第179章

第179章“godismerciful,mydarling.”thenurselightedthegiltcandlesbeforetheshrine,andsatdownwithherstockingnearthedoor.princessmaryatookabookandbeganreading.onlywhentheyheardstepsorvoices,theprincessandthenurselookedatoneanother,onewithalarmedinquiry,theotherwithsoothingreassuranceinherface.thefeelingthatprincessmaryawasexperiencingasshesatinherroomhadoverpoweredthewholehouseandtakenpossessionofeveryone.owingtothebeliefthatthefewerpeopleknowofthesufferingsofawomaninlabour,thelessshesuffers,everyonetriedtoaffecttoknownothingofit;noonetalkedaboutit,butoverandabovethehabitualstaidnessandrespectfulnessofgoodmannersthatalwaysreignedintheprince’shousehold,therewasapparentinallasortofanxiety,asofteningoftheheart,andaconsciousnessofsomegreat,unfathomablemysterybeingaccomplishedatthatmoment.therewasnosoundoflaughterinthebigroomwherethemaidssat.inthewaiting-roomthemenallsatinsilence,asitwereonthealert.torchesandcandleswereburningintheserfs’quarters,andnooneslept.theoldprincewalkedabouthisstudy,treadingonhisheels,andsenttihontomaryabogdanovnatoaskwhatnews.

“onlysay：theprincehassenttoask,whatnewsandcomeandtellmewhatshesays.”

“informtheprincethatthelabourhascommenced,”saidmaryabogdanovna,lookingsignificantlyatthemessenger.tihonwentandgavetheprincethatinformation.

“verygood,”saidtheprince,closingthedoorbehindhim,andtihonheardnottheslightestsoundinthestudyafterthat.afterashortintervaltihonwentintothestudy,asthoughtoattendtothecandles.seeingtheprincelyingonthecouch,tihonlookedathim,lookedathisperturbedface,shookhishead,andwentuptohimdumblyandkissedhimontheshoulder,thenwentoutwithouttouchingthecandlesorsayingwhyhehadcome.themostsolemnmysteryintheworldwasbeingaccomplished.eveningpassed,nightcameon.andthefeelingofsuspenseandsofteningoftheheartbeforetheunfathomabledidnotwane,butgrewmoreintense.nooneslept.

itwasoneofthosemarchnightswhenwinterseemstoregainitssway,andflingsitslastsnowsandstormswithmalignantdesperation.arelayofhorseshadbeensenttothehigh-roadforthegermandoctorwhowasexpectedeveryminute,andmenweredespatchedonhorsebackwithlanternstotheturningatthecross-roadstoguidehimovertheholesandtreacherousplacesintheice.

princessmaryahadlongabandonedherbook;shesatinsilence,herluminouseyesfixedonthewrinkledfaceofheroldnurse（sofamiliartoherintheminutestdetail）,onthelockofgreyhairthathadescapedfromthekerchief,ontheyloosenessoftheskinunderherchin.

theoldnurse,withherstockinginherhand,talkedawayinasoftvoice,nothearingitherselfnorfollowingthemeaningofherownwords;telling,asshehadtoldhundredsoftimesbefore,howthelateprincesshadbeenbroughttobedofprincessmaryaatkishinyov,andhadonlyamoldavianpeasantwomaninsteadofamidwife.

“godismerciful,doctorsareneverwanted,”shesaid.

suddenlyagustofwindblewononeofthewindow-frames（bytheprince’sdecreethedoubleframeswerealwaystakenoutofeverywindowwhenthelarksreturned）,andflingingopenabadlyfastenedwindowbolt,setthestiffcurtainfluttering;andthechill,snowydraughtblewoutthecandle.princessmaryashuddered;thenurse,puttingdownherstocking,wenttothewindow,andputtingherheadouttriedtocatchtheopenframe.thecoldwindflappedtheendsofherkerchiefandthegreylocksofherhair.

“princess,mydearie,there’ssomeonedrivinguptheavenue！”shesaid,holdingthewindow-frameandnotclosingit.“withlanterns;itmustbethedoctor.…”

“ah,mygod！thankgod！”saidtheprincessmarya.“imustgoandmeethim;hedoesnotknowrussian.”

princessmaryaflungonashawlandrantomeetthestranger.asshepassedthroughtheante-room,shesawthroughthewindowacarriageandlanternsstandingattheentrance.shewentoutontothestairs.atthepostofthebalustradestoodatallow-candlegutteringinthedraught.thefootmanfilipp,lookingscared,stoodbelowonthefirstlandingofthestaircase,withanothercandleinhishand.stilllowerdown,attheturnofthewindingstairs,stepsinthickovershoescouldbeheardcomingup.andavoice—familiaritseemedtoprincessmarya—wassayingsomething.

“thankgod！”saidthevoice.“andfather？”

“hehasgonetobed,”answeredthevoiceofthebutler,demyan,whowasbelow.

thenthevoicesaidsomethingmore,demyanansweredsomething,andthestepsinthickovershoesbeganapproachingmorerapidlyuptheunseenpartofthestaircase.

“itisandrey！”thoughtprincessmarya.“no,itcannotbe,itwouldbetooextraordinary,”shethought;andattheveryinstantshewasthinkingso,onthelandingwherethefootmanstoodwithacandle,therecameintosightthefaceandfigureofprinceandrey,inafurcoat,withadeepcollarcoveredwithsnow.yes,itwashe,butpaleandthin,andwithatransformed,strangelysoftened,agitatedexpressiononhisface.hewentupthestairsandembracedhissister.

“youdidnotgetmyletter,then？”heasked;andnotwaitingforananswer,whichhewouldnothavereceived,fortheprincesscouldnotspeak,heturnedback,andwiththedoctorwhowasbehindhim（theyhadmetatthelaststation）,heranagainrapidlyupstairsandagainembracedhissister.

“whatastrangefate！”hesaid,“masha,darling！”andflingingoffhisfurcoatandoverboots,hewenttowardsthelittleprincess’sroom.