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"No-promise that you will not refuse! It will give you no trouble

and is nothing unworthy of you, but it will comfort me. Promise,

Andrusha!..." said she, putting her hand in her reticule but not

yet taking out what she was holding inside it, as if what she

held were the subject of her request and must not be shown before

the request was granted.

She looked timidly at her brother.

"Even if it were a great deal of trouble..." answered Prince

Andrew, as if guessing what it was about.

"Think what you please! I know you are just like Father. Think as

you please, but do this for my sake! Please do! Father's father,

our grandfather, wore it in all his wars." (She still did not

take out what she was holding in her reticule.) "So you promise?"

"Of course. What is it?"

"Andrew, I bless you with this icon and you must promise me you

will never take it off. Do you promise?"