“If it were not for my sincere affection and devotion to Uncle ,” said she, uttering the word with peculiar assurance and unconcern, “I know his character: noble, upright⁠ ⁠… but you see he has no one with him except the young princesses.⁠ ⁠… They are still young.⁠ ⁠…” She bent her head and continued in a whisper: “Has he performed his final duty, Prince? How priceless are those last moments! It can make things no worse, and it is absolutely necessary to prepare him if he is so ill. We women, Prince,” and she smiled tenderly, “always know how to say these things. I absolutely must see him, however painful it may be for me. I am used to suffering.”

Evidently the prince understood her, and also understood, as he had done at Anna Pávlovna’s, that it would be difficult to get rid of Anna Mikháylovna.

“Would not such a meeting be too trying for him, dear Anna Mikháylovna?” said he. “Let us wait until evening. The doctors are expecting a crisis.”