,BOOK #f1 ,*APT] #bc 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,PR9CE ,&REW NE$$ HIS FA!R'S CONS5T TO HIS M>RIAGE1 & TO OBTA9 
 ?IS HE />T$ = ! C\NTRY NEXT DAY4 

,HIS FA!R RECEIV$ HIS SON'S COMMUNICATION ) EXT]NAL COMPOSURE1 BUT 
 9W>D WRA?4 ,HE C\LD NOT COMPREH5D H[ ANYONE C\LD WI% TO ALT] HIS 
 LIFE OR 9TRODUCE ANY?+ NEW 9TO IT1 :5 HIS [N LIFE WAS ALREADY 
 5D+4 0,IF ONLY !Y W\LD LET ME 5D MY DAYS AS ,I WANT TO10 ?\<T ! 
 OLD MAN1 0!N !Y MI<T DO AS !Y PLEASE40 ,) HIS SON1 H[EV]1 HE 
 EMPLOY$ ! DIPLOMACY HE RES]V$ = IMPORTANT OCCASIONS &1 ADOPT+ A 
 QUIET TONE1 DISCUSS$ ! :OLE MATT]4 

,9 ! FIR/ PLACE ! M>RIAGE WAS NOT A BRILLIANT ONE AS REG>DS BIR?1 
 WEAL?1 OR RANK4 ,SECONDLY1 ,PR9CE ,&REW WAS NO LONG] AS Y\NG AS HE HAD 
 BE5 & HIS HEAL? WAS POOR 7! OLD MAN LAID SPECIAL /RESS ON ?IS71 
 :ILE %E WAS V]Y Y\NG4 ,?IRDLY1 HE HAD A SON :OM IT W\LD BE A PITY TO 
 5TRU/ TO A *IT ( A GIRL4 0,F\R?LY & F9ALLY10 ! FA!R SAID1 
 LOOK+ IRONICALLY AT HIS SON1 0,I BEG Y\ TO PUT IT (F = A YE>3 GO 
 ABROAD1 TAKE A CURE1 LOOK \T AS Y\ WANT$ TO = A ,G]MAN TUTOR = 
 ,PR9CE ,NI*OLAS4 ,!N IF Y\R LOVE OR PASSION OR OB/9ACY--AS Y\ 
 PLEASE--IS /ILL AS GREAT1 M>RY6 ,& ?AT'S MY LA/ WORD ON IT4 
 ,M9D1 ! LA/4440 CONCLUD$ ! PR9CE1 9 A TONE :I* %[$ ?AT 
 NO?+ W\LD MAKE HIM ALT] HIS DECISION4 

,PR9CE ,&REW SAW CLE>LY ?AT ! OLD MAN HOP$ ?AT HIS FEEL+S1 OR HIS 
 FIANCEE'S1 W\LD NOT /& A YE>'S TE/1 OR ?AT HE 7! OLD PR9CE 
 HIMSELF7 W\LD DIE BE=E !N1 & HE DECID$ TO CON=M TO HIS FA!R'S 
 WI%--TO PROPOSE1 & PO/PONE ! W$D+ = A YE>4 

,?REE WEEKS AFT] ! LA/ EV5+ HE HAD SP5T ) ! ,RO/OVS1 ,PR9CE 
 ,&REW RETURN$ TO ,PET]SBURG4 

,NEXT DAY AFT] H] TALK ) H] MO!R ,NATA%A EXPECT$ ,BOLKONSKI ALL 
 DAY1 BUT HE DID NOT COME4 ,ON ! SECOND & ?IRD DAY IT WAS ! SAME4 
 ,PI]RE DID NOT COME EI!R & ,NATA%A1 NOT KN[+ ?AT ,PR9CE ,&REW HAD 
 GONE TO SEE HIS FA!R1 C\LD NOT EXPLA9 HIS ABS5CE TO H]SELF4 

,?REE WEEKS PASS$ 9 ?IS WAY4 ,NATA%A HAD NO DESIRE TO GO \T ANY:]E 
 & W&]$ FROM ROOM TO ROOM LIKE A %AD[1 IDLE & LI/LESS2 %E WEPT 
 SECRETLY AT NI<T & DID NOT GO TO H] MO!R 9 ! EV5+S4 ,%E 
 BLU%$ CONT9UALLY & WAS IRRITABLE4 ,IT SEEM$ TO H] ?AT EV]YBODY 
 KNEW AB\T H] DISAPPO9TM5T & WAS LAU<+ AT H] & PITY+ H]4 
 ,/RONG AS WAS H] 9W>D GRIEF1 ?IS W\ND TO H] VANITY 9T5SIFI$ H] 
 MIS]Y4 

,ONCE %E CAME TO H] MO!R1 TRI$ TO SAY SOME?+1 & SUDD5LY BEGAN TO 
 CRY4 ,H] TE>S W]E ?OSE ( AN (F5D$ *ILD :O DOES NOT KN[ :Y IT IS 
 BE+ PUNI%$4 

,! C\NTESS BEGAN TO SOO! ,NATA%A1 :O AFT] FIR/ LI/5+ TO H] 
 MO!R'S WORDS1 SUDD5LY 9T]RUPT$ H]3 

0,LEAVE (F1 ,MAMA6 ,I DON'T ?9K1 & DON'T WANT TO ?9K AB\T IT6 ,HE 
 JU/ CAME & !N LEFT (F1 LEFT (F44440 

,H] VOICE TREMBL$1 & %E AGA9 NE>LY CRI$1 BUT RECOV]$ & W5T ON 
 QUIETLY3 

0,& ,I DON'T AT ALL WANT TO GET M>RI$4 ,& ,I AM AFRAID ( HIM2 ,I HAVE 
 N[ BECOME QUITE CALM1 QUITE CALM40 

,! DAY AFT] ?IS CONV]SATION ,NATA%A PUT ON ! OLD DRESS :I* %E 
 KNEW HAD ! PECULI> PROP]TY ( CONDUC+ TO *E]FULNESS 9 ! 
 MORN+S1 & ?AT DAY %E RETURN$ TO ! OLD WAY ( LIFE :I* %E HAD 
 AB&ON$ S9CE ! BALL4 ,HAV+ F9I%$ H] MORN+ TEA %E W5T TO ! 
 BALLROOM1 :I* %E P>TICUL>LY LIK$ = ITS L\D RESONANCE1 & BEGAN 
 S++ H] SOLFEGGIO4 ,:5 %E HAD F9I%$ H] FIR/ EX]CISE %E /OOD 
 /ILL 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! ROOM & SANG A MUSICAL PHRASE ?AT 
 P>TICUL>LY PLEAS$ H]4 ,%E LI/5$ JOYFULLY 7AS ?\< %E HAD NOT 
 EXPECT$ IT7 TO ! *>M ( ! NOTES REV]B]AT+1 FILL+ ! :OLE 
 EMPTY BALLROOM1 & SL[LY DY+ AWAY2 & ALL AT ONCE %E FELT *E]FUL4 
 0,:AT'S ! GOOD ( MAK+ SO MU* ( IT8 ,?+S >E NICE AS IT IS10 %E 
 SAID TO H]SELF1 & %E BEGAN WALK+ UP & D[N ! ROOM1 NOT /EPP+ 
 SIMPLY ON ! RES\ND+ P>QUET BUT TREAD+ ) EA* /EP FROM ! HEEL 
 TO ! TOE 7%E HAD ON A NEW & FAVORITE PAIR ( %OES7 & LI/5+ TO 
 ! REGUL> TAP ( ! HEEL & CREAK ( ! TOE AS GLADLY AS %E HAD TO 
 ! S\NDS ( H] [N VOICE4 ,PASS+ A MIRROR %E GLANC$ 9TO IT4 0,!RE1 
 ?AT'S ME60 ! EXPRESSION ( H] FACE SEEM$ TO SAY AS %E CAU<T SI<T 
 ( H]SELF4 0,WELL1 & V]Y NICE TOO6 ,I NE$ NOBODY40 

,A FOOTMAN WANT$ TO COME 9 TO CLE> AWAY SOME?+ 9 ! ROOM BUT %E 
 W\LD NOT LET HIM1 & HAV+ CLOS$ ! DOOR BEH9D HIM CONT9U$ H] 
 WALK4 ,?AT MORN+ %E HAD RETURN$ TO H] FAVORITE MOOD--LOVE (1 
 & DELI<T 91 H]SELF4 0,H[ *>M+ ?AT ,NATA%A IS60 %E SAID AGA91 
 SPEAK+ AS SOME ?IRD1 COLLECTIVE1 MALE P]SON4 0,PRETTY1 A GOOD VOICE1 
 Y\NG1 & 9 NOBODY'S WAY IF ONLY !Y LEAVE H] 9 PEACE40 ,BUT H[EV] 
 MU* !Y LEFT H] 9 PEACE %E C\LD NOT N[ BE AT PEACE1 & IMM$IATELY 
 FELT ?IS4 

,9 ! HALL ! POR* DOOR OP5$1 & SOMEONE ASK$1 0,AT HOME80 & !N 
 FOOT/EPS W]E HE>D4 ,NATA%A WAS LOOK+ AT ! MIRROR1 BUT DID NOT SEE 
 H]SELF4 ,%E LI/5$ TO ! S\NDS 9 ! HALL4 ,:5 %E SAW H]SELF1 H] 
 FACE WAS PALE4 ,IT WAS HE4 ,%E KNEW ?IS = C]TA91 ?\< %E H>DLY 
 HE>D HIS VOICE ?R\< ! CLOS$ DOORS4 

,PALE & AGITAT$1 ,NATA%A RAN 9TO ! DRAW+ ROOM4 

0,MAMA6 ,BOLKONSKI HAS COME60 %E SAID4 0,MAMA1 IT IS AWFUL1 IT IS 
 UNBE>ABLE6 ,I DON'T WANT444 TO BE TORM5T$8 ,:AT AM ,I TO DO84440 

,BE=E ! C\NTESS C\LD ANSW]1 ,PR9CE ,&REW 5T]$ ! ROOM ) AN 
 AGITAT$ & S]I\S FACE4 ,AS SOON AS HE SAW ,NATA%A HIS FACE BRI<T5$4 
 ,HE KISS$ ! C\NTESS' H& & ,NATA%A'S1 & SAT D[N BESIDE ! S(A4 

0,IT IS LONG S9CE WE HAD ! PLEASURE4440 BEGAN ! C\NTESS1 BUT ,PR9CE 
 ,&REW 9T]RUPT$ H] BY ANSW]+ H] 9T5D$ QUE/ION1 OBVI\SLY 9 
 HA/E TO SAY :AT HE HAD TO4 

0,I HAVE NOT BE5 TO SEE Y\ ALL ?IS TIME BECAUSE ,I HAVE BE5 AT MY 
 FA!R'S4 ,I HAD TO TALK OV] A V]Y IMPORTANT MATT] ) HIM4 ,I ONLY GOT 
 BACK LA/ NI<T10 HE SAID GLANC+ AT ,NATA%A2 0,I WANT TO HAVE A TALK ) 
 Y\1 ,C\NTESS10 HE ADD$ AFT] A MOM5T'S PAUSE4 

,! C\NTESS L[]$ H] EYES1 SI<+ DEEPLY4 

0,I AM AT Y\R DISPOSAL10 %E MURMUR$4 

,NATA%A KNEW ?AT %E \<T TO GO AWAY1 BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO3 SOME?+ 
 GRIPP$ H] ?ROAT1 & REG>DLESS ( MANN]S %E />$ /RAI<T AT 
 ,PR9CE ,&REW ) WIDE-OP5 EYES4 

0,AT ONCE8 ,?IS 9/ANT6444 ,NO1 IT CAN'T BE60 %E ?\<T4 

,AGA9 HE GLANC$ AT H]1 & ?AT GLANCE CONV9C$ H] ?AT %E WAS NOT 
 MI/AK54 ,YES1 AT ONCE1 ?AT V]Y 9/ANT1 H] FATE W\LD BE DECID$4 

0,GO1 ,NATA%A6 ,I WILL CALL Y\10 SAID ! C\NTESS 9 A :ISP]4 

,NATA%A GLANC$ ) FRI<T5$ IMPLOR+ EYES AT ,PR9CE ,&REW & AT H] 
 MO!R & W5T \T4 

0,I HAVE COME1 ,C\NTESS1 TO ASK = Y\R DAU<T]'S H&10 SAID ,PR9CE 
 ,&REW4 

,! C\NTESS' FACE FLU%$ HOTLY1 BUT %E SAID NO?+4 

0,Y\R (F]4440 %E BEGAN AT LA/ S$ATELY4 ,HE REMA9$ SIL5T1 LOOK+ 
 9TO H] EYES4 0,Y\R (F]4440 7%E GREW CONFUS$7 0IS AGREEABLE TO US1 
 & ,I ACCEPT Y\R (F]4 ,I AM GLAD4 ,& MY HUSB&444 ,I HOPE444 BUT IT 
 WILL DEP5D ON H]44440 

0,I WILL SPEAK TO H] :5 ,I HAVE Y\R CONS5T4444 ,DO Y\ GIVE IT TO ME80 
 SAID ,PR9CE ,&REW4 

0,YES10 REPLI$ ! C\NTESS4 ,%E HELD \T H] H& TO HIM1 & ) A 
 MIX$ FEEL+ ( E/RANGEM5T & T5D]NESS PRESS$ H] LIPS TO HIS 
 =EHEAD AS HE /OOP$ TO KISS H] H&4 ,%E WI%$ TO LOVE HIM AS A SON1 
 BUT FELT ?AT TO H] HE WAS A /RANG] & A T]RIFY+ MAN4 0,I AM SURE MY 
 HUSB& WILL CONS5T10 SAID ! C\NTESS1 0BUT Y\R FA!R4440 

0,MY FA!R1 TO :OM ,I HAVE TOLD MY PLANS1 HAS MADE IT AN EXPRESS CONDITION 
 ( HIS CONS5T ?AT ! W$D+ IS NOT TO TAKE PLACE = A YE>4 ,& ,I 
 WI%$ TO TELL Y\ ( ?AT10 SAID ,PR9CE ,&REW4 

0,IT IS TRUE ?AT ,NATA%A IS /ILL Y\NG1 BUT--SO LONG AS ?AT84440 

0,IT IS UNAVOIDABLE10 SAID ,PR9CE ,&REW ) A SI<4 

0,I WILL S5D H] TO Y\10 SAID ! C\NTESS1 & LEFT ! ROOM4 

0,LORD HAVE M]CY UPON US60 %E REPEAT$ :ILE SEEK+ H] DAU<T]4 

,SONYA SAID ?AT ,NATA%A WAS 9 H] B$ROOM4 ,NATA%A WAS SITT+ ON ! 
 B$1 PALE & DRY-EY$1 & WAS GAZ+ AT ! ICONS & :ISP]+ 
 SOME?+ AS %E RAPIDLY CROSS$ H]SELF4 ,SEE+ H] MO!R %E JUMP$ UP 
 & FLEW TO H]4 

0,WELL1 ,MAMA8444 ,WELL84440 

0,GO1 GO TO HIM4 ,HE IS ASK+ = Y\R H&10 SAID ! C\NTESS1 COLDLY IT 
 SEEM$ TO ,NATA%A4 0,GO444 GO10 SAID ! MO!R1 SADLY & REPROA*FULLY1 
 ) A DEEP SI<1 AS H] DAU<T] RAN AWAY4 

,NATA%A NEV] REMEMB]$ H[ %E 5T]$ ! DRAW+ ROOM4 ,:5 %E CAME 
 9 & SAW HIM %E PAUS$4 0,IS IT POSSIBLE ?AT ?IS /RANG] HAS N[ 
 BECOME EV]Y?+ TO ME80 %E ASK$ H]SELF1 & IMM$IATELY ANSW]$1 
 0,YES1 EV]Y?+6 ,HE ALONE IS N[ DE>] TO ME ?AN EV]Y?+ 9 ! 
 WORLD40 ,PR9CE ,&REW CAME UP TO H] ) D[NCA/ EYES4 

0,I HAVE LOV$ Y\ FROM ! V]Y FIR/ MOM5T ,I SAW Y\4 ,MAY ,I HOPE80 

,HE LOOK$ AT H] & WAS /RUCK BY ! S]I\S IMPASSION$ EXPRESSION ( 
 H] FACE4 ,H] FACE SAID3 0,:Y ASK8 ,:Y D\BT :AT Y\ CANNOT BUT KN[8 ,:Y 
 SPEAK1 :5 WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS :AT ONE FEELS80 

,%E DREW NE> TO HIM & /OPP$4 ,HE TOOK H] H& & KISS$ IT4 

0,DO Y\ LOVE ME80 

0,YES1 YES60 ,NATA%A MURMUR$ AS IF 9 VEXATION4 ,!N %E SI<$ L\DLY 
 &1 CAT*+ H] BREA? MORE & MORE QUICKLY1 BEGAN TO SOB4 

0,:AT IS IT8 ,:AT'S ! MATT]80 

0,OH1 ,I AM SO HAPPY60 %E REPLI$1 SMIL$ ?R\< H] TE>S1 B5T OV] 
 CLOS] TO HIM1 PAUS$ = AN 9/ANT AS IF ASK+ H]SELF :E!R %E 
 MI<T1 & !N KISS$ HIM4 

,PR9CE ,&REW HELD H] H&S1 LOOK$ 9TO H] EYES1 & DID NOT F9D 9 
 HIS HE>T HIS =M] LOVE = H]4 ,SOME?+ 9 HIM HAD SUDD5LY *ANG$2 
 !RE WAS NO LONG] ! =M] POETIC & MY/IC *>M ( DESIRE1 BUT 
 !RE WAS PITY = H] FEM99E & *ILDI% WEAKNESS1 FE> AT H] 
 DEVOTION & TRU/FULNESS1 & AN OPPRESSIVE YET JOYFUL S5SE ( ! DUTY 
 ?AT N[ B\ND HIM TO H] =EV]4 ,! PRES5T FEEL+1 ?\< NOT SO 
 BRI<T & POETIC AS ! =M]1 WAS /RONG] & MORE S]I\S4 

0,DID Y\R MO!R TELL Y\ ?AT IT CANNOT BE = A YE>80 ASK$ ,PR9CE 
 ,&REW1 /ILL LOOK+ 9TO H] EYES4 

0,IS IT POSSIBLE ?AT ,I--! '*IT ( A GIRL1' AS EV]YBODY 
 CALL$ ME10 ?\<T ,NATA%A--0IS IT POSSIBLE ?AT ,I AM N[ TO BE 
 ! WIFE & ! EQUAL ( ?IS /RANGE1 DE>1 CLEV] MAN :OM EV5 MY FA!R 
 LOOKS UP TO8 ,CAN IT BE TRUE8 ,CAN IT BE TRUE ?AT !RE CAN BE NO MORE PLAY+ 
 ) LIFE1 ?AT N[ ,I AM GR[N UP1 ?AT ON ME N[ LIES A RESPONSIBILITY 
 = MY EV]Y WORD & DE$8 ,YES1 BUT :AT DID HE ASK ME80 

0,NO10 %E REPLI$1 BUT %E HAD NOT UND]/OOD HIS QUE/ION4 

0,=GIVE ME60 HE SAID4 0,BUT Y\ >E SO Y\NG1 & ,I HAVE ALREADY BE5 
 ?R\< SO MU* 9 LIFE4 ,I AM AFRAID = Y\1 Y\ DO NOT YET KN[ 
 Y\RSELF40 

,NATA%A LI/5$ ) CONC5TRAT$ ATT5TION1 TRY+ BUT FAIL+ TO TAKE 
 9 ! MEAN+ ( HIS WORDS4 

0,H>D AS ?IS YE> :I* DELAYS MY HAPP9ESS WILL BE10 CONT9U$ ,PR9CE 
 ,&REW1 0IT WILL GIVE Y\ TIME TO BE SURE ( Y\RSELF4 ,I ASK Y\ TO MAKE 
 ME HAPPY 9 A YE>1 BUT Y\ >E FREE3 \R 5GAGEM5T %ALL REMA9 A 
 SECRET1 & %\LD Y\ F9D ?AT Y\ DO NOT LOVE ME1 OR %\LD Y\ COME TO 
 LOVE4440 SAID ,PR9CE ,&REW ) AN UNNATURAL SMILE4 

0,:Y DO Y\ SAY ?AT80 ,NATA%A 9T]RUPT$ HIM4 0,Y\ KN[ ?AT FROM ! 
 V]Y DAY Y\ FIR/ CAME TO ,OTRADNOE ,I HAVE LOV$ Y\10 %E CRI$1 QUITE 
 CONV9C$ ?AT %E SPOKE ! TRU?4 

0,9 A YE> Y\ WILL LE>N TO KN[ Y\RSELF44440 

0,A :OLE YE>60 ,NATA%A REPEAT$ SUDD5LY1 ONLY N[ REALIZ+ ?AT ! 
 M>RIAGE WAS TO BE PO/PON$ = A YE>4 0,BUT :Y A YE>8 ,:Y A YE>84440 

,PR9CE ,&REW BEGAN TO EXPLA9 TO H] ! REASONS = ?IS DELAY4 ,NATA%A 
 DID NOT HE> HIM4 

0,& CAN'T IT BE HELP$80 %E ASK$4 ,PR9CE ,&REW DID NOT REPLY1 BUT HIS 
 FACE EXPRESS$ ! IMPOSSIBILITY ( ALT]+ ?AT DECISION4 

0,IT'S AWFUL6 ,OH1 IT'S AWFUL6 AWFUL60 ,NATA%A SUDD5LY CRI$1 & AGA9 
 BUR/ 9TO SOBS4 0,I %ALL DIE1 WAIT+ A YE>3 IT'S IMPOSSIBLE1 IT'S 
 AWFUL60 ,%E LOOK$ 9TO H] LOV]'S FACE & SAW 9 IT A LOOK ( 
 COMMIS]ATION & P]PLEXITY4 

0,NO1 NO6 ,I'LL DO ANY?+60 %E SAID1 SUDD5LY *ECK+ H] TE>S4 0,I AM 
 SO HAPPY40 

,! FA!R & MO!R CAME 9TO ! ROOM & GAVE ! BETRO!D C\PLE 
 !IR BLESS+4 

,FROM ?AT DAY ,PR9CE ,&REW BEGAN TO FREQU5T ! ,RO/OVS' AS ,NATA%A'S 
 AFFIANC$ LOV]4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfh 3 ,BOOK #f1 ,*APT] #bc -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,FEBRU>Y #a#a1 #bag 3 ,BOOK #f1 ,*APT] #bc -- ,ADD$4 

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