Countess Rostóv gives Anna the money Borís needs to join the army.
Summary:
After Anna Mikháylovna leaves to visit Count Bezúkhov, Countess Rostóva was upset by her friend’s sorrow and poverty. She asks the Count for five hundred rubles. The spendthrift Count, who at that moment was busy preparing that evening’s gala, agrees to give her the money. The family’s finances are strained, and its a lot of money she is asking for, but true to form the Count is more interested in looking good than in being practical with money. He does not so much as ask what the money is for. And, he gives her 700 rubles, rather than the 500 she requested. Later, the Countess gives Anna Mikháylovna the money for Borís’ military equipment. Anna and the Countess, the two old friends, weep with joy and this outward token of their lifelong mutual affection.
quote from the chapter:
Annette, for heaven’s sake don’t refuse me, the countess began, with a blush that looked very strange on her thin, dignified, elderly face, and she took the money from under the handkerchief.
Anna Mikháylovna instantly guessed her intention and stooped to be ready to embrace the countess at the appropriate moment.
This is for Borís from me, for his outfit.
Anna Mikháylovna was already embracing her and weeping. The countess wept too. They wept because they were friends, and because they were kindhearted, and because they-friends from childhood-had to think about such a base thing as money, and because their youth was over…. But those tears were pleasant to them both.
Book 1, Chapter 17
Countess Rostóv gives Anna the money Borís needs to join the army.
Summary:
After Anna Mikháylovna leaves to visit Count Bezúkhov, Countess Rostóva was upset by her friend’s sorrow and poverty. She asks the Count for five hundred rubles. The spendthrift Count, who at that moment was busy preparing that evening’s gala, agrees to give her the money. The family’s finances are strained, and its a lot of money she is asking for, but true to form the Count is more interested in looking good than in being practical with money. He does not so much as ask what the money is for. And, he gives her 700 rubles, rather than the 500 she requested. Later, the Countess gives Anna Mikháylovna the money for Borís’ military equipment. Anna and the Countess, the two old friends, weep with joy and this outward token of their lifelong mutual affection.
quote from the chapter:
Annette, for heaven’s sake don’t refuse me, the countess began, with a blush that looked very strange on her thin, dignified, elderly face, and she took the money from under the handkerchief.
Anna Mikháylovna instantly guessed her intention and stooped to be ready to embrace the countess at the appropriate moment.
This is for Borís from me, for his outfit.
Anna Mikháylovna was already embracing her and weeping. The countess wept too. They wept because they were friends, and because they were kindhearted, and because they-friends from childhood-had to think about such a base thing as money, and because their youth was over…. But those tears were pleasant to them both.
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!