The visit in the drawing room of Countess Rostóv continues. The Countess talks with a visitor about her children and the war.
The visit in the drawing room of Countess Rostóv continues. The Countess talks with a visitor about her children and the war.
Book 1, Chapter 12
The visit in the drawing room of Countess Rostóv continues. The Countess talks with a visitor about her children and the war.
Summary:
The only young people remaining in the drawing room, not counting the young lady visitor and the countess’ eldest daughter (who was four years older than her sister and behaved already like a grown-up person), were Nicholas and Sónya, the niece. The visitor learns that Nicholas plans to join the army, as Borís has already done. Talk turns to the impending war. Nicolas wants to go, and plans to leave soon. Nicholas and Sónya are in love. The adults talk generally about raising children. Natásha is charming and a good singer. Véra is nice also, but a bit serious. The guests got up and took their leave, promising to return to dinner. What manners! I thought they would never go, said the countess, when she had seen her guests out.
quote from the chapter:
Sónya was a slender little brunette with a tender look in her eyes which were veiled by long lashes, thick black plaits coiling twice round her head, and a tawny tint in her complexion and especially in the color of her slender but graceful and muscular arms and neck. By the grace of her movements, by the softness and flexibility of her small limbs, and by a certain coyness and reserve of manner, she reminded one of a pretty, half-grown kitten which promises to become a beautiful little cat. She evidently considered it proper to show an interest in the general conversation by smiling, but in spite of herself her eyes under their thick long lashes watched her cousin who was going to join the army, with such passionate girlish adoration that her smile could not for a single instant impose upon anyone, and it was clear that the kitten had settled down only to spring up with more energy and again play with her cousin as soon as they too could, like Natásha and Borís, escape from the drawing room.
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