Book One: 1805 - Chapter XIV

by Leo Tolstoy

　　After receiving her visitors, the countess was so tired that shegave orders to admit no more, but the porter was told to be sure toinvite to dinner all who came "to congratulate." The countess wishedto have a tete-a-tete talk with the friend of her childhood,Princess Anna Mikhaylovna, whom she had not seen properly since shereturned from Petersburg. Anna Mikhaylovna, with her tear-worn butpleasant face, drew her chair nearer to that of the countess.

　　"With you I will be quite frank," said Anna Mikhaylovna. "Thereare not many left of us old friends! That's why I so value yourfriendship."

　　Anna Mikhaylovna looked at Vera and paused. The countess pressed herfriend's hand.

　　"Vera," she said to her eldest daughter who was evidently not afavorite, "how is it you have so little tact? Don't you see you arenot wanted here? Go to the other girls, or..."

　　The handsome Vera smiled contemptuously but did not seem at allhurt.

　　"If you had told me sooner, Mamma, I would have gone," she repliedas she rose to go to her own room.

　　But as she passed the sitting room she noticed two couplessitting, one pair at each window. She stopped and smiled scornfully.Sonya was sitting close to Nicholas who was copying out some versesfor her, the first he had ever written. Boris and Natasha were atthe other window and ceased talking when Vera entered. Sonya andNatasha looked at Vera with guilty, happy faces.

　　It was pleasant and touching to see these little girls in love;but apparently the sight of them roused no pleasant feeling in Vera.

　　"How often have I asked you not to take my things?" she said. "Youhave a room of your own," and she took the inkstand from Nicholas.

　　"In a minute, in a minute," he said, dipping his pen.

　　"You always manage to do things at the wrong time," continuedVera. "You came rushing into the drawing room so that everyone feltashamed of you."

　　Though what she said was quite just, perhaps for that very reason noone replied, and the four simply looked at one another. She lingeredin the room with the inkstand in her hand.

　　"And at your age what secrets can there be between Natasha andBoris, or between you two? It's all nonsense!"

　　"Now, Vera, what does it matter to you?" said Natasha in defense,speaking very gently.

　　She seemed that day to be more than ever kind and affectionate toeveryone.

　　"Very silly," said Vera. "I am ashamed of you. Secrets indeed!"

　　"All have secrets of their own," answered Natasha, getting warmer."We don't interfere with you and Berg."

　　"I should think not," said Vera, "because there can never beanything wrong in my behavior. But I'll just tell Mamma how you arebehaving with Boris."

　　"Natalya Ilynichna behaves very well to me," remarked Boris. "I havenothing to complain of."

　　"Don't, Boris! You are such a diplomat that it is reallytiresome," said Natasha in a mortified voice that trembled slightly.(She used the word "diplomat," which was just then much in vogue amongthe children, in the special sense they attached to it.) "Why does shebother me?" And she added, turning to Vera, "You'll never understandit, because you've never loved anyone. You have no heart! You are aMadame de Genlis and nothing more" (this nickname, bestowed on Vera byNicholas, was considered very stinging), "and your greatest pleasureis to be unpleasant to people! Go and flirt with Berg as much as youplease," she finished quickly.

　　"I shall at any rate not run after a young man before visitors..."

　　"Well, now you've done what you wanted," put in Nicholas- "saidunpleasant things to everyone and upset them. Let's go to thenursery."

　　All four, like a flock of scared birds, got up and left the room.

　　"The unpleasant things were said to me," remarked Vera, "I said noneto anyone."

　　"Madame de Genlis! Madame de Genlis!" shouted laughing voicesthrough the door.

　　The handsome Vera, who produced such an irritating and unpleasanteffect on everyone, smiled and, evidently unmoved by what had beensaid to her, went to the looking glass and arranged her hair andscarf. Looking at her own handsome face she seemed to become stillcolder and calmer.

　　In the drawing room the conversation was still going on.

　　"Ah, my dear," said the countess, "my life is not all roseseither. Don't I know that at the rate we are living our means won'tlast long? It's all the Club and his easygoing nature. Even in thecountry do we get any rest? Theatricals, hunting, and heaven knowswhat besides! But don't let's talk about me; tell me how you managedeverything. I often wonder at you, Annette- how at your age you canrush off alone in a carriage to Moscow, to Petersburg, to thoseministers and great people, and know how to deal with them all! It'squite astonishing. How did you get things settled? I couldn't possiblydo it."

　　"Ah, my love," answered Anna Mikhaylovna, "God grant you neverknow what it is to be left a widow without means and with a son youlove to distraction! One learns many things then," she added with acertain pride. "That lawsuit taught me much. When I want to see one ofthose big people I write a note: 'Princess So-and-So desires aninterview with So and-So,' and then I take a cab and go myself two,three, or four times- till I get what I want. I don't mind what theythink of me."

　　"Well, and to whom did you apply about Bory?" asked the countess."You see yours is already an officer in the Guards, while myNicholas is going as a cadet. There's no one to interest himself forhim. To whom did you apply?"

　　"To Prince Vasili. He was so kind. He at once agreed toeverything, and put the matter before the Emperor," said Princess AnnaMikhaylovna enthusiastically, quite forgetting all the humiliation shehad endured to gain her end.

　　"Has Prince Vasili aged much?" asked the countess. "I have notseen him since we acted together at the Rumyantsovs' theatricals. Iexpect he has forgotten me. He paid me attentions in those days," saidthe countess, with a smile.

　　"He is just the same as ever," replied Anna Mikhaylovna,"overflowing with amiability. His position has not turned his headat all. He said to me, 'I am sorry I can do so little for you, dearPrincess. I am at your command.' Yes, he is a fine fellow and a verykind relation. But, Nataly, you know my love for my son: I would doanything for his happiness! And my affairs are in such a bad waythat my position is now a terrible one," continued Anna Mikhaylovna,sadly, dropping her voice. "My wretched lawsuit takes all I have andmakes no progress. Would you believe it, I have literally not apenny and don't know how to equip Boris." She took out herhandkerchief and began to cry. "I need five hundred rubles, and haveonly one twenty-five-ruble note. I am in such a state.... My only hopenow is in Count Cyril Vladimirovich Bezukhov. If he will not assisthis godson- you know he is Bory's godfather- and allow him somethingfor his maintenance, all my trouble will have been thrown away.... Ishall not be able to equip him."

　　The countess' eyes filled with tears and she pondered in silence.

　　"I often think, though, perhaps it's a sin," said the princess,"that here lives Count Cyril Vladimirovich Bezukhov so rich, allalone... that tremendous fortune... and what is his life worth? It's aburden to him, and Bory's life is only just beginning...."

　　"Surely he will leave something to Boris," said the countess.

　　"Heaven only knows, my dear! These rich grandees are so selfish.Still, I will take Boris and go to see him at once, and I shallspeak to him straight out. Let people think what they will of me, it'sreally all the same to me when my son's fate is at stake." Theprincess rose. "It's now two o'clock and you dine at four. Therewill just be time."

　　And like a practical Petersburg lady who knows how to make themost of time, Anna Mikhaylovna sent someone to call her son, andwent into the anteroom with him.

　　"Good-by, my dear," said she to the countess who saw her to thedoor, and added in a whisper so that her son should not hear, "Wish megood luck."

　　"Are you going to Count Cyril Vladimirovich, my dear?" said thecount coming out from the dining hall into the anteroom, and he added:"If he is better, ask Pierre to dine with us. He has been to thehouse, you know, and danced with the children. Be sure to invitehim, my dear. We will see how Taras distinguishes himself today. Hesays Count Orlov never gave such a dinner as ours will be!"