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"How understand me!" cried her father angrily. "Prince Vasili

finds you to his taste as a daughter-in-law and makes a proposal

to you on his pupil's behalf. That's how it's to be understood!

'How understand it'!... And I ask you!"

"I do not know what you think, Father," whispered the princess.

"I? I? What of me? Leave me out of the question. I'm not going to

get married. What about you? That's what I want to know."

The princess saw that her father regarded the matter with

disapproval, but at that moment the thought occurred to her that

her fate would be decided now or never. She lowered her eyes so

as not to see the gaze under which she felt that she could not

think, but would only be able to submit from habit, and she said:

"I wish only to do your will, but if I had to express my own

desire..." She had no time to finish. The old prince interrupted

her.