Despite knowing she is engaged, Hélène invites Natásha to a social gathering so that Anatole can see her again.
Summary:
Natásha, still concerned with Anatole’s behavior at the opera, wonders why Prince Andrew still has not come to see her. Then Hélène visits the Rostóv’s and invites Hélène and her family to a gathering at her house. She says that her brother, who will be at the party, is quite taken with Natásha and really wants to see her again. Hélène well knows Natásha is engaged to Andrew, but she is heedless. She tells Natásha Andrew would want her to go, so Natásha agrees to attend the party. Meanwhile, their hostess in Moscow, Márya Dmítrievna, goes to try to sort matters out with the old Prince. Natásha tells Anna about Hélène’s party invitation. Anna says she thinks it a bad idea, but that Natásha should go if she has already promised. Anna says she will tell Natásha the next day what she’s found out from visiting the old Prince.
quote from the chapter:
The idea of throwing her brother and Natásha together amused her. Though at one time, in Petersburg, she had been annoyed with Natásha for drawing Borís away, she did not think of that now, and in her own way heartily wished Natásha well. As she was leaving the Rostóvs she called her protégée aside. My brother dined with me yesterday-we nearly died of laughter-he ate nothing and kept sighing for you, my charmer! He is madly, quite madly, in love with you, my dear. Natásha blushed scarlet when she heard this. How she blushes, how she blushes, my pretty! said Hélène. You must certainly come. If you love somebody, my charmer, that is not a reason to shut yourself up. Even if you are engaged, I am sure your fiancé would wish you to go into society rather than be bored to death.
Book 8, Chapter 12
Despite knowing she is engaged, Hélène invites Natásha to a social gathering so that Anatole can see her again.
Summary:
Natásha, still concerned with Anatole’s behavior at the opera, wonders why Prince Andrew still has not come to see her. Then Hélène visits the Rostóv’s and invites Hélène and her family to a gathering at her house. She says that her brother, who will be at the party, is quite taken with Natásha and really wants to see her again. Hélène well knows Natásha is engaged to Andrew, but she is heedless. She tells Natásha Andrew would want her to go, so Natásha agrees to attend the party. Meanwhile, their hostess in Moscow, Márya Dmítrievna, goes to try to sort matters out with the old Prince. Natásha tells Anna about Hélène’s party invitation. Anna says she thinks it a bad idea, but that Natásha should go if she has already promised. Anna says she will tell Natásha the next day what she’s found out from visiting the old Prince.
quote from the chapter:
The idea of throwing her brother and Natásha together amused her. Though at one time, in Petersburg, she had been annoyed with Natásha for drawing Borís away, she did not think of that now, and in her own way heartily wished Natásha well. As she was leaving the Rostóvs she called her protégée aside. My brother dined with me yesterday-we nearly died of laughter-he ate nothing and kept sighing for you, my charmer! He is madly, quite madly, in love with you, my dear. Natásha blushed scarlet when she heard this. How she blushes, how she blushes, my pretty! said Hélène. You must certainly come. If you love somebody, my charmer, that is not a reason to shut yourself up. Even if you are engaged, I am sure your fiancé would wish you to go into society rather than be bored to death.
Click here to read full text of this chapter.
Please help improve this shared document by posting your suggested corrections, clarifications, and changes below. Thank you!