第281章

第281章inthemiddleofthesummerprincessmarya,tohersurprise,receivedaletterfromprinceandrey,whowasinswitzerland.inithetoldherstrangeandsurprisingnews.heinformedhissisterofhisengagementtotheyoungerrostov.hiswholeletterwasfulloflovingenthusiasmforhisbetrothed,andtenderandconfidingaffectionforhissister.hewrotethathehadneverlovedashelovednow,andthatitwasonlynowthathesawallthevalueandmeaningoflife.heedhissistertoforgivehimforhavingsaidnothingofhisplanstoheronhislastvisittobleakhills,thoughhehadspokenofittohisfather.hehadsaidnothingtoherforfearprincessmaryawouldbegherfathertogivehisconsent,and,withoutattainingherobject,wouldirritateherfatheranddrawalltheweightofhisdispleasureuponherself.thematterwasnot,however,then,hewrotetoher,socompletelysettledasnow.“atthattimeourfatherinsistedonadelayofayear,andnowsixmonths,halfoftheperiodspecified,isover,andiremainfirmerthaneverinmyresolution.ifitwerenotforthedoctorskeepingmehereatthewatersishouldbebackinrussiamyself;but,asitis,imustputoffmyreturnforanotherthreemonths.youknowmeandmyrelationswithourfather.iwantnothingfromhim.ihavebeen,andalwaysshallbe,independent;buttoactinoppositiontohiswill,toincurhisangerwhenhehasperhapsnotlonglefttobewithus,woulddestroyhalfmyhappiness.iamwritingalettertohimnow,andibegyoutochooseafavourablemomenttogivehimtheletter,andtoletmeknowhowhelooksatthewholematter,andifthereisanyhopeofhisagreeingtoshortentheyearbythreemonths.”

afterlonghesitations,doubts,andprayers,princessmaryagavethelettertoherfather.thenextdaytheoldprincesaidtohercalmly：

“writetoyourbrothertowaittilli’mdead.…hewon’thavelongtowait.ishallsoonsethimfree.”

theprincesstriedtomakesomereply,butherfatherwouldnotletherspeak,andwenton,gettinglouderandlouder.“lethimmarry,lethimmarry,thedearfellow.…aniceconnection！…cleverpeople,eh？rich,eh？ohyes,afinestepmotherfornikolushkashe’llmake！youwritetohimhecanmarryherto-morrow.nikolushkashallhaveherforastepmother,andi’llmarrylittlebourienne！…ha,ha,ha,andsoheshallhaveastepmothertoo！onlythere’sonething,iwon’thaveanymorewomen-folkaboutmyhouse;hemaymarryandgoandlivebyhimself.perhapsyou’llgoandlivewithhimtoo？”heturnedtoprincessmarya：“you’rewelcometo,andgoodlucktoyou！”

afterthisoutbursttheprincedidnotoncealludetothesubjectagain.buthisrepressedangerathisson’spoor-spiritedbehaviourfoundaventinhistreatmentofhisdaughter.henowaddedtohisformersubjectsforjeeringandannoyingheranewone—allusionstoastepmotherandgallantriestomademoisellebourienne.

“whyshouldn’timarryher？”hewouldsaytohisdaughter.“acapitalprincessshewillmake！”andlatterly,toherperplexityandamazement,princessmaryabegantonoticethatherfatherwasreallybeginningtoattachhimselfmoreandmorecloselytothefrench-woman.princessmaryawrotetoprinceandreyandtoldhimhowtheirfatherhadtakentheletter,butcomfortedherbrotherwithhopesthathewouldbecomereconciledtotheidea.