第125章

第125章“i？i？whathaveitodowithit？leavemeoutofthequestion.iamnotgoingtobemarried.whatdoyousay？that’swhatit’sdesirabletolearn.”

theprincesssawthatherfatherlookedwithill-willontheproject,butatthatinstantthethoughthadoccurredtoherthatnoworneverthefateofherlifewouldbedecided.shedroppedhereyessoastoavoidthegazeunderwhichshefeltincapableofthought,andcapableofnothingbutherhabitualobedience：“myonlydesireistocarryoutyourwishes,”shesaid;“ifihadtoexpressmyowndesire…”

shehadnottimetofinish.theprincecuthershort.“verygood,then！”heshouted.“heshalltakeyouwithyourdowry,andhookonmademoisellebourienneintothebargain.she’llbehiswife,whileyou…”theprincestopped.henoticedtheeffectofthesewordsonhisdaughter.shehadbowedherheadandwasbeginningtocry.

“come,come,iwasjoking,iwasjoking,”hesaid.“rememberonething,princess;isticktomyprinciples,thatagirlhasafullrighttochoose.andigiveyoucompletefreedom.rememberonething;thehappinessofyourlifedependsonyourdecision.noneedtotalkaboutme.”

“butidon’tknow…father.”

“noneedfortalking！he’stoldto,andhe’sreadytomarryanyone,butyouarefreetochoose.…gotoyourownroom,thinkitover,andcometomeinanhour’stimeandtellmeinhispresence：yesorno.iknowyouwillprayoverit.well,prayifyoulike.onlyyou’ddobettertothink.youcango.”

“yesorno,yesorno,yesorno！”heshoutedagainastheprincesswentoutoftheroom,reelinginasortoffog.herfatewasdecided,anddecidedforhappiness.butwhatherfatherhadsaidaboutmademoisellebourienne,thathintwashorrible.itwasnottrue,ofcourse,butstillitwashorrible;shecouldnothelpthinkingofit.shewalkedstraightforwardthroughthewintergarden,seeingandhearingnothing,whenallofasuddenshewasrousedbythefamiliarvoiceofmademoisellebourienne.sheliftedhereyes,andonlytwopacesbeforehershesawanatolewithhisarmsroundthefrenchwoman,whisperingsomethingtoher.withaterribleexpressiononhishandsomeface,anatolelookedroundatprincessmarya,anddidnotforthefirstsecondletgothewaistofmademoisellebourienne,whohadnotseenher.

“who’sthere？whatdoyouwant？waitalittle！”waswhatanatole’sfaceexpressed.princessmaryagazedblanklyatthem.shecouldnotbelievehereyes.atlastmademoisellebourienneshriekedandranaway.withagaysmileanatolebowedtoprincessmarya,asthoughinvitinghertosharehisamusementatthisstrangeincident,andwithashrugofhisshouldershewenttothedoorthatledtohisapartment.