WhenNatashaopenedPrinceAndrew'sdoorwithafamiliarmovementandletPrincessMarypassintotheroombeforeher, , andnowtriedtoremaintranquil, sheknewthatshewouldbeunabletolookathimwithouttears.
TheprincessunderstoodwhatNatashahadmeantbythewords: "twodaysagothissuddenlyhappened." 'sfaceassheremembereditinchildhood, agentle, mild, sympatheticfacewhichhehadrarelyshown, , tenderwordstohersuchasherfatherhadutteredbeforehisdeath, , , andthenshesawhisfaceandmethisgaze.
Hewaslyinginasquirrel-furdressinggownonadivan, , translucentlywhitehandheheldahandkerchief, whilewiththeotherhestrokedthedelicatemustachehehadgrown, .
OnseeinghisfaceandmeetinghiseyesPrincessMary'spacesuddenlyslackened, .
"ButinwhatamItoblame?" , sternlookreplied: "Becauseyouarealiveandthinkingoftheliving, whileI..."
InthedeepgazethatseemedtolooknotoutwardsbutinwardstherewasanalmosthostileexpressionasheslowlyregardedhissisterandNatasha.
Hekissedhissister, holdingherhandinhisaswastheirwont.
"Howareyou, Mary? Howdidyoumanagetogethere?" saidheinavoiceascalmandaloofashislook.
Hadhescreamedinagony, thatscreamwouldnothavestrucksuchhorrorintoPrincessMary'sheartasthetoneofhisvoice.
"AndhaveyoubroughtlittleNicholas?" heaskedinthesameslow, quietmannerandwithanobviousefforttoremember.
"Howareyounow?" saidPrincessMary, herselfsurprisedatwhatshewassaying.
"That, mydear, youmustaskthedoctor," hereplied, andagainmakinganevidentefforttobeaffectionate, hesaidwithhislipsonly (hiswordsclearlydidnotcorrespondtohisthoughts):
"Merci, chereamie, d'etrevenue." [1]
