ing it to his discretion to take steps or not for the defence of Bleak Hills； where he said one of the oldest Russian generals would be taken prisoner or die。 He announced to his household that he should remain at Bleak Hills。
But though resolved himself to remain； the prince made arrangements for sending the princess with Dessalle and the little prince to Bogutcharovo； and from there on to Moscow。 Frightened at her father’s feverish； sleepless energy； following on his previous apathy； Princess Marya could not bring herself to leave him alone； and for the first time in her life ventured not to obey him。 She refused to go； and a fearful tempest of wrath burst upon her。 The prince reminded her of every previous instance of injustice to her。 Trying to find pretexts for reviling her； he said she had done everything to worry him； that she had estranged him from his son； that she harboured the vilest suspicions of him； that she made it the object of her life to poison his existence。 He drove her out of his study； telling her that he did not care if she did not go away。 He told her that he did not want to hear of her existence； but gave her fair warning not to dare show herself before him。 Princess Marya was relieved that he had not； as she had dreaded； ordered her to be forcibly removed from Bleak Hills； but had simply commanded her not to show herself。 She knew that this meant that in the secret recesses of his soul he was glad she was staying at home。
The day after Nikolushka had left； the old prince dressed himself in the morning in full uniform； and prepared to make a call on the commander…in…chief。 The carriage was standing ready。 Princess Marya saw him in his uniform； with all his orders on his breast； walk out of the house and go down the garden to inspect the armed peasants and houseserfs。 Princess Marya sat at the window listening to his voice resounding from the garden。 Suddenly several men came running up the avenue with panic…stricken faces。
Princess Marya ran out on to the steps； along the flower…bed path； and into the avenue。 A great crowd of militiamen and servants were coming down it towards her； and in the middle of that crowd several men were holding up and dragging along a little old man in a uniform and decorations。 Princess Marya ran towards him； and in the dancing； tiny rings of light that filtered through the shade of the lime…tree avenue； she could form no distinct impression of the change in his face。 The only thing she could see was that the stern and determined expression of his face had changed to a look of timidity and submission。 On seeing his daughter； he tried to move his powerless lips； and uttered a hoarse sound。 It was impossible to understand what he meant。 He was lifted up； carried into his study； and laid on the couch； which had been such an object of dread to him of late。
The doctor； who was brought over the same night； bled him； and declared that the prince had had a stroke； paralysing his right side。
To remain at Bleak Hills was becoming more and more dangerous； and the next day they moved the prince to Bogutcharovo。 The doctor travelled with him。
When they reached Bogutcharovo； they found Dessalle had already set off for Moscow with the little prince。
For three weeks the old prince lay stricken with paralysis； getting neither better nor worse； in the new house Prince Andrey had planned at Bogutcharovo。 The old prince was unconscious； he lay like a deformed corpse。 He muttered incessantly； twitching his eyebrows and lips； and it was impossible to tell whether he understood his surroundings or not。 Only one thing could be said for certain： that was； that he was suffering； and had a craving to express something。 But what that was no one could tell： whether it were some sick and half…crazy whim； whether it related to public affairs or family circumstances。
The doctor said that this uneasiness meant nothing； that it was due to physical causes。 But Princess Marya believed （and the fact that her presence seemed to intensify the restlessness； confirmed her supposition） that he wanted to tell her something。
He was evidently suffering both physically and mentally。 There was no hope of recovery。 It was impossible to move him。 What if he were to die on the road？ “Wouldn’t it be better if it were over； if all were over？” Princess Marya thought sometimes。 Day and night； almost without sleep； she watched him； and； terrible to say； she watched him； not in the hope of finding symptoms of a change for the better； but often in the hope of seeing symptoms of the approaching end。
Strange as it was for the princess to own it to herself； she had this feeling in her heart。 And what was still more horrible to Princess Marya was the fact that ever since her father’s illness （if not even before； when she resolved to stay with him； in vague expectation of something） all the forgotten hopes and desires slumbering within her head awakened。 Ideas that had not entered her head for years—dreams of a life free from the terror of her father； even of the possibility of love and a happy married life； haunted her imagination like temptations of the devil。 In vain she tried to drive away the thought； questions were continually in her mind how she would order her life now； after this。 It was a temptation of the devil； and Princess Marya knew it。 She knew that the sole weapon of avail against him was prayer； and she strove to pray。 She threw herself into the attitude of prayer； gazed at the holy pictures； repeated the words of the prayer； but still she could not pray。 She felt herself carried off into a new world of real life； of labour and free activity； utterly opposed to the moral atmosphere in which she had been kept in bondage and in which the one consolation was prayer。 She could not pray and could not weep； and practical cares absorbed her mind。
To remain at Bogutcharovo was becoming unsafe。 Rumours came from all sides of the French being near； and in one village； fifteen versts from Bogutcharovo； a house had been sacked by French marauders。 The doctor insisted on the necessity of moving the prince； the marshal of the province sent an official to Princess Marya to persuade her to get away as quickly as possible。 The captain of the police visited Bogutcharovo to insist on the same thing； telling her that the French were only forty versts away； that French proclamations were circulating in the villages； and that if the princess did not move her father before the 15th； he could not answer for the consequences。
The princess made up her mind to leave on the 15th。 The preparations and giving all the necessary instructions； for which every one applied to her； kept her busy the whole of the previous day。 The night of the 14th she spent as usual； without undressing； in the room next to the one where the old prince lay。 Several times she waked up； hearing his groaning and muttering； the creak of the bedstead； and the steps of Tihon and the doctor moving him。 Several times she listened at the door； and it seemed to her that he was muttering more loudly than usual and turning more restlessly。 She could not sleep； and several times she went to the door； listening； tempted to go in； but unable to make up her mind to do so。 Although he could not speak； Princess Marya saw and knew how he disliked any expression of anxiety about him。 She had noticed how he turned in displeasure away from her eyes； which were sometimes unconsciously fixed persistently on him。 She knew her going in at night； at an unusual time； would irritate him。
But never had she felt so sorry for him； never had she felt it so dreadful to lose him。 She went over all her life with him； and in every word； every action； she saw an expression of his love for her。 Occasionally these reminiscences were interrupted by the temptation of the devil； dreams came back to her imagination of what would happen after his death； and how she would order her new independent existence。 But she drove away such thoughts with horror。 Towards morning he was quieter； and she fell asleep。
She waked up late。 The perfect sincerity； which often accompanies the moment of waking； showed her unmistakably what it was that was of most interest to her in her father’s illness。 She waked up； listen