,BOOK #a#a1 ,*APT] #ac 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,ON ,SATURDAY1 ! ?IRTY-FIR/ ( ,AUGU/1 EV]Y?+ 9 ! ,RO/OVS' H\SE 
 SEEM$ TOPSY-TURVY4 ,ALL ! DOORS W]E OP51 ALL ! FURNITURE WAS BE+ 
 C>RI$ \T OR MOV$ AB\T1 & ! MIRRORS & PICTURES HAD BE5 TAK5 
 D[N4 ,!RE W]E TRUNKS 9 ! ROOMS1 & HAY1 WRAPP+ PAP]1 & ROPES 
 W]E SCATT]$ AB\T4 ,! PEASANTS & H\SE S]FS C>RY+ \T ! ?+S 
 W]E TREAD+ HEAVILY ON ! P>QUET FLOORS4 ,! Y>D WAS CR[D$ ) 
 PEASANT C>TS1 SOME LOAD$ HI< & ALREADY CORD$ UP1 O!RS /ILL EMPTY4 

,! VOICES & FOOT/EPS ( ! MANY S]VANTS & ( ! PEASANTS :O HAD 
 COME ) ! C>TS RES\ND$ AS !Y %\T$ TO ONE ANO!R 9 ! Y>D 
 & 9 ! H\SE4 ,! C\NT HAD BE5 \T S9CE MORN+4 ,! C\NTESS HAD A 
 HEADA*E BR\<T ON BY ALL ! NOISE & TURMOIL & WAS LY+ D[N 9 ! 
 NEW SITT+ ROOM ) A V9EG> COMPRESS ON H] HEAD4 ,PETYA WAS NOT AT 
 HOME1 HE HAD GONE TO VISIT A FRI5D ) :OM HE MEANT TO OBTA9 A 
 TRANSF] FROM ! MILITIA TO ! ACTIVE >MY4 ,SONYA WAS 9 ! BALLROOM 
 LOOK+ AFT] ! PACK+ ( ! GLASS & *9A4 ,NATA%A WAS SITT+ ON 
 ! FLOOR ( H] DISMANTL$ ROOM ) DRESSES1 RIBBONS1 & SC>VES /REWN 
 ALL AB\T H]1 GAZ+ FIX$LY AT ! FLOOR & HOLD+ 9 H] H&S ! 
 OLD BALL DRESS 7ALREADY \T ( FA%ION7 :I* %E HAD WORN AT H] FIR/ 
 ,PET]SBURG BALL4 

,NATA%A WAS A%AM$ ( DO+ NO?+ :5 EV]YONE ELSE WAS SO BUSY1 & 
 SEV]AL TIMES ?AT MORN+ HAD TRI$ TO SET TO WORK1 BUT H] HE>T WAS NOT 
 9 IT1 & %E C\LD NOT & DID NOT KN[ H[ TO DO ANY?+ EXCEPT ) 
 ALL H] HE>T & ALL H] MI<T4 ,= A :ILE %E HAD /OOD BESIDE ,SONYA 
 :ILE ! *9A WAS BE+ PACK$ & TRI$ TO HELP1 BUT SOON GAVE IT UP 
 & W5T TO H] ROOM TO PACK H] [N ?+S4 ,AT FIR/ %E F\ND IT AMUS+ 
 TO GIVE AWAY DRESSES & RIBBONS TO ! MAIDS1 BUT :5 ?AT WAS DONE & 
 :AT WAS LEFT HAD /ILL TO BE PACK$1 %E F\ND IT DULL4 

0,DUNYA%A1 Y\ PACK6 ,Y\ WILL1 WON'T Y\1 DE>80 ,& :5 ,DUNYA%A 
 WILL+LY PROMIS$ TO DO IT ALL = H]1 ,NATA%A SAT D[N ON ! FLOOR1 
 TOOK H] OLD BALL DRESS1 & FELL 9TO A REV]IE QUITE UNRELAT$ TO :AT 
 \<T TO HAVE OCCUPI$ H] ?\<TS N[4 ,%E WAS R\S$ FROM H] REV]IE 
 BY ! TALK ( ! MAIDS 9 ! NEXT ROOM 7:I* WAS !IRS7 & BY ! 
 S\ND ( !IR HURRI$ FOOT/EPS GO+ TO ! BACK POR*4 ,NATA%A GOT UP 
 & LOOK$ \T ( ! W9D[4 ,AN 5ORM\SLY LONG R[ ( C>TS FULL ( 
 W\ND$ M5 HAD /OPP$ 9 ! /REET4 

,! H\SEKEEP]1 ! OLD NURSE1 ! COOKS1 COA*M51 MAIDS1 FOOTM51 
 PO/ILIONS1 & SCULLIONS /OOD AT ! GATE1 />+ AT ! W\ND$4 

,NATA%A1 ?R[+ A CLEAN POCKET H&K]*IEF OV] H] HAIR & HOLD+ AN 
 5D ( IT 9 EA* H&1 W5T \T 9TO ! /REET4 

,! =M] H\SEKEEP]1 OLD ,MAVRA ,KUZM9I*NA1 HAD /EPP$ \T ( ! 
 CR[D BY ! GATE1 GONE UP TO A C>T ) A HOOD CON/RUCT$ ( BA/ MATS1 
 & WAS SPEAK+ TO A PALE Y\NG (FIC] :O LAY 9SIDE4 ,NATA%A MOV$ A 
 FEW /EPS =W>D & /OPP$ %YLY1 /ILL HOLD+ H] H&K]*IEF1 & 
 LI/5$ TO :AT ! H\SEKEEP] WAS SAY+4 

0,!N Y\ HAVE NOBODY 9 ,MOSC[80 %E WAS SAY+4 0,Y\ W\LD BE MORE 
 COM=TABLE SOME:]E 9 A H\SE444 9 \RS1 = 9/ANCE444 ! FAMILY 
 >E LEAV+40 

0,I DON'T KN[ IF IT W\LD BE ALL[$10 REPLI$ ! (FIC] 9 A WEAK 
 VOICE4 0,H]E IS \R COMM&+ (FIC]444 ASK HIM10 & HE PO9T$ TO A 
 /\T MAJOR :O WAS WALK+ BACK ALONG ! /REET PA/ ! R[ ( C>TS4 

,NATA%A GLANC$ ) FRI<T5$ EYES AT ! FACE ( ! W\ND$ (FIC] 
 & AT ONCE W5T TO MEET ! MAJOR4 

0,MAY ! W\ND$ M5 /AY 9 \R H\SE80 %E ASK$4 

,! MAJOR RAIS$ HIS H& TO HIS CAP ) A SMILE4 

0,:I* ONE DO Y\ WANT1 ,MA'AM'SELLE80 SAID HE1 SCREW+ UP HIS EYES & 
 SMIL+4 

,NATA%A QUIETLY REPEAT$ H] QUE/ION1 & H] FACE & :OLE MANN] W]E 
 SO S]I\S1 ?\< %E WAS /ILL HOLD+ ! 5DS ( H] H&K]*IEF1 
 ?AT ! MAJOR CEAS$ SMIL+ & AFT] SOME REFLECTION--AS IF 
 CONSID]+ 9 H[ F> ! ?+ WAS POSSIBLE--REPLI$ 9 ! 
 AFFIRMATIVE4 

0,OH YES1 :Y NOT8 ,!Y MAY10 HE SAID4 

,) A SLI<T 9CL9ATION ( H] HEAD1 ,NATA%A /EPP$ BACK QUICKLY TO 
 ,MAVRA ,KUZM9I*NA1 :O /OOD TALK+ COMPASSIONATELY TO ! (FIC]4 

0,!Y MAY4 ,HE SAYS !Y MAY60 :ISP]$ ,NATA%A4 

,! C>T 9 :I* ! (FIC] LAY WAS TURN$ 9TO ! ,RO/OVS' Y>D1 & 
 DOZ5S ( C>TS ) W\ND$ M5 BEGAN AT ! 9VITATION ( ! T[NSFOLK 
 TO TURN 9TO ! Y>DS & TO DRAW UP AT ! 5TRANCES ( ! H\SES 9 
 ,POV>SKAYA ,/REET4 ,NATA%A WAS EVID5TLY PLEAS$ TO BE DEAL+ ) NEW 
 PEOPLE \TSIDE ! ORD9>Y R\T9E ( H] LIFE4 ,%E & ,MAVRA ,KUZM9I*NA 
 TRI$ TO GET AS MANY ( ! W\ND$ AS POSSIBLE 9TO !IR Y>D4 

0,Y\R ,PAPA MU/ BE TOLD1 ?\<10 SAID ,MAVRA ,KUZM9I*NA4 

0,NEV] M9D1 NEV] M9D1 :AT DOES IT MATT]8 ,= ONE DAY WE CAN MOVE 9TO 
 ! DRAW+ ROOM4 ,!Y CAN HAVE ALL \R HALF ( ! H\SE40 

0,!RE N[1 Y\NG LADY1 Y\ DO TAKE ?+S 9TO Y\R HEAD6 ,EV5 IF WE PUT 
 !M 9TO ! W+1 ! M5'S ROOM1 OR ! NURSE'S ROOM1 WE MU/ ASK 
 P]MISSION40 

0,WELL1 ,I'LL ASK40 

,NATA%A RAN 9TO ! H\SE & W5T ON TIPTOE ?R\< ! HALF-OP5 DOOR 
 9TO ! SITT+ ROOM1 :]E !RE WAS A SMELL ( V9EG> & ,H(FMAN'S 
 DROPS4 

0,>E Y\ ASLEEP1 ,MAMA80 

0,OH1 :AT SLEEP--80 SAID ! C\NTESS1 WAK+ UP JU/ AS 
 %E WAS DROPP+ 9TO A DOZE4 

0,MAMA D>L+60 SAID ,NATA%A1 KNEEL+ BY H] MO!R & BR++ H] 
 FACE CLOSE TO H] MO!R'S1 0,I AM SORRY1 =GIVE ME1 ,I'LL NEV] DO IT 
 AGA92 ,I WOKE Y\ UP6 ,MAVRA ,KUZM9I*NA HAS S5T ME3 !Y HAVE BR\<T 
 SOME W\ND$ H]E--(FIC]S4 ,WILL Y\ LET !M COME8 ,!Y HAVE 
 NO:]E TO GO4 ,I KNEW Y\'D LET !M COME60 %E SAID QUICKLY ALL 9 ONE 
 BREA?4 

0,:AT (FIC]S8 ,:OM HAVE !Y BR\<T8 ,I DON'T UND]/& ANY?+ AB\T 
 IT10 SAID ! C\NTESS4 

,NATA%A LAU<$1 & ! C\NTESS TOO SMIL$ SLI<TLY4 

0,I KNEW Y\'D GIVE P]MISSION444 SO ,I'LL TELL !M10 &1 HAV+ KISS$ 
 H] MO!R1 ,NATA%A GOT UP & W5T TO ! DOOR4 

,9 ! HALL %E MET H] FA!R1 :O HAD RETURN$ ) BAD NEWS4 

0,WE'VE /AY$ TOO LONG60 SAID ! C\NT ) 9VOLUNT>Y 
 VEXATION4 0,! ,CLUB IS CLOS$ & ! POLICE >E LEAV+40 

0,PAPA1 IS IT ALL RI<T--,I'VE 9VIT$ SOME ( ! W\ND$ 9TO ! 
 H\SE80 SAID ,NATA%A4 

0,( C\RSE IT IS10 HE ANSW]$ ABS5TLY4 0,?AT'S NOT ! PO9T4 ,I BEG Y\ 
 NOT TO 9DULGE 9 TRIFLES N[1 BUT TO HELP TO PACK1 & TOMORR[ WE MU/ 
 GO1 GO1 GO64440 

,& ! C\NT GAVE A SIMIL> ORD] TO ! MAJOR-DOMO & ! S]VANTS4 

,AT D9N] ,PETYA HAV+ RETURN$ HOME TOLD !M ! NEWS HE HAD HE>D4 ,HE 
 SAID ! PEOPLE HAD BE5 GETT+ >MS 9 ! ,KREML91 & ?AT ?\< 
 ,RO/OP*9'S BROAD%EET HAD SAID ?AT HE W\LD S\ND A CALL TWO OR ?REE 
 DAYS 9 ADVANCE1 ! ORD] HAD C]TA9LY ALREADY BE5 GIV5 = EV]YONE 
 TO GO >M$ TO ! ,?REE ,HILLS TOMORR[1 & ?AT !RE W\LD BE A BIG 
 BATTLE !RE4 

,! C\NTESS LOOK$ ) TIMID HORROR AT H] SON'S EAG]1 EXCIT$ FACE AS 
 HE SAID ?IS4 ,%E REALIZ$ ?AT IF %E SAID A WORD AB\T HIS NOT GO+ TO 
 ! BATTLE 7%E KNEW HE 5JOY$ ! ?\<T ( ! IMP5D+ 5GAGEM5T7 
 HE W\LD SAY SOME?+ AB\T M51 HONOR1 & ! FA!RL&--SOME?+ 
 S5SELESS1 MASCUL9E1 & OB/9ATE :I* !RE W\LD BE NO CONTRADICT+1 
 & H] PLANS W\LD BE SPOIL$2 & SO1 HOP+ TO >RANGE TO LEAVE BE=E 
 !N & TAKE ,PETYA ) H] AS !IR PROTECTOR & DEF5D]1 %E DID NOT 
 ANSW] HIM1 BUT AFT] D9N] CALL$ ! C\NT ASIDE & IMPLOR$ HIM ) 
 TE>S TO TAKE H] AWAY QUICKLY1 ?AT V]Y NI<T IF POSSIBLE4 ,) A 
 WOMAN'S 9VOLUNT>Y LOV+ CUNN+ %E1 :O TILL !N HAD NOT %[N ANY 
 AL>M1 SAID ?AT %E W\LD DIE ( FRI<T IF !Y DID NOT LEAVE ?AT V]Y 
 NI<T4 ,)\T ANY PRET5SE %E WAS N[ AFRAID ( EV]Y?+4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

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

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