Book Five: 1806-07 - Chapter XIV

by Leo Tolstoy

　　The pilgrim woman was appeased and, being encouraged to talk, gave along account of Father Amphilochus, who led so holy a life that hishands smelled of incense, and how on her last visit to Kiev some monksshe knew let her have the keys of the catacombs, and how she, takingsome dried bread with her, had spent two days in the catacombs withthe saints. "I'd pray awhile to one, ponder awhile, then go on toanother. I'd sleep a bit and then again go and kiss the relics, andthere was such peace all around, such blessedness, that one don't wantto come out, even into the light of heaven again."

　　Pierre listened to her attentively and seriously. Prince Andrew wentout of the room, and then, leaving "God's folk" to finish their tea,Princess Mary took Pierre into the drawing room.

　　"You are very kind," she said to him.

　　"Oh, I really did not mean to hurt her feelings. I understand themso well and have the greatest respect for them."

　　Princess Mary looked at him silently and smiled affectionately.

　　"I have known you a long time, you see, and am as fond of you asof a brother," she said. "How do you find Andrew?" she addedhurriedly, not giving him time to reply to her affectionate words."I am very anxious about him. His health was better in the winter, butlast spring his wound reopened and the doctor said he ought to go awayfor a cure. And I am also very much afraid for him spiritually. He hasnot a character like us women who, when we suffer, can weep away oursorrows. He keeps it all within him. Today he is cheerful and ingood spirits, but that is the effect of your visit- he is not oftenlike that. If you could persuade him to go abroad. He needsactivity, and this quiet regular life is very bad for him. Othersdon't notice it, but I see it."

　　Toward ten o'clock the men servants rushed to the front door,hearing the bells of the old prince's carriage approaching. PrinceAndrew and Pierre also went out into the porch.

　　"Who's that?" asked the old prince, noticing Pierre as he got outof, the carriage.

　　"Ah! Very glad! Kiss me," he said, having learned who the youngstranger was.

　　The old prince was in a good temper and very gracious to Pierre.

　　Before supper, Prince Andrew, coming back to his father's study,found him disputing hotly with his visitor. Pierre was maintainingthat a time would come when there would be no more wars. The oldprince disputed it chaffingly, but without getting angry.

　　"Drain the blood from men's veins and put in water instead, thenthere will be no more war! Old women's nonsense- old women'snonsense!" he repeated, but still he patted Pierre affectionately onthe shoulder, and then went up to the table where Prince Andrew,evidently not wishing to join in the conversation, was looking overthe papers his father had brought from town. The old prince went up tohim and began to talk business.

　　"The marshal, a Count Rostov, hasn't sent half his contingent. Hecame to town and wanted to invite me to dinner- I gave him a prettydinner!... And there, look at this.... Well, my boy," the old princewent on, addressing his son and patting Pierre on the shoulder. "Afine fellow- your friend- I like him! He stirs me up. Another saysclever things and one doesn't care to listen, but this one talksrubbish yet stirs an old fellow up. Well, go! Get along! PerhapsI'll come and sit with you at supper. We'll have another dispute. Makefriends with my little fool, Princess Mary," he shouted afterPierre, through the door.

　　Only now, on his visit to Bald Hills, did Pierre fully realize thestrength and charm of his friendship with Prince Andrew. That charmwas not expressed so much in his relations with him as with all hisfamily and with the household. With the stern old prince and thegentle, timid Princess Mary, though he had scarcely known them, Pierreat once felt like an old friend. They were all fond of him already.Not only Princess Mary, who had been won by his gentleness with thepilgrims, gave him her most radiant looks, but even the one-year-old"Prince Nicholas" (as his grandfather called him) smiled at Pierre andlet himself be taken in his arms, and Michael Ivanovich andMademoiselle Bourienne looked at him with pleasant smiles when hetalked to the old prince.

　　The old prince came in to supper; this was evidently on Pierre'saccount. And during the two days of the young man's visit he wasextremely kind to him and told him to visit them again.

　　When Pierre had gone and the members of the household mettogether, they began to express their opinions of him as people alwaysdo after a new acquaintance has left, but as seldom happens, no onesaid anything but what was good of him.