Chapter 28
The Weight of Farewell
Prince Andrew was to leave next evening. The old prince, not altering his routine, retired as usual after dinner. The little princess was in her sister-in-law’s room. Prince Andrew in a traveling coat without epaulettes had been packing with his valet in the rooms assigned to him. After inspecting the carriage himself and seeing the trunks put in, he ordered the horses to be harnessed. Only those things he always kept with him remained in his room; a small box, a large canteen fitted with silver plate, two Turkish pistols and a saber—a present from his father who had brought…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Rewrite the Goodbye Scene
Choose one of Andrew's goodbye conversations (with Mary, his father, or Lise) and rewrite it as if both people decided to drop their emotional defenses and speak honestly about their fears. What would they actually say if they weren't protecting themselves or performing their roles?
Consider:
- •What is each person really afraid of beneath their polite or dutiful words?
- •How might the relationship change if they spoke these truths out loud?
- •What risks would they be taking by being completely honest?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you went through the motions in an important relationship instead of being real. What were you protecting yourself from? What might have happened if you had been completely honest?
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