War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy [847]
My father did not speak to me of the suitor, he only told me that he had received a letter and was awaiting a visit from Prince Vassily. As for the marriage plan regarding me, I shall tell you, dear and excellent friend, that for me marriage is a divine institution to which one must conform oneself. However painful it may be for me, if the Almighty ever imposes upon me the duties of a wife and mother, I shall try to fulfill them as faithfully as I can, without troubling myself with the examination of my feelings regarding him whom he will give me for a husband.
I have received a letter from my brother, who announces his arrival at Bald Hills with his wife. This will be a short-lived joy, since he is leaving us to take part in this wretched war, into which we are being dragged God knows how or why. Not just with you there in the center of affairs and of the world is there talk only of war, but here, in the midst of these rural labors and this calm of nature which city dwellers usually picture to themselves in the country, the noise of war makes itself heard and felt painfully. My father speaks of nothing but marches and countermarches, things of which I have no understanding; and the day before yesterday, while going for my usual stroll along the village street, I was witness to a heartrending scene…It was a convoy of recruits enlisted from our estate and being sent off to the army…You should have seen the state that the mothers, the wives, the children of these departing men were in, and heard the sobs on both sides! You would think that humanity has forgotten the laws of its divine Savior, who preached love and the forgiveness of transgressions, and that it finds its greatest merit in the art of mutual killing.
Farewell, dear and good friend. May our divine Savior and his most holy Mother keep you in their holy and powerful care. Marie.
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*151Ah, you’re sending a letter, Princess; I’ve already sent mine. I wrote to my poor mother.
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†152Princess, I must warn you…the prince has had an altercation…an altercation with Mikhail Ivanov. He’s in a very bad humor, very morose. Be warned, you know…
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‡153Ah! dear friend…I’ve begged you never to warn me of the humor my father happens to be in. I do not allow myself to judge him, and I would prefer that others not do so.
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*154Why, it’s a palace…Let’s go, quickly, quickly!…
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†155Is that Marie practicing? Let’s go quietly, we must surprise her.
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‡156Ah! what happiness for the princess…At last! I must inform her.
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§157No, no, please…You are Mlle Bourienne, I know you already by the friendship my sister-in-law feels for you…She’s not expecting us!
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*158Ah! dear!…Ah! Marie!…I dreamed last night…So you weren’t expecting us?…Ah, Marie, you’ve grown thinner…And you have put on weight…
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†159And I recognized madame the princess at once.
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‡160And I had no idea!…Ah! André, I didn’t see you.
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§161Crybaby.
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*162In all reality.
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†163He’s abandoning me here and God knows why, when he could have had a promotion…
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*164Malbroug [Marlborough] is going to war. God knows when he’ll come back.
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*165To take to such ridiculousness.
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†166Countess Apraksin,