The old Prince has a stroke and dies after three weeks.
Summary:
The old prince’s mind cleared. He began to prepare for the arrival of the French. He ordered the princess, his grandson and Dessalles to go to Moscow. Then, he prepared to defend Bald Hills to the death. Mary refused to go away, but the others left for Moscow. For her refusal to leave, her father’s fury broke over her in a terrible storm, although she suspected he was glad she had not gone away. On the following morning, the old Prince suffered a seizure paralyzing his right side. The next day they moved the prince to Boguchárovo, Andrew’s nearby estate, thinking it safer. There the old Prince lay unconscious for three weeks. He was suffering both physically and mentally. Mary began to think it would be better if he just died, and then she felt guilty for thinking this. At one point, the old Prince began to recover his consciousness, and he seemed to ask Mary’s forgiveness. The authorities told Mary they could remain there no longer, and must go to Moscow. But before they were able to depart for Moscow the old Prince passed away.
quote from the chapter:
All the force of the tenderness she had been feeling for him vanished instantly and was replaced by a feeling of horror at what lay there before her. No, he is no more! He is not, but here where he was is something unfamiliar and hostile, some dreadful, terrifying, and repellent mystery! And hiding her face in her hands, Princess Mary sank into the arms of the doctor, who held her up. In the presence of Tíkhon and the doctor the women washed what had been the prince, tied his head up with a handkerchief that the mouth should not stiffen while open, and with another handkerchief tied together the legs that were already spreading apart. Then they dressed him in uniform with his decorations and placed his shriveled little body on a table. Heaven only knows who arranged all this and when, but it all got done as if of its own accord. Toward night candles were burning round his coffin, a pall was spread over it, the floor was strewn with sprays of juniper, a printed band was tucked in under his shriveled head, and in a corner of the room sat a chanter reading the psalms.
Book 10, Chapter 8
The old Prince has a stroke and dies after three weeks.
Summary:
The old prince’s mind cleared. He began to prepare for the arrival of the French. He ordered the princess, his grandson and Dessalles to go to Moscow. Then, he prepared to defend Bald Hills to the death. Mary refused to go away, but the others left for Moscow. For her refusal to leave, her father’s fury broke over her in a terrible storm, although she suspected he was glad she had not gone away. On the following morning, the old Prince suffered a seizure paralyzing his right side. The next day they moved the prince to Boguchárovo, Andrew’s nearby estate, thinking it safer. There the old Prince lay unconscious for three weeks. He was suffering both physically and mentally. Mary began to think it would be better if he just died, and then she felt guilty for thinking this. At one point, the old Prince began to recover his consciousness, and he seemed to ask Mary’s forgiveness. The authorities told Mary they could remain there no longer, and must go to Moscow. But before they were able to depart for Moscow the old Prince passed away.
quote from the chapter:
All the force of the tenderness she had been feeling for him vanished instantly and was replaced by a feeling of horror at what lay there before her. No, he is no more! He is not, but here where he was is something unfamiliar and hostile, some dreadful, terrifying, and repellent mystery! And hiding her face in her hands, Princess Mary sank into the arms of the doctor, who held her up. In the presence of Tíkhon and the doctor the women washed what had been the prince, tied his head up with a handkerchief that the mouth should not stiffen while open, and with another handkerchief tied together the legs that were already spreading apart. Then they dressed him in uniform with his decorations and placed his shriveled little body on a table. Heaven only knows who arranged all this and when, but it all got done as if of its own accord. Toward night candles were burning round his coffin, a pall was spread over it, the floor was strewn with sprays of juniper, a printed band was tucked in under his shriveled head, and in a corner of the room sat a chanter reading the psalms.
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