第126章

第126章anhourlatertihoncametosummonprincessmaryatotheoldprince，andaddedthatprincevassilywaswithhim.whentihoncametoher，princessmaryawassittingonthesofainherownroomholdinginherarmstheweepingmademoisellebourienne.princessmaryawassoftlystrokingherhead.herbeautifuleyeshadregainedalltheirluminouspeace，andweregazingwithtenderloveandcommiserationattheprettylittlefaceofmademoisellebourienne.

“oh，princess，iamruinedforeverinyourheart，”mademoisellebouriennewassaying.

“why？iloveyoumorethanever，”saidprincessmarya，“andiwilltrytodoeverythinginmypowerforyourhappiness.”

“butyoudespiseme，youwhoaresopure，youwillneverunderstandthisfrenzyofpassion.ah，itisonlymypoormother…”

“iunderstandeverything，”saidprincessmarya，smilingmournfully.“calmyourself，mydear.iamgoingtomyfather，”shesaid，andshewentout.

whentheprincesswentin，princevassilywassittingwithonelegcrossedhighovertheother，andasnuff-boxinhishand.therewasasmileofemotiononhisface，andhelookedasthoughmovedtosuchanextremepointthathecouldbutregretandsmileathisownsensibility.hetookahastypinchofsnuff.

“ah，mydear，mydear！”hesaid，gettingupandtakingherbybothhands.heheavedasigh，andwenton：“myson’sfateisinyourhands.decide，mygooddear，sweetmarie，whomihavealwayslovedlikeadaughter.”hedrewback.therewasarealtearinhiseye.

“fr…ffr…”snortedtheoldprince.“theprinceinhisprotégé’s…hisson’snamemakesyouaproposal.areyouwillingornottobethewifeofprinceanatolekuragin？yousay：yesorno，”heshouted，“andthenireserveformyselftherighttoexpressmyopinion.yes，myopinion，andnothingbutmyopinion，”addedtheoldprince，toprincevassilyinresponsetohissupplicatingexpression，“yesorno！”

“mywish，monpère，isnevertoleaveyou；nevertodividemylifefromyours.idonotwishtomarry，”shesaidresolutely，glancingwithherbeautifuleyesatprincevassilyandatherfather.

“nonsense，fiddlesticks！nonsense，nonsense！”shoutedtheoldprince，frowning.hetookhisdaughter’shand，drewhertowardshimanddidnotkissher，butbendingover，touchedherforeheadwithhis，andwrungthehandheheldsoviolentlythatshewincedandutteredacry.princevassilygotup.

“mydear，letmetellyouthatthisisamomentishallneverforget，never；but，dear，willyounotgiveusalittlehopeoftouchingsokindandgenerousaheart.saythatperhaps.…thefutureissowide.…say：perhaps.”

“prince，whatihavesaidisallthatisinmyheart.ithankyouforthehonouryoudome，butishallneverbeyourson’swife.”

“well，thenit’sallover，mydearfellow.verygladtohaveseenyou，verygladtohaveseenyou.gotoyourroom，princess；goalongnow，”saidtheoldprince.“very，verygladtohaveseenyou，”herepeated，embracingprincevassily.

“myvocationisadifferentone，”princessmaryawasthinkingtoherself；“myvocationistobehappyinthehappinessofothers，inthehappinessofloveandself-sacrifice.andatanycostiwillmakepooraméliehappy.sheloveshimsopassionately.sheissopassionatelypenitent.iwilldoeverythingtobringabouttheirmarriage.ifheisnotrichiwillgivehermeans，iwillbegmyfather，iwillbegandrey.ishallbesohappywhensheishiswife.sheissounhappy，astranger，solitaryandhelpless！and，mygod，howpassionatelyshemustlovehimtobeabletoforgetherselfso.perhapsimighthavedonethesame！…”thoughtprincessmarya.