Thedoctor，whowasfetchedthatsamenight，bledhimandsaidthattheprincehadhadseizureaparalyzinghisrightside。
ItwasbecomingmoreandmoredangeroustoremainatBaldHills，andnextdaytheymovedtheprincetoBogucharovo，thedoctoraccompanyinghim。
BythetimetheyreachedBogucharovo，DessallesandthelittleprincehadalreadyleftforMoscow。
ForthreeweekstheoldprincelaystrickenbyparalysisinthenewhousePrinceAndrewhadbuiltatBogucharovo，everinthesamestate，gettingneitherbetternorworse。Hewasunconsciousandlaylikeadistortedcorpse。Hemutteredunceasingly，hiseyebrowsandlipstwitching，anditwasimpossibletotellwhetherheunderstoodwhatwasgoingonaroundhimornot。Onethingwascertain—thathewassufferingandwishedtosaysomething。Butwhatitwas，noonecouldtell：itmightbesomecapriceofasickandhalf—crazyman，oritmightrelatetopublicaffairs，orpossiblytofamilyconcerns。
Thedoctorsaidthisrestlessnessdidnotmeananythingandwasduetophysicalcauses；butPrincessMarythoughthewishedtotellhersomething，andthefactthatherpresencealwaysincreasedhisrestlessnessconfirmedheropinion。
Hewasevidentlysufferingbothphysicallyandmentally。Therewasnohopeofrecovery。Itwasimpossibleforhimtotravel，itwouldnotdotolethimdieontheroad。"Woulditnotbebetteriftheenddidcome，theveryend？"PrincessMarysometimesthought。Nightandday，hardlysleepingatall，shewatchedhimand，terribletosay，oftenwatchedhimnotwithhopeoffindingsignsofimprovementbutwishingtofindsymptomsoftheapproachoftheend。
Strangeasitwastohertoacknowledgethisfeelinginherself，yetthereitwas。Andwhatseemedstillmoreterribletoherwasthatsinceherfather’sillnessbeganperhapsevensooner，whenshestayedwithhimexpectingsomethingtohappen，allthepersonaldesiresandhopesthathadbeenforgottenorsleepingwithinherhadawakened。
Thoughtsthathadnotenteredhermindforyears—thoughtsofalifefreefromthefearofherfather，andeventhepossibilityofloveandoffamilyhappiness—floatedcontinuallyinherimaginationliketemptationsofthedevil。Thrustthemasideasshewould，questionscontinuallyrecurredtoherastohowshewouldorderherlifenow，afterthat。TheseweretemptationsofthedevilandPrincessMaryknewit。Sheknewthatthesoleweaponagainsthimwasprayer，andshetriedtopray。Sheassumedanattitudeofprayer，lookedattheicons，repeatedthewordsofaprayer，butshecouldnotpray。Shefeltthatadifferentworldhadnowtakenpossessionofher—thelifeofaworldofstrenuousandfreeactivity，quiteopposedtothespiritualworldinwhichtillnowshehadbeenconfinedandinwhichhergreatestcomforthadbeenprayer。Shecouldnotpray，couldnotweep，andworldlycarestookpossessionofher。
ItwasbecomingdangeroustoremaininBogucharovo。NewsoftheapproachoftheFrenchcamefromallsides，andinonevillage，tenmilesfromBogucharovo，ahomesteadhadbeenlootedbyFrenchmarauders。
Thedoctorinsistedonthenecessityofmovingtheprince；theprovincialMarshaloftheNobilitysentanofficialtoPrincessMarytopersuadehertogetawayasquicklyaspossible，andtheheadoftheruralpolicehavingcometoBogucharovourgedthesamething，sayingthattheFrenchwereonlysometwenty—fivemilesaway，thatFrenchproclamationswerecirculatinginthevillages，andthatiftheprincessdidnottakeherfatherawaybeforethefifteenth，hecouldnotanswerfortheconsequences。
Theprincessdecidedtoleaveonthefifteenth。Thecaresofpreparationandgivingorders，forwhicheveryonecametoher，occupiedherallday。Shespentthenightofthefourteenthasusual，withoutundressing，intheroomnexttotheonewheretheprincelay。Severaltimes，wakingup，sheheardhisgroansandmuttering，thecreakofhisbed，andthestepsofTikhonandthedoctorwhentheyturnedhimover。Severaltimesshelistenedatthedoor，anditseemedtoherthathismutteringswerelouderthanusualandthattheyturnedhimoveroftener。Shecouldnotsleepandseveraltimeswenttothedoorandlistened，wishingtoenterbutnotdecidingtodoso。Thoughhedidnotspeak，PrincessMarysawandknewhowunpleasanteverysignofanxietyonhisaccountwastohim。Shehadnoticedwithwhatdissatisfactionheturnedfromthelookshesometimesinvoluntarilyfixedonhim。Sheknewthathergoinginduringthenightatanunusualhourwouldirritatehim。
Butneverhadshefeltsogrievedforhimorsomuchafraidoflosinghim。Sherecalledallherlifewithhimandineverywordandactofhisfoundanexpressionofhisloveofher。Occasionallyamidthesememoriestemptationsofthedevilwouldsurgeintoherimagination：thoughtsofhowthingswouldbeafterhisdeath，andhowhernew，liberatedlifewouldbeordered。Butshedrovethesethoughtsawaywithdisgust。Towardmorninghebecamequietandshefellasleep。
Shewokelate。Thatsinceritywhichoftencomeswithwakingshowedherclearlywhatchieflyconcernedheraboutherfather’sillness。
Onwakingshelistenedtowhatwasgoingonbehindthedoorand，hearinghimgroan，saidtoherselfwithasighthatthingswerestillthesame。
"Butwhatcouldhavehappened？WhatdidIwant？Iwanthisdeath！"
shecriedwithafeelingofloathingforherself。
Shewashed，dressed，saidherprayers，andwentouttotheporch。Infrontofitstoodcarriageswithouthorsesandthingswerebeingpackedintothevehicles。
Itwasawarm，graymorning。PrincessMarystoppedattheporch，stillhorrifiedbyherspiritualbasenessandtryingtoarrangeherthoughtsbeforegoingtoherfather。Thedoctorcamedownstairsandwentouttoher。
"Heisalittlebettertoday，"saidhe。"Iwaslookingforyou。
Onecanmakeoutsomethingofwhatheissaying。Hisheadisclearer。Comein，heisaskingforyou……"
PrincessMary’sheartbeatsoviolentlyatthisnewsthatshegrewpaleandleanedagainstthewalltokeepfromfalling。Toseehim，talktohim，feelhiseyesonhernowthatherwholesoulwasoverflowingwiththosedreadful，wickedtemptations，wasatormentofjoyandterror。
"Come，"saidthedoctor。
PrincessMaryenteredherfather’sroomandwentuptohisbed。Hewaslyingonhisbackproppeduphigh，andhissmallbonyhandswiththeirknottedpurpleveinswerelyingonthequilt；hislefteyegazedstraightbeforehim，hisrighteyewasawry，andhisbrowsandlipsmotionless。Heseemedaltogethersothin，small，andpathetic。Hisfaceseemedtohaveshriveledormelted；hisfeatureshadgrownsmaller。PrincessMarywentupandkissedhishand。Hislefthandpressedherssothatsheunderstoodthathehadlongbeenwaitingforhertocome。Hetwitchedherhand，andhisbrowsandlipsquiveredangrily。
Shelookedathimindismaytryingtoguesswhathewantedofher。
Whenshechangedherpositionsothathislefteyecouldseeherfacehecalmeddown，nottakinghiseyesoffherforsomeseconds。
Thenhislipsandtonguemoved，soundscame，andhebegantospeak，gazingtimidlyandimploringlyather，evidentlyafraidthatshemightnotunderstand。
StrainingallherfacultiesPrincessMarylookedathim。Thecomiceffortswithwhichhemovedhistonguemadeherdrophereyesandwithdifficultyrepressthesobsthatrosetoherthroat。Hesaidsomething，repeatingthesamewordsseveraltimes。Shecouldnotunderstandthem，buttriedtoguesswhathewassayingandinquiringlyrepeatedthewordsheuttered。
"Mmm……ar……ate……ate……"herepeatedseveraltimes。
Itwasquiteimpossibletounderstandthesesounds。Thedoctorthoughthehadguessedthem，andinquiringlyrepeated："Mary，areyouafraid？"Theprinceshookhishead，againrepeatedthesamesounds。
"Mymind，mymindaches？"questionedPrincessMary。
Hemadeamumblingsoundinconfirmationofthis，tookherhand，andbeganpressingittodifferentpartsofhisbreastasiftryingtofindtherightplaceforit。
"Alwaysthoughts……aboutyou……thoughts……"hethenutteredmuchmoreclearlythanhehaddonebefore，nowthathewassureofbeingunderstood。
PrincessMarypressedherheadagainsthishand，tryingtohidehersobsandtears。
Hemovedhishandoverherhair。
"Ihavebeencallingyouallnight……"hebroughtout。
"IfonlyIhadknown……"shesaidthroughhertears。"Iwasafraidtocomein。"
Hepressedherhand。
"Weren’tyouasleep？"
"No，Ididnotsleep，"saidPrincessMary，shakingherhead。
Unconsciouslyimitatingherfather，shenowtriedtoexpressherselfashedid，asmuchaspossiblebysigns，andhertonguetooseemedtomovewithdifficulty。
"Dearone……Dearest……"PrincessMarycouldnotquitemakeoutwhathehadsaid，butfromhislookitwasclearthathehadutteredatendercaressingwordsuchashehadneverusedtoherbefore。"Whydidn’tyoucomein？"
"AndIwaswishingforhisdeath！"thoughtPrincessMary。
Hewassilentawhile。
"Thankyou……daughterdear！……forall，forall……forgive！……
thankyou！……forgive！……thankyou！……"andtearsbegantoflowfromhiseyes。"CallAndrew！"hesaidsuddenly，andachildish，timidexpressionofdoubtshoweditselfonhisfaceashespoke。
Hehimselfseemedawarethathisdemandwasmeaningless。SoatleastitseemedtoPrincessMary。
"Ihavealetterfromhim，"shereplied。
Heglancedatherwithtimidsurprise。
"Whereishe？"
"He’swiththearmy，Father，atSmolensk。"
Heclosedhiseyesandremainedsilentalongtime。Thenasifinanswertohisdoubtsandtoconfirmthefactthatnowheunderstoodandrememberedeverything，henoddedhisheadandreopenedhiseyes。
"Yes，"hesaid，softlyanddistinctly。"Russiahasperished。They’vedestroyedher。"
Andhebegantosob，andagaintearsflowedfromhiseyes。
PrincessMarycouldnolongerrestrainherselfandweptwhileshegazedathisface。
Againheclosedhiseyes。Hissobsceased，hepointedtohiseyes，andTikhon，understandinghim，wipedawaythetears。
Thenheagainopenedhiseyesandsaidsomethingnoneofthemcouldunderstandforalongtime，tillatlastTikhonunderstoodandrepeatedit。PrincessMaryhadsoughtthemeaningofhiswordsinthemoodinwhichhehadjustbeenspeaking。ShethoughthewasspeakingofRussia，orPrinceAndrew，ofherself，ofhisgrandson，orofhisowndeath，andsoshecouldnotguesshiswords。
"Putonyourwhitedress。Ilikeit，"waswhathesaid。
HavingunderstoodthisPrincessMarysobbedstilllouder，andthedoctortakingherarmledherouttotheveranda，soothingherandtryingtopersuadehertoprepareforherjourney。Whenshehadlefttheroomtheprinceagainbeganspeakingabouthisson，aboutthewar，andabouttheEmperor，angrilytwitchinghisbrowsandraisinghishoarsevoice，andthenhehadasecondandfinalstroke。
PrincessMarystayedontheveranda。Thedayhadcleared，itwashotandsunny。Shecouldunderstandnothing，thinkofnothingandfeelnothing，exceptpassionateloveforherfather，lovesuchasshethoughtshehadneverfelttillthatmoment。Sheranoutsobbingintothegardenandasfarasthepond，alongtheavenuesofyounglimetreesPrinceAndrewhadplanted。
"Yes……I……I……Iwishedforhisdeath！Yes，Iwantedittoendquicker……Iwishedtobeatpeace……Andwhatwillbecomeofme？
Whatusewillpeacebewhenheisnolongerhere？"PrincessMarymurmured，pacingthegardenwithhurriedstepsandpressingherhandstoherbosomwhichheavedwithconvulsivesobs。
Whenshehadcompletedthetourofthegarden，whichbroughtheragaintothehouse，shesawMademoiselleBourienne—whohadremainedatBogucharovoanddidnotwishtoleaveit—comingtowardherwithastranger。ThiswastheMarshaloftheNobilityofthedistrict，whohadcomepersonallytopointouttotheprincessthenecessityforherpromptdeparture。PrincessMarylistenedwithoutunderstandinghim；sheledhimtothehouse，offeredhimlunch，andsatdownwithhim。Then，excusingherself，shewenttothedooroftheoldprince’sroom。Thedoctorcameoutwithanagitatedfaceandsaidshecouldnotenter。
"Goaway，Princess！Goaway……goaway！"
Shereturnedtothegardenandsatdownonthegrassatthefootoftheslopebythepond，wherenoonecouldseeher。Shedidnotknowhowlongshehadbeentherewhenshewasarousedbythesoundofawoman’sfootstepsrunningalongthepath。SheroseandsawDunyashahermaid，whowasevidentlylookingforher，andwhostoppedsuddenlyasifinalarmonseeinghermistress。
"Pleasecome，Princess……ThePrince，"saidDunyashainabreakingvoice。
"Immediately，I’mcoming，I’mcoming！"repliedtheprincesshurriedly，notgivingDunyashatimetofinishwhatshewassaying，andtryingtoavoidseeingthegirlsherantowardthehouse。
"Princess，it’sGod’swill！Youmustbepreparedforeverything，"
saidtheMarshal，meetingheratthehousedoor。
"Letmealone；it’snottrue！"shecriedangrilytohim。
Thedoctortriedtostopher。Shepushedhimasideandrantoherfather’sdoor。"Whyarethesepeoplewithfrightenedfacesstoppingme？Idon’twantanyofthem！Andwhataretheydoinghere？"shethought。Sheopenedthedoorandthebrightdaylightinthatpreviouslydarkenedroomstartledher。Intheroomwerehernurseandotherwomen。Theyalldrewbackfromthebed，makingwayforher。Hewasstilllyingonthebedasbefore，butthesternexpressionofhisquietfacemadePrincessMarystopshortonthethreshold。
"No，he’snotdead—it’simpossible！"shetoldherselfandapproachedhim，andrepressingtheterrorthatseizedher，shepressedherlipstohischeek。Butshesteppedbackimmediately。Alltheforceofthetendernessshehadbeenfeelingforhimvanishedinstantlyandwasreplacedbyafeelingofhorroratwhatlaytherebeforeher。"No，heisnomore！Heisnot，butherewherehewasissomethingunfamiliarandhostile，somedreadful，terrifying，andrepellentmystery！"Andhidingherfaceinherhands，PrincessMarysankintothearmsofthedoctor，whoheldherup。
InthepresenceofTikhonandthedoctorthewomenwashedwhathadbeentheprince，tiedhisheadupwithahandkerchiefthatthemouthshouldnotstiffenwhileopen，andwithanotherhandkerchieftiedtogetherthelegsthatwerealreadyspreadingapart。Thentheydressedhiminuniformwithhisdecorationsandplacedhisshriveledlittlebodyonatable。Heavenonlyknowswhoarrangedallthisandwhen，butitallgotdoneasifofitsownaccord。Towardnightcandleswereburningroundhiscoffin，apallwasspreadoverit，thefloorwasstrewnwithspraysofjuniper，aprintedbandwastuckedinunderhisshriveledhead，andinacorneroftheroomsatachanterreadingthepsalms。
Justashorsesshyandsnortandgatheraboutadeadhorse，sotheinmatesofthehouseandstrangerscrowdedintothedrawingroomroundthecoffin—theMarshal，thevillageElder，peasantwomen—andallwithfixedandfrightenedeyes，crossingthemselves，bowedandkissedtheoldprince’scoldandstiffenedhand。
BK10CH9
CHAPTERIX
UntilPrinceAndrewsettledinBogucharovoitsownershadalwaysbeenabsentees，anditspeasantswereofquiteadifferentcharacterfromthoseofBaldHills。Theydifferedfromtheminspeech，dress，anddisposition。Theywerecalledsteppepeasants。TheoldprinceusedtoapproveofthemfortheirenduranceatworkwhentheycametoBaldHillstohelpwiththeharvestortodigponds，andditches，buthedislikedthemfortheirboorishness。
PrinceAndrew’slaststayatBogucharovo，whenheintroducedhospitalsandschoolsandreducedthequitrentthepeasantshadtopay，hadnotsoftenedtheirdispositionbuthadonthecontrarystrengthenedinthemthetraitsofcharactertheoldprincecalledboorishness。Variousobscurerumorswerealwayscurrentamongthem：atonetimearumorthattheywouldallbeenrolledasCossacks；atanotherofanewreligiontowhichtheywerealltobeconverted；thenofsomeproclamationoftheTsar’sandofanoathtotheTsarPaulin1797inconnectionwithwhichitwasrumoredthatfreedomhadbeengrantedthembutthelandownershadstoppedit，thenofPeterFedorovich’sreturntothethroneinsevenyears’time，wheneverythingwouldbemadefreeandso"simple"thattherewouldbenorestrictions。RumorsofthewarwithBonaparteandhisinvasionwereconnectedintheirmindswiththesamesortofvaguenotionsofAntichrist，theendoftheworld，and"purefreedom。"
InthevicinityofBogucharovowerelargevillagesbelongingtothecrownortoownerswhoseserfspaidquitrentandcouldworkwheretheypleased。Therewereveryfewresidentlandlordsintheneighborhoodandalsoveryfewdomesticorliterateserfs，andinthelivesofthepeasantryofthosepartsthemysteriousundercurrentsinthelifeoftheRussianpeople，thecausesandmeaningofwhicharesobafflingtocontemporaries，weremoreclearlyandstronglynoticeablethanamongothers。Oneinstance，whichhadoccurredsometwentyyearsbefore，wasamovementamongthepeasantstoemigratetosomeunknown"warmrivers。"Hundredsofpeasants，amongthemtheBogucharovofolk，suddenlybegansellingtheircattleandmovinginwholefamiliestowardthesoutheast。Asbirdsmigratetosomewherebeyondthesea，sothesemenwiththeirwivesandchildrenstreamedtothesoutheast，topartswherenoneofthemhadeverbeen。Theysetoffincaravans，boughttheirfreedomonebyoneorranaway，anddroveorwalkedtowardthe"warmrivers。"Manyofthemwerepunished，somesenttoSiberia，manydiedofcoldandhungerontheroad，manyreturnedoftheirownaccord，andthemovementdieddownofitselfjustasithadsprungup，withoutapparentreason。Butsuchundercurrentsstillexistedamongthepeopleandgatherednewforcesreadytomanifestthemselvesjustasstrangely，unexpectedly，andatthesametimesimply，naturally，andforcibly。Nowin1812，toanyonelivinginclosetouchwiththesepeopleitwasapparentthattheseundercurrentswereactingstronglyandnearinganeruption。
Alpatych，whohadreachedBogucharovoshortlybeforetheoldprince’sdeath，noticedanagitationamongthepeasants，andthatcontrarytowhatwashappeningintheBaldHillsdistrict，whereoveraradiusoffortymilesallthepeasantsweremovingawayandleavingtheirvillagestobedevastatedbytheCossacks，thepeasantsinthestepperegionroundBogucharovowere，itwasrumored，intouchwiththeFrench，receivedleafletsfromthemthatpassedfromhandtohand，anddidnotmigrate。HelearnedfromdomesticserfsloyaltohimthatthepeasantKarp，whopossessedgreatinfluenceinthevillagecommuneandhadrecentlybeenawaydrivingagovernmenttransport，hadreturnedwithnewsthattheCossacksweredestroyingdesertedvillages，butthattheFrenchdidnotharmthem。AlpatychalsoknewthatonthepreviousdayanotherpeasanthadevenbroughtfromthevillageofVisloukhovo，whichwasoccupiedbytheFrench，aproclamationbyaFrenchgeneralthatnoharmwouldbedonetotheinhabitants，andiftheyremainedtheywouldbepaidforanythingtakenfromthem。AsproofofthisthepeasanthadbroughtfromVisloukhovoahundredrublesinnoteshedidnotknowthattheywerefalsepaidtohiminadvanceforhay。
Moreimportantstill，AlpatychlearnedthatonthemorningoftheverydayhegavethevillageElderorderstocollectcartstomovetheprincess’luggagefromBogucharovo，therehadbeenavillagemeetingatwhichithadbeendecidednottomovebuttowait。Yettherewasnotimetowaste。Onthefifteenth，thedayoftheoldprince’sdeath，theMarshalhadinsistedonPrincessMary’sleavingatonce，asitwasbecomingdangerous。Hehadtoldherthatafterthesixteenthhecouldnotberesponsibleforwhatmighthappen。OntheeveningofthedaytheoldprincediedtheMarshalwentaway，promisingtoreturnnextdayforthefuneral。Butthishewasunabletodo，forhereceivedtidingsthattheFrenchhadunexpectedlyadvanced，andhadbarelytimetoremovehisownfamilyandvaluablesfromhisestate。
ForsomethirtyyearsBogucharovohadbeenmanagedbythevillageElder，Dron，whomtheoldprincecalledbythediminutive"Dronushka。"
Dronwasoneofthosephysicallyandmentallyvigorouspeasantswhogrowbigbeardsassoonastheyareofageandgoonunchangedtilltheyaresixtyorseventy，withoutagrayhairorthelossofatooth，asstraightandstrongatsixtyasatthirty。
Soonafterthemigrationtothe"warmrivers，"inwhichhehadtakenpartliketherest，DronwasmadevillageElderandoverseerofBogucharovo，andhadsincefilledthatpostirreproachablyfortwenty—threeyears。Thepeasantsfearedhimmorethantheydidtheirmaster。Themasters，boththeoldprinceandtheyoung，andthestewardrespectedhimandjestinglycalledhim"theMinister。"
DuringthewholetimeofhisserviceDronhadneverbeendrunkorill，neveraftersleeplessnightsorthehardesttaskshadheshowntheleastfatigue，andthoughhecouldnotreadhehadneverforgottenasinglemoneyaccountorthenumberofquartersofflourinanyoftheendlesscartloadshesoldfortheprince，norasingleshockofthewholecorncroponanysingleacreoftheBogucharovofields。
Alpatych，arrivingfromthedevastatedBaldHillsestate，sentforhisDrononthedayoftheprince’sfuneralandtoldhimtohavetwelvehorsesgotreadyfortheprincess’carriagesandeighteencartsforthethingstoberemovedfromBogucharovo。Thoughthepeasantspaidquitrent，Alpatychthoughtnodifficultywouldbemadeaboutcomplyingwiththisorder，forthereweretwohundredandthirtyhouseholdsatworkinBogucharovoandthepeasantswerewelltodo。
ButonhearingtheorderDronlowere...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
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