wound may reopen; for my sake be careful."

She left the room. I was in a daze. I felt life returning. "She will
be mine!" I kept repeating, "she loves me!" I grew better, hour by
hour. The barber of the regiment dressed my wounds, for there was no
other physician in the fortress, and thank God, he did not merely play
the doctor. Youth and nature completed the cure.

The Commandant's whole family surrounded me with care. Marie scarcely
ever left me. I need not say that I took the first favorable moment
to continue my interrupted declaration. This time Marie listened with
more patience. She frankly acknowledged her affection for me. And
added that her parents would be happy in her happiness; "but," she
continued, "think well of it? Will there be no objection on the part
of your family?"

I did not doubt my mother's tenderness, but knowing my father's
character, I foresaw that my love would not be received by him
favorably, and that in all probability he would treat it as one of my
youthful follies. This I avowed plainly to Marie, but nevertheless I
resolved to write to my father as eloquently as possible, and ask his
blessing on our marriage. I showed the letter to Marie, who thought
it so touching and convincing that she did not doubt of success, and
abandoned herself, with all the confidence of youth and love, to the
feelings of her heart.

I made peace with Alexis in the first days of my convalescence. Ivan
Mironoff said, reproaching me for the duel: "You see, Peter, I ought
to put you under arrest, but indeed you have been well punished without
that. Alexis is, by my orders, under guard in the barn, and his sword