And latterly, to her surprise and bewilderment, Princess Márya noticed that her father was really associating more and more with the Frenchwoman. She wrote to Prince Andréy about the reception of his letter, but comforted him with hopes of reconciling their father to the idea.

Nikolúshka and his education, her brother André, and religion were Princess Márya’s joys and consolations; but besides that, since everyone must have personal hopes, Princess Márya in the profoundest depths of her heart had a hidden dream and hope that supplied the chief consolation of her life. This comforting dream and hope were given her by God’s folk