ DID NOT GET MY LETT]80 HE ASK$1 & NOT WAIT+ = A REPLY--:I* 
 HE W\LD NOT HAVE RECEIV$1 = ! PR9CESS WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK--HE 
 TURN$ BACK1 RAPIDLY M\NT$ ! /AIRS AGA9 ) ! DOCTOR :O HAD 
 5T]$ ! HALL AFT] HIM 7!Y HAD MET AT ! LA/ PO/ /ATION71 & 
 AGA9 EMBRAC$ HIS SI/]4 

0,:AT A /RANGE FATE1 ,MA%A D>L+60 ,& HAV+ TAK5 (F HIS CLOAK & 
 FELT BOOTS1 HE W5T TO ! LITTLE PR9CESS' AP>TM5T4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
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,FEBRU>Y #a#a1 #bag 3 ,BOOK #d1 ,*APT] #h -- ,ADD$4 

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