for I was going to bed. While she was unfastening my dress I could hear her muttering: "If it were me, I should not go to bed. If it were me, I

Do you mean to say that you-t

shot forth, to the right and left, fierce, divergen

so to do, in the little church on the steppes a year ago? "Follow him!" With what tremulous joy had I repeated a

Katja, do not other women always have rouge and p

ighteen years, mada

tockings, and my crimson shoes. On my head she placed the diamond and ruby tiara, and

n the mirror; "what would my mother say if she

a lighted tor

lently through the dim snow-covered streets. I was shaking with

brilliant entrance

atja! What will

that you ar

bows and smiles and whispers? At the head of the wide staircase, in front of a double-paneled door of white and gold, I paused with beati

er stood before me, ca

Vassili my courage failed me-"tell his High

opened and was quickly closed again, there came forth a

ll elated by recent laughter. He stared at me in astonishment, without recognition. "What-what can I do for

and felt inc

eagerly, taking me by the a

on of a table resplendent with crystal, silver, an

the threshold. "Fortunate among men! Beh

Vassili came up to me. He took me brusquely by the hand, crushing my fingers in his iron clasp. "You are mad!" he said. Then he looked at me

ter. "I have always told my friends that you were a chilling, lily-white flake of

elry to revelry, from banquet to orgy; my innocence swept into the maelstrom of a licentious life. I

and had drawn me into safety, should not I have been like other women, those happy

ued forth from my long childhood, a thousand cruel

rn for you when I lost you before my twentieth year? Sadly, enviously, like some poor exile, I saw other girls of my age passing in blithe securi

of Maternity. With proud humility I bore the little human flower fluttering in my breast. At eve

nder haven of her arms I found shelt

who dread this perfect happiness, who weep and suffer t

perfect blossoming. The whole of that blissful period seemed a sublime ascent to unalloyed felici

fill my entire life. I nursed him into ever-growing wonder and beauty. Day by day he

like those of an angry dove! And the dimples on the elbows; the droll battle wi

m-names of little flowers, names of little animals

Pale and pure I sat enthroned in th