saying and inquiringly repeated the words he uttered.
“Mmm … ar … ate … ate …” he repeated several times.
It was quite impossible to understand these sounds. The doctor thought he had guessed them, and inquiringly repeated: “ Márya, are you afraid? ” The prince shook his head, again repeated the same sounds.
“ My mind, my mind aches? ” questioned Princess Márya.
He made a mumbling sound in confirmation of this, took her hand, and began pressing it to different parts of his breast as if trying to find the right place for it.
“Always thoughts … about you … thoughts …” he then uttered much more clearly than he had done before, now that he was sure of being understood.
Princess Márya pressed her head against his hand, trying to hide her sobs and tears.
He moved his hand over