Chapter 25

           

           Duringthatyearafterhisson’sdeparture,PrinceNicholasBolkónski’shealthandtemperbecamemuchworse.Hegrewstillmoreirritable,anditwasPrincessMarywhogenerallyborethebruntofhisfrequentfitsofunprovokedanger.Heseemedcarefullytoseekouthertenderspotssoastotorturehermentallyasharshlyaspossible.PrincessMaryhadtwopassionsandconsequentlytwojoys—hernephew,littleNicholas,andreligion—andthesewerethefavoritesubjectsoftheprince’sattacksandridicule.Whateverwasspokenofhewouldbringroundtothesuperstitiousnessofoldmaids,orthepettingandspoilingofchildren.“Youwanttomakehim”—littleNicholas—“intoanoldmaidlikeyourself!Apity!PrinceAndrewwantsasonandnotanoldmaid,”hewouldsay.Or,turningtoMademoiselleBourienne,hewouldaskherinPrincessMary’spresencehowshelikedourvillagepriestsandiconsandwouldjokeaboutthem.

           HecontinuallyhurtPrincessMary’sfeelingsandtormentedher,butitcosthernoefforttoforgivehim.Couldhebetoblametowardher,orcouldherfather,whomsheknewlovedherinspiteofitall,beunjust?Andwhatisjustice?Theprincessneverthoughtofthatproudword“justice.”Allthecomplexlawsofmancenteredforherinoneclearandsimplelaw—thelawofloveandself-sacrificetaughtusbyHimwholovinglysufferedformankindthoughHeHimselfwasGod.Whathadshetodowiththejusticeorinjusticeofotherpeople?Shehadtoendureandlove,andthatshedid.

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