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"If it does not weigh a hundredweight and won't break my neck...

To please you..." said Prince Andrew. But immediately, noticing

the pained expression his joke had brought to his sister's face,

he repented and added: "I am glad; really, dear, I am very glad."

"Against your will He will save and have mercy on you and bring

you to Himself, for in Him alone is truth and peace," said she in

a voice trembling with emotion, solemnly holding up in both hands

before her brother a small, oval, antique, dark-faced icon of the

Saviour in a gold setting, on a finely wrought silver chain.

She crossed herself, kissed the icon, and handed it to Andrew.

"Please, Andrew, for my sake!..."