That evening, they have a pleasant visit at the Uncle’s house.
Summary:
Toward evening Ilágin left them, and the hunting party decides to remain in Nicholas’ uncle’s village. The Uncle’s house is rustic, but comfortable. They are served many delicious treats for dinner. Uncle’s housekeeper is an excellent cook. After supper, they are entertained by good music. Uncle plays guitar very well. Then Uncle and Natásha do a folk dance. Natásha, despite her upper class background performs the folk dance naturally and quite beautifully. She enjoys the traditional Russian entertainment, but wonders how Prince Andrew would like this sort of entertainment. Natásha much enjoys this light hearted gathering. The Uncle says he plans to finish his days in this pleasant place. Wagons have been called for to take Natásha and Pétya home. Riding home, Natásha says she thinks she will never be happier than she is at that moment.
quote from the chapter:
Where, how, and when had this young countess, educated by an émigrée French governess, imbibed from the Russian air she breathed that spirit and obtained that manner which the French shawl dance would, one would have supposed, long ago have effaced? But the spirit and the movements were those inimitable and unteachable Russian ones that Uncle had expected of her. As soon as she had struck her pose, and smiled triumphantly, proudly, and with sly merriment, the fear that had at first seized Nicholas and the others that she might not do the right thing was at an end, and they were already admiring her.
She did the right thing with such precision, such complete precision, that Anísya Fëdorovna, who had at once handed her the handkerchief she needed for the dance, had tears in her eyes, though she laughed as she watched this slim, graceful countess, reared in silks and velvets and so different from herself, who yet was able to understand all that was in Anísya and in Anísya’s father and mother and aunt, and in every Russian man and woman.
Book 7, Chapter 7
That evening, they have a pleasant visit at the Uncle’s house.
Summary:
Toward evening Ilágin left them, and the hunting party decides to remain in Nicholas’ uncle’s village. The Uncle’s house is rustic, but comfortable. They are served many delicious treats for dinner. Uncle’s housekeeper is an excellent cook. After supper, they are entertained by good music. Uncle plays guitar very well. Then Uncle and Natásha do a folk dance. Natásha, despite her upper class background performs the folk dance naturally and quite beautifully. She enjoys the traditional Russian entertainment, but wonders how Prince Andrew would like this sort of entertainment. Natásha much enjoys this light hearted gathering. The Uncle says he plans to finish his days in this pleasant place. Wagons have been called for to take Natásha and Pétya home. Riding home, Natásha says she thinks she will never be happier than she is at that moment.
quote from the chapter:
Where, how, and when had this young countess, educated by an émigrée French governess, imbibed from the Russian air she breathed that spirit and obtained that manner which the French shawl dance would, one would have supposed, long ago have effaced? But the spirit and the movements were those inimitable and unteachable Russian ones that Uncle had expected of her. As soon as she had struck her pose, and smiled triumphantly, proudly, and with sly merriment, the fear that had at first seized Nicholas and the others that she might not do the right thing was at an end, and they were already admiring her.
She did the right thing with such precision, such complete precision, that Anísya Fëdorovna, who had at once handed her the handkerchief she needed for the dance, had tears in her eyes, though she laughed as she watched this slim, graceful countess, reared in silks and velvets and so different from herself, who yet was able to understand all that was in Anísya and in Anísya’s father and mother and aunt, and in every Russian man and woman.
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