,EPILOGUE #a1 ,*APT] #h 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,ONE MATT] CONNECT$ ) HIS MANAGEM5T SOMETIMES WORRI$ ,NI*OLAS1 & 
 ?AT WAS HIS QUICK TEMP] TOGE!R ) HIS OLD HUSS> HABIT ( MAK+ 
 FREE USE ( HIS FI/S4 ,AT FIR/ HE SAW NO?+ REPREH5SIBLE 9 ?IS1 BUT 
 9 ! SECOND YE> ( HIS M>RIAGE HIS VIEW ( ?AT =M ( PUNI%M5T 
 SUDD5LY *ANG$4 

,ONCE 9 SUMM] HE HAD S5T = ! VILLAGE ELD] FROM ,BOGU*>OVO1 A MAN 
 :O HAD SUCCE$$ TO ! PO/ :5 ,DRON DI$ & :O WAS ACCUS$ ( 
 DI%ONE/Y & V>I\S IRREGUL>ITIES4 ,NI*OLAS W5T \T 9TO ! POR* TO 
 QUE/ION HIM1 & IMM$IATELY AFT] ! ELD] HAD GIV5 A FEW REPLIES ! 
 S\ND ( CRIES & BL[S W]E HE>D4 ,ON RETURN+ TO LUN* ,NI*OLAS W5T 
 UP TO HIS WIFE1 :O SAT ) H] HEAD B5T L[ OV] H] EMBROID]Y FRAME1 
 & AS USUAL BEGAN TO TELL H] :AT HE HAD BE5 DO+ ?AT MORN+4 ,AMONG 
 O!R ?+S HE SPOKE ( ! ,BOGU*>OVO ELD]4 ,C\NTESS ,M>Y TURN$ R$ 
 & !N PALE1 BUT CONT9U$ TO SIT ) HEAD B[$ & LIPS COMPRESS$ 
 & GAVE H] HUSB& NO REPLY4 

0,SU* AN 9SOL5T SC\NDREL60 HE CRI$1 GR[+ HOT AGA9 AT ! M]E 
 RECOLLECTION ( HIM4 0,IF HE HAD TOLD ME HE WAS DRUNK & DID NOT SEE444 
 ,BUT :AT IS ! MATT] ) Y\1 ,M>Y80 HE SUDD5LY ASK$4 

,C\NTESS ,M>Y RAIS$ H] HEAD & TRI$ TO SPEAK1 BUT HA/ILY LOOK$ D[N 
 AGA9 & H] LIPS PUCK]$4 

0,:Y1 :ATEV] IS ! MATT]1 MY DE>E/80 

,! LOOKS ( ! PLA9 ,C\NTESS ,M>Y ALWAYS IMPROV$ :5 %E WAS 9 
 TE>S4 ,%E NEV] CRI$ FROM PA9 OR VEXATION1 BUT ALWAYS FROM SORR[ OR 
 PITY1 & :5 %E WEPT H] RADIANT EYES ACQUIR$ AN IRRESI/IBLE *>M4 

,! MOM5T ,NI*OLAS TOOK H] H& %E C\LD NO LONG] RE/RA9 H]SELF & 
 BEGAN TO CRY4 

0,NI*OLAS1 ,I SAW IT444 HE WAS TO BLAME1 BUT :Y DO Y\444 ,NI*OLAS60 & 
 %E COV]$ H] FACE ) H] H&S4 

,NI*OLAS SAID NO?+4 ,HE FLU%$ CRIMSON1 LEFT H] SIDE1 & PAC$ UP & 
 D[N ! ROOM4 ,HE UND]/OOD :AT %E WAS WEEP+ AB\T1 BUT C\LD NOT 9 
 HIS HE>T AT ONCE AGREE ) H] ?AT :AT HE HAD REG>D$ FROM *ILDHOOD 
 AS QUITE AN EV]YDAY EV5T WAS WRONG4 0,IS IT JU/ S5TIM5TALITY1 OLD 
 WIVES' TALES1 OR IS %E RI<T80 HE ASK$ HIMSELF4 ,BE=E HE HAD SOLV$ 
 ?AT PO9T HE GLANC$ AGA9 AT H] FACE FILL$ ) LOVE & PA91 & HE 
 SUDD5LY REALIZ$ ?AT %E WAS RI<T & ?AT HE HAD LONG BE5 S9N+ 
 AGA9/ HIMSELF4 

0,M>Y10 HE SAID S(TLY1 GO+ UP TO H]1 0IT WILL NEV] HAPP5 AGA92 ,I 
 GIVE Y\ MY WORD4 ,NEV]10 HE REPEAT$ 9 A TREMBL+ VOICE LIKE A BOY 
 ASK+ = =GIV5ESS4 

,! TE>S FL[$ FA/] /ILL FROM ! C\NTESS' EYES4 ,%E TOOK HIS H& 
 & KISS$ IT4 

0,NI*OLAS1 :5 DID Y\ BREAK Y\R CAMEO80 %E ASK$ TO *ANGE ! 
 SUBJECT1 LOOK+ AT HIS F+] ON :I* HE WORE A R+ ) A CAMEO ( 
 ,LAOCOON'S HEAD4 

0,TODAY--IT WAS ! SAME AFFAIR4 ,OH1 ,M>Y1 DON'T REM9D ME ( IT60 & 
 AGA9 HE FLU%$4 0,I GIVE Y\ MY WORD ( HONOR IT %AN'T OCCUR AGA91 & 
 LET ?IS ALWAYS BE A REM9D] TO ME10 & HE PO9T$ TO ! BROK5 R+4 

,AFT] ?AT1 :5 9 DISCUSSIONS ) HIS VILLAGE ELD]S OR /EW>DS ! 
 BLOOD RU%$ TO HIS FACE & HIS FI/S BEGAN TO CL5*1 ,NI*OLAS W\LD 
 TURN ! BROK5 R+ ON HIS F+] & W\LD DROP HIS EYES BE=E ! MAN 
 :O WAS MAK+ HIM ANGRY4 ,BUT HE DID =GET HIMSELF ONCE OR TWICE )9 A 
 TWELVEMON?1 & !N HE W\LD GO & CONFESS TO HIS WIFE1 & W\LD AGA9 
 PROMISE ?AT ?IS %\LD REALLY BE ! V]Y LA/ TIME4 

0,M>Y1 Y\ MU/ DESPISE ME60 HE W\LD SAY4 0,I DES]VE IT40 

0,Y\ %\LD GO1 GO AWAY AT ONCE1 IF Y\ DON'T FEEL /RONG 5\< TO 
 CONTROL Y\RSELF10 %E W\LD REPLY SADLY1 TRY+ TO COM=T H] HUSB&4 

,AMONG ! G5TRY ( ! PROV9CE ,NI*OLAS WAS RESPECT$ BUT NOT LIK$4 ,HE 
 DID NOT CONC]N HIMSELF ) ! 9T]E/S ( HIS [N CLASS1 & 
 CONSEQU5TLY SOME ?\<T HIM PR\D & O!RS ?\<T HIM /UPID4 ,! 
 :OLE SUMM]1 FROM SPR+ S[+ TO H>VE/1 HE WAS BUSY ) ! WORK ON 
 HIS F>M4 ,9 AUTUMN HE GAVE HIMSELF UP TO HUNT+ ) ! SAME 
 BUS9ESS-LIKE S]I\SNESS--LEAV+ HOME = A MON?1 OR EV5 TWO1 
 ) HIS HUNT4 ,9 W9T] HE VISIT$ HIS O!R VILLAGES OR SP5T HIS TIME 
 READ+4 ,! BOOKS HE READ W]E *IEFLY HI/ORICAL1 & ON !SE HE SP5T 
 A C]TA9 SUM EV]Y YE>4 ,HE WAS COLLECT+1 AS HE SAID1 A S]I\S 
 LIBR>Y1 & HE MADE IT A RULE TO READ ?R\< ALL ! BOOKS HE B\<T4 ,HE 
 W\LD SIT 9 HIS /UDY ) A GRAVE AIR1 READ+--A TASK HE FIR/ 
 IMPOS$ UPON HIMSELF AS A DUTY1 BUT :I* AFT]W>DS BECAME A HABIT 
 AF=D+ HIM A SPECIAL K9D ( PLEASURE & A CONSCI\SNESS ( BE+ 
 OCCUPI$ ) S]I\S MATT]S4 ,9 W9T]1 EXCEPT = BUS9ESS EXCURSIONS1 
 HE SP5T MO/ ( HIS TIME AT HOME MAK+ HIMSELF ONE ) HIS FAMILY & 
 5T]+ 9TO ALL ! DETAILS ( HIS *ILDR5'S RELATIONS ) !IR 
 MO!R4 ,! H>MONY BETWE5 HIM & HIS WIFE GREW CLOS] & CLOS] & HE 
 DAILY DISCOV]$ FRE% SPIRITUAL TREASURES 9 H]4 

,FROM ! TIME ( HIS M>RIAGE ,SONYA HAD LIV$ 9 HIS H\SE4 ,BE=E ?AT1 
 ,NI*OLAS HAD TOLD HIS WIFE ALL ?AT HAD PASS$ BETWE5 HIMSELF & ,SONYA1 
 BLAM+ HIMSELF & COMM5D+ H]4 ,HE HAD ASK$ ,PR9CESS ,M>Y TO BE 
 G5TLE & K9D TO HIS C\S94 ,%E ?OR\<LY REALIZ$ ! WRONG HE HAD 
 DONE ,SONYA1 FELT H]SELF TO BLAME T[>D H]1 & IMAG9$ ?AT H] WEAL? 
 HAD 9FLU5C$ ,NI*OLAS' *OICE4 ,%E C\LD NOT F9D FAULT ) ,SONYA 9 
 ANY WAY & TRI$ TO BE FOND ( H]1 BUT (T5 FELT ILL-WILL T[>D H] 
 :I* %E C\LD NOT OV]COME4 

,ONCE %E HAD A TALK ) H] FRI5D ,NATA%A AB\T ,SONYA & AB\T H] [N 
 9JU/ICE T[>D H]4 

0,Y\ KN[10 SAID ,NATA%A1 0Y\ HAVE READ ! ,GOSPELS A GREAT DEAL--!RE 
 IS A PASSAGE 9 !M ?AT JU/ FITS ,SONYA40 

0,:AT80 ASK$ ,C\NTESS ,M>Y1 SURPRIS$4 

0',TO HIM ?AT HA? %ALL BE GIV51 & FROM HIM ?AT HA? NOT %ALL BE 
 TAK5 AWAY4' ,Y\ REMEMB]8 ,%E IS ONE ?AT HA? NOT2 :Y1 ,I DON'T KN[4 
 ,P]HAPS %E LACKS EGOTISM1 ,I DON'T KN[1 BUT FROM H] IS TAK5 AWAY1 & 
 EV]Y?+ HAS BE5 TAK5 AWAY4 ,SOMETIMES ,I AM DREADFULLY SORRY = H]4 
 ,=M]LY ,I V]Y MU* WANT$ ,NI*OLAS TO M>RY H]1 BUT ,I ALWAYS HAD A SORT 
 ( PRES5TIM5T ?AT IT W\LD NOT COME (F4 ,%E IS A /]ILE FL[]1 Y\ 
 KN[--LIKE SOME /RAWB]RY BLOSSOMS4 ,SOMETIMES ,I AM SORRY = H]1 
 & SOMETIMES ,I ?9K %E DOESN'T FEEL IT AS Y\ OR ,I W\LD40 

,?\< ,C\NTESS ,M>Y TOLD ,NATA%A ?AT ?OSE WORDS 9 ! ,GOSPEL MU/ BE 
 UND]/OOD DIFF]5TLY1 YET LOOK+ AT ,SONYA %E AGRE$ ) ,NATA%A'S 
 EXPLANATION4 ,IT REALLY SEEM$ ?AT ,SONYA DID NOT FEEL H] POSITION TRY+1 
 & HAD GR[N QUITE RECONCIL$ TO H] LOT AS A /]ILE FL[]4 ,%E SEEM$ 
 TO BE FOND NOT SO MU* ( 9DIVIDUALS AS ( ! FAMILY AS A :OLE4 ,LIKE A 
 CAT1 %E HAD ATTA*$ H]SELF NOT TO ! PEOPLE BUT TO ! HOME4 ,%E 
 WAIT$ ON ! OLD C\NTESS1 PETT$ & SPOIL$ ! *ILDR51 WAS ALWAYS 
 READY TO R5D] ! SMALL S]VICES = :I* %E HAD A GIFT1 & ALL ?IS 
 WAS UNCONSCI\SLY ACCEPT$ FROM H] ) 9SUFFICI5T GRATITUDE4 

,! C\NTRY SEAT AT ,BALD ,HILLS HAD BE5 REBUILT1 ?\< NOT ON ! SAME 
 SCALE AS UND] ! OLD PR9CE4 

,! BUILD+S1 BEGUN UND] /RAIT5$ CIRCUM/ANCES1 W]E MORE ?AN 
 SIMPLE4 ,! IMM5SE H\SE ON ! OLD /ONE F\NDATIONS WAS ( WOOD1 
 PLA/]$ ONLY 9SIDE4 ,IT HAD B>E DEAL FLOORS & WAS FURNI%$ ) V]Y 
 SIMPLE H>D S(AS1 >M*AIRS1 TABLES1 & *AIRS MADE BY !IR [N S]F 
 C>P5T]S \T ( !IR [N BIR*WOOD4 ,! H\SE WAS SPACI\S & HAD 
 ROOMS = ! H\SE S]FS & AP>TM5TS = VISITORS4 ,:OLE FAMILIES ( 
 ! ,RO/OVS' & ,BOLKONSKIS' RELATIONS SOMETIMES CAME TO ,BALD ,HILLS ) 
 SIXTE5 HORSES & DOZ5S ( S]VANTS & /AY$ = MON?S4 ,BESIDES ?AT1 
 F\R TIMES A YE>1 ON ! NAME DAYS & BIR?DAYS ( ! HO/S1 AS MANY AS 
 A HUNDR$ VISITORS W\LD GA!R !RE = A DAY OR TWO4 ,! RE/ ( ! 
 YE> LIFE PURSU$ ITS UNBROK5 R\T9E ) ITS ORD9>Y OCCUPATIONS1 & 
 ITS BREAKFA/S1 LUN*ES1 D9N]S1 & SUPP]S1 PROVID$ \T ( ! PRODUCE 
 ( ! E/ATE4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

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

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