Book Six: 1808-10 - Chapter XI

by Leo Tolstoy

　　The Rostovs' monetary affairs had not improved during the twoyears they had spent in the country.

　　Though Nicholas Rostov had kept firmly to his resolution and wasstill serving modestly in an obscure regiment, spendingcomparatively little, the way of life at Otradnoe- Mitenka'smanagement of affairs, in particular- was such that the debtsinevitably increased every year. The only resource obviouslypresenting itself to the old count was to apply for an officialpost, so he had come to Petersburg to look for one and also, as hesaid, to let the lassies enjoy themselves for the last time.

　　Soon after their arrival in Petersburg Berg proposed to Vera and wasaccepted.

　　Though in Moscow the Rostovs belonged to the best society withoutthemselves giving it a thought, yet in Petersburg their circle ofacquaintances was a mixed and indefinite one. In Petersburg theywere provincials, and the very people they had entertained in Moscowwithout inquiring to what set they belonged, here looked down on them.

　　The Rostovs lived in the same hospitable way in Petersburg as inMoscow, and the most diverse people met at their suppers. Countryneighbors from Otradnoe, impoverished old squires and their daughters,Peronskaya a maid of honor, Pierre Bezukhov, and the son of theirdistrict postmaster who had obtained a post in Petersburg. Among themen who very soon became frequent visitors at the Rostovs' house inPetersburg were Boris, Pierre whom the count had met in the street anddragged home with him, and Berg who spent whole days at the Rostovs'and paid the eldest daughter, Countess Vera, the attentions a youngman pays when he intends to propose.

　　Not in vain had Berg shown everybody his right hand wounded atAusterlitz and held a perfectly unnecessary sword in his left. Henarrated that episode so persistently and with so important an airthat everyone believed in the merit and usefulness of his deed, and hehad obtained two decorations for Austerlitz.

　　In the Finnish war he also managed to distinguish himself. He hadpicked up the scrap of a grenade that had killed an aide-de-campstanding near the commander in chief and had taken it to hiscommander. Just as he had done after Austerlitz, he related thisoccurrence at such length and so insistently that everyone againbelieved it had been necessary to do this, and he received twodecorations for the Finnish war also. In 1809 he was a captain inthe Guards, wore medals, and held some special lucrative posts inPetersburg.

　　Though some skeptics smiled when told of Berg's merits, it could notbe denied that he was a painstaking and brave officer, on excellentterms with his superiors, and a moral young man with a brilliantcareer before him and an assured position in society.

　　Four years before, meeting a German comrade in the stalls of aMoscow theater, Berg had pointed out Vera Rostova to him and hadsaid in German, "das soll mein Weib werden,"* and from that moment hadmade up his mind to marry her. Now in Petersburg, having consideredthe Rostovs' position and his own, he decided that the time had cometo propose.

　　*"That girl shall be my wife."

　　Berg's proposal was at first received with a perplexity that was notflattering to him. At first it seemed strange that the son of anobscure Livonian gentleman should propose marriage to a CountessRostova; but Berg's chief characteristic was such a naive and goodnatured egotism that the Rostovs involuntarily came to think itwould be a good thing, since he himself was so firmly convinced thatit was good, indeed excellent. Moreover, the Rostovs' affairs wereseriously embarrassed, as the suitor could not but know; and aboveall, Vera was twenty-four, had been taken out everywhere, and thoughshe was certainly good-looking and sensible, no one up to now hadproposed to her. So they gave their consent.

　　"You see," said Berg to his comrade, whom he called "friend" onlybecause he knew that everyone has friends, "you see, I have consideredit all, and should not marry if I had not thought it all out or ifit were in any way unsuitable. But on the contrary, my papa andmamma are now provided for- I have arranged that rent for them inthe Baltic Provinces- and I can live in Petersburg on my pay, and withher fortune and my good management we can get along nicely. I am notmarrying for money- I consider that dishonorable- but a wife shouldbring her share and a husband his. I have my position in theservice, she has connections and some means. In our times that isworth something, isn't it? But above all, she is a handsome, estimablegirl, and she loves me..."

　　Berg blushed and smiled.

　　"And I love her, because her character is sensible and very good.Now the other sister, though they are the same family, is quitedifferent- an unpleasant character and has not the sameintelligence. She is so... you know?... Unpleasant... But myfiancee!... Well, you will be coming," he was going to say, "to dine,"but changed his mind and said "to take tea with us," and quicklydoubling up his tongue he blew a small round ring of tobacco smoke,perfectly embodying his dream of happiness.

　　After the first feeling of perplexity aroused in the parents byBerg's proposal, the holiday tone of joyousness usual at such timestook possession of the family, but the rejoicing was external andinsincere. In the family's feeling toward this wedding a certainawkwardness and constraint was evident, as if they were ashamed of nothaving loved Vera sufficiently and of being so ready to get her offtheir hands. The old count felt this most. He would probably have beenunable to state the cause of his embarrassment, but it resulted fromthe state of his affairs. He did not know at all how much he had, whathis debts amounted to, or what dowry he could give Vera. When hisdaughters were born he had assigned to each of them, for her dowry, anestate with three hundred serfs; but one of these estates hadalready been sold, and the other was mortgaged and the interest somuch in arrears that it would have to be sold, so that it wasimpossible to give it to Vera. Nor had he any money.

　　Berg had already been engaged a month, and only a week remainedbefore the wedding, but the count had not yet decided in his ownmind the question of the dowry, nor spoken to his wife about it. Atone time the count thought of giving her the Ryazan estate or ofselling a forest, at another time of borrowing money on a note ofhand. A few days before the wedding Berg entered the count's studyearly one morning and, with a pleasant smile, respectfully asked hisfuture father-in-law to let him know what Vera's dowry would be. Thecount was so disconcerted by this long-foreseen inquiry that withoutconsideration he gave the first reply that came into his head. "I likeyour being businesslike about it.... I like it. You shall besatisfied...."

　　And patting Berg on the shoulder he got up, wishing to end theconversation. But Berg, smiling pleasantly, explained that if he didnot know for certain how much Vera would have and did not receive atleast part of the dowry in advance, he would have to break mattersoff.

　　"Because, consider, Count- if I allowed myself to marry nowwithout having definite means to maintain my wife, I should beacting badly...."

　　The conversation ended by the count, who wished to be generous andto avoid further importunity, saying that he would give a note of handfor eighty thousand rubles. Berg smiled meekly, kissed the count onthe shoulder, and said that he was very grateful, but that it wasimpossible for him to arrange his new life without receiving thirtythousand in ready money. "Or at least twenty thousand, Count," headded, "and then a note of hand for only sixty thousand."

　　"Yes, yes, all right!" said the count hurriedly. "Only excuse me, mydear fellow, I'll give you twenty thousand and a note of hand foreighty thousand as well. Yes, yes! Kiss me."