BOOK 8, Chptr. 14, P&V pg. 574

Book 8, Chapter 14

With no reason to remain in Moscow, Count Rostóv decides to take the girls back to their country estate. Anatole sends a letter urging Natásha to run away with him.

Summary:

After her meeting with him, Anna has decided the old Prince is just crazy and there is no point in the Rostóv’s remaining in Moscow. She suggests they return to the Rostóv country estate in Otrádnoe and await Andrew there. Count Rostóv agrees. But, later in her room, Natásha wonders if she should not just break off her relationship with Andrew and marry Anatole. Just then, a servant brings in a love letter from Anatole pleading with Natásha to run away with him, because he loves her so much. Natásha wonders if she should break off her engagement with Andrew to marry Anatole. Anatole has not told her he is already married.

quote from the chapter:

After dinner Natásha went to her room and again took up Princess Mary’s letter. Can it be that it is all over? she thought. Can it be that all this has happened so quickly and has destroyed all that went before? She recalled her love for Prince Andrew in all its former strength, and at the same time felt that she loved Kurágin. She vividly pictured herself as Prince Andrew’s wife, and the scenes of happiness with him she had so often repeated in her imagination, and at the same time, aglow with excitement, recalled every detail of yesterday’s interview with Anatole.
Why could that not be as well? she sometimes asked herself in complete bewilderment. Only so could I be completely happy; but now I have to choose, and I can’t be happy without either of them. Only, she thought, to tell Prince Andrew what has happened or to hide it from him are both equally impossible.

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