Gradually my thoughts cleared. I remembered my duel, and understood that I had been wounded. At that moment the door creaked.

“How is he?” whispered a voice which sent a tremor through me.

“Still the same,” Savelyich answered, with a sigh. “Still unconscious. It’s the fifth day.”

I tried to turn my head, but could not.

“Where am I? Who is here?” I said, with an effort.

Marya Ivanovna came up to my bed and bent over me.

“Well, how do you feel?” she asked.

“God be thanked,” I answered in a weak voice. “Is it you, Marya Ivanovna? Tell me …”

I had not the strength to go on, and broke off. Savelyich cried out. His face lit up with joy.

“He has come to his senses! Thank God! Well, my dear Pyotr Andreyich, you have given me a fright! Five days, it’s no joke!”

Marya Ivanovna interrupted him.

“Don’t talk to him too much, Savelyich,” she said; “he is still weak.” She went out and quietly closed the door.

My thoughts were in a turmoil. And so I was in the Commandant’s house: Marya Ivanovna had come in to me. I wanted to ask Savelyich several questions, but the old man shook his head and stopped his ears. I closed my eyes in vexation and soon dropped asleep.

When I woke up I called Savelyich, but instead of him I saw Marya Ivanovna before me; her angelic voice greeted me. I cannot express the blissful feeling that possessed me at that moment. I seized her hand and covered it with kisses, wetting it with tears of tenderness. Masha did not withdraw her hand … and suddenly her lips touched my cheek and I felt their fresh and ardent kiss. A flame ran through me.

“Dear, kind Marya Ivanovna,” I said to her, “be my wife, consent to make me happy.”

She regained her self-possession.

“Calm yourself, for Heaven’s sake,” she said, taking her hand from me, “you are not out of danger yet—the wound may open. Take care of yourself, if only for my sake.”

With these words she went out, leaving me in an ecstasy of delight. Happiness revived me. She would be mine! She loved me! My whole being was filled with this thought.

From that time onward I grew better every hour. I was treated by the regimental barber, for there was no other doctor in the fortress, and fortunately he did not attempt to be clever. Youth and nature hastened my recovery. The whole of the Commandant’s family looked after me. Marya Ivanovna never left my side. Of course, at the first opportunity, I returned to our interrupted explanation, and Marya Ivanovna heard me out with more patience. Without any affectation she confessed her love for me and said that her parents would certainly be glad of her happiness.

“But think well,” she added, “won’t your parents raise objections?”

I pondered. I had no doubts of my mother’s kindness; but knowing my father’s views and disposition, I felt that my love would not particularly touch him and that he would look upon it as a young man’s whim. I candidly admitted this to Marya Ivanovna, but decided to write to my father as eloquently as possible, asking him to give us his blessing. I showed my letter to Marya Ivanovna, who found it so touching and convincing that she never doubted of its success and abandoned herself to the feelings of her tender heart with all the trustfulness of youth and love.

I made peace with Shvabrin in the first days of my convalescence. In reprimanding me for the duel, Ivan Kuzmich had said to me: “Ah, Pyotr Andreyich, I ought really to put you under arrest, but you have been punished enough already. Alexey Ivanych, though, is shut up in the storehouse and Vasilisa Yegorovna has his sword under lock and key. It is just as well he should think things over and repent.”

I was much too happy to retain any hostile feeling in my heart.