Pagina 694 de 3800

"But you despise me. You who are so pure can never understand

being so carried away by passion. Oh, only my poor mother..."

"I quite understand," answered Princess Mary, with a sad smile.

"Calm yourself, my dear. I will go to my father," she said, and

went out.

Prince Vasili, with one leg thrown high over the other and a

snuffbox in his hand, was sitting there with a smile of deep

emotion on his face, as if stirred to his heart's core and

himself regretting and laughing at his own sensibility, when

Princess Mary entered. He hurriedly took a pinch of snuff.

"Ah, my dear, my dear!" he began, rising and taking her by both

hands. Then, sighing, he added: "My son's fate is in your hands.

Decide, my dear, good, gentle Marie, whom I have always loved as

a daughter!"

He drew back and a real tear appeared in his eye.