War And Peace

the expression it had worn in Anna Pavlovna's drawing-room. Pierre dropped his legs down off the sofa. The princess came in. She had changed

the low chair, "why is it Annette never married? How stupid you gentlemen all are not to have married her. You

go to the war," said Pierre, addressing the princess without any of the

Clearly Pierre's word

aying to him: here he is uncle's adjutant, a most brilliant position. He's so well known, so appreciated by every one. The other day at the Apraxins' I heard a lady ask: 'So that is the famous Prince André? Upon my word!'

d, noticing that his friend did no

ou starting

er own home circle, where Pierre was like one of the family. "This evening when I thought all these relations so precious to me must be broken off....And then, you know, André?" She looked significantly at her husband. "I'm afraid! I'm

of, Liza? I don't u

Of his own accord, for his own whim, for no reason whateve

ster, remember," said

her upper lip was lifted, giving her face not a joyous expression, but a wild-animal look, like a squirrel. She paused a

ndrey said deliberately, not taking his eyes off his wife.

you are so chang

ere to go to bed earlier," said Princ

downy lip began to quiver; Prince Andrey got up a

om him to the princess, and stirred uneasily as thou

ce contorted into a tearful grimace; "I have long wanted to say to you, Andrey, why are you s

e was entreaty and menace, and, most of all, conviction that

l, or a child. I see it all. You

lent," said Prince Andrey

conversation, got up and went to the princess. He seemed unable

...I assure you, I've felt so myself...because...through...oh, excuse m

held his hand

o good, she would not wish to deprive me of t

lf," the princess declared, not att

raising his voice to a pitch that

k of terror that awakened sympathy. She glanced from under her brows with lovely eyes at her husband, and h

and holding her gown with one hand, she went

, getting up and kissing her hand cour

to talk. Pierre looked at Prince Andrey; Prince

" he said with a sigh, gett

newness that is seen in the household belongings of newly married couples. In the middle of supper Prince Andrey leaned on his elbow, and like a man who has long had somet

a cruel mistake that can never be set right. Marry when you're old and good for nothing...Or else everything good and lofty in you will be done for. It will all be frittered away over trifles. Yes, yes, yes! Don't look at me with such surprise. If you e

rmed his face, making it look even more good-

ith whom one can feel quite secure of one's honour; but, my God! what wouldn't I give now

ench phrases through his teeth. His dry face was quivering with nervous excitement in every muscle; his eyes, which had seemed lustreless and lifeless, now gl

nd all the hope and strength there is in you is only a drag on you, torturing you with regret. Drawing-rooms, gossip, balls, vanity, frivolity-that's the enchanted circle I can't get out of. I am setting off now to the war, the greatest war there has ever been, and I know nothing, and am good for nothing. I am very agreeable and sarcastic," pursued Prince Andrey, "and at Anna Pavlovna's every one listens to me. And this imbecile society wi

consider yourself a failure, your life wrecked. You

d how highly he thought of his friend, and

say that?" P

faculty for dealing with people of every sort with perfect composure, his exceptional memory, his wide knowledge (he had read everything, knew everything, had some notion of everything), and most of all at his capacity for working and learning. If Pierre were frequently struck in Andrey by his

et's talk about you," he said after a brief pause, smiling at his own

suddenly flushed crimson. Apparently it was a great effort to him to say this. "With no name, no fortune....And after all, really..." He did no

in his eyes, friendly and kind as they were, the

that's all the same. You'll always be all right, but there's one thing: give up going about with the Kuragins and l

?" said Pierre, shrugging his should

Ladies, that's another matter, but Kuragin'

e dissipated mode of life of his son Anatole, the son whom they

have been thinking so for a long while. Leading this sort of life I can't decide on anything, or cons

of honour that you

y hon

rer he got, the more he felt it impossible to go to bed on such a night, more like evening or morning. It was light enough to see a long way in the empty streets. On the way Pierre remember

thought. But he immediately recalled his pr

his promise was of no consequence, since he had already promised Prince Anatole to go before making the promise to Andrey. Finally he reflected that all such promises were merely relative matters, having no sort of precise significance, especially if one considered that to-

s and the staircase and went in at an open door. There was no one in the ante-room; empty bottles, cloaks, and over-s

footman who, thinking himself unobserved, was emptying the half-full glasses on the sly. In the third room there was a great uproar of laughter, familiar voices shouting, and a bear

red on Steven

holding him up!

outed a third. "Hold

Mishka be, w

the wager's lost

tanding in the middle of the room, in nothing but a thin shirt, open over his chest.

proar, shouted from the window: "Come here. I'll explain the bets!" This was Dolohov, an officer of the Semenov regi

rstand. What'

e here," said Anatole; and taking a gla

all, you m

nd listening to their talk. Anatole kept his glass filled and told him that Dolohov had made a bet with an Englishman, Stevens, a sailor

Anatole, giving Pierre the last

ierre, shoving Anatole away;

xplaining distinctly the terms of the bet, addr

d at the corners the mouth always formed something like two smiles, one at each side, and altogether, especially in conjunction with the resolute, insolent, shrewd look of his eyes, made such an impression that it was impossible to overlook his face. Dolohov was a man of small means and no connections. And yet though Anatole was spending ten thousand a year, Dol

the outside sill of the window, was being broken out by two footmen, obviously flur

onging to break something. He shoved the footmen aside and pull

Pierre. Pierre took hold of the cross beam, tugg

l think I'm holding

ging...it's a fine fea

of the sky could be seen and the glow of morning and of evening melting into it. Dolohov jumped up on to the window, ho

him, and spoke it none too well)..."I take a bet for fifty imperia

" said the

. I'll drink it sitting outside the window, here on this place" (he bent down and pointed to the slo

" said the

of his coat, and looking down at him (the Englishman was a sho

to call attention. "Wait a minute, Kuragin; listen: if any one does

aking it plain whether be inten

tand that he comprehended fully, Anatole translated Dolohov's words into English. A thin, youthful hussar

d looking out of the win

officer away, so that, tripping over his spu

hands go, moved a little to the right, and then to the left, and took the bottle. Anatole brought two candles, and set them on the window-ledge, so that it was quite light. Dolohov's back in his white shirt and his curly head were lighted up on

cy; he'll be killed," sa

e stop

tartle him and he'll be ki

ng himself, and again s

his words drop one by one through his thin, tightly co

e hid his face, and a smile strayed forgotten upon it, though it was full of terror and fear. All were silent. Pierre took his hands from his eyes; Dolohov was still sitting in the same position, only his head was so far bent back that his curls touched his shirt collar, and the hand with the bottle rose higher and higher, trembling with evident effort. Evidently the bottle was nearly empty, and so was tipped higher, throwing the head back. "Why is it so long?" thought Pierre. It seemed to him that more than half an hour had passed. Suddenly

mp

caught it neatly. Dolohov jumped down from

like a bet. You're a devil of a fe

ted out the money. Dolohov frowned and did

outed suddenly. "I don't care about betting; see here, tell the

him!" said Dol

t you. Why, you turn giddy going do

h a resolute, drunken gesture, and he climbed into the window. They clutched at h

Wait a bit, I'll get round him....Listen, I'll take your

shka with us."...And he caught hold of the bear, and embracin