Emma Watson Pussy
Books:
Anna Karenina
War And Peace
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to have an explanation with him about Natasha.
After she had gone, a dressmaker from Madame Suppert-Roguet waited on
the Rostovs, and Natasha, very glad of this diversion, having shut
herself into a room adjoining the drawing room, occupied herself
trying on the new dresses. Just as she had put on a bodice without
sleeves and only tacked together, and was turning her head to see in
the glass how the back fitted, she heard in the drawing room the
animated sounds of her fathers voice and anothers--a womans--that
made her flush. It was Helene. Natasha had not time to take off the
bodice before the door opened and Countess Bezukhova, dressed in a
purple velvet gown with a high collar, came into the room beaming with
good-humored amiable smiles.
"Oh, my enchantress!" she cried to the blushing Natasha.
"Charming! No, this is really beyond anything, my dear count," said
she to Count Rostov who had followed her in. "How can you live in
Moscow and go nowhere? No, I wont let you off! Mademoiselle George
will recite at my house tonight and therell be some people, and if
you dont bring your lovely girls--who are prettier than
Mademoiselle George--I wont know you! My husband is away in Tver or I
would send him to fetch you. You must come. You positively must!
Between eight and nine."
She nodded to the dressmaker, whom she knew and who had curtsied
respectfully to her, and seated herself in an armchair beside the
looking glass, draping the folds of her velvet dress picturesquely.
She did not cease chattering good-naturedly and gaily, continually
praising Natashas beauty. She looked at Natashas dresses and praised
them, as well as a new dress of her own made of "metallic gauze,"
which she had received from Paris, and advised Natasha to have one
like it.
"But anything suits you, my charmer!" she remarked.
A smile of pleasure never left Natashas face. She felt happy and as
if she were blossoming under the praise of this dear Countess
Bezukhova who had formerly seemed to her so unapproachable and
important and was now so kind to her. Natasha brightened up and felt
almost in love with this woman, who was so beautiful and so kind.
Helene for her part was sincerely delighted with Natasha and wished to
give her a good time. Anatole had asked her to bring him and Natasha
together, and she was calling on the Rostovs for that purpose. The
idea of throwing her brother and Natasha together amused her.
Though at one time, in Petersburg, she had been annoyed with Natasha
for drawing Boris away, she did not think of that now, and in her
own way heartily wished Natasha well. As she was leaving the Rostovs
she called her protegee 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."
Natasha blushed scarlet when she heard this.
"How she blushes, how she blushes, my pretty!" said Helene. "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
fiance would wish you to go into society rather than be bored to
death."
"So she knows I am engaged, and she and her husband Pierre--that
good Pierre--have talked and laughed about this. So its all right."
And again, under Helenes influence, what had seemed terrible now
seemed simple and natural. "And she is such a grande dame, so kind,
and evidently likes me so much. And why not enjoy myself?" thought
Natasha, gazing at Helene with wide-open, wondering eyes.
Marya Dmitrievna came back to dinner taciturn and serious, having
evidently suffered a defeat at the old princes. She was still too
agitated by the encounter to be able to talk of the affair calmly.
In answer to the counts inquiries she replied that things were all
right and that she would tell about it next day. On hearing of
Countess Bezukhovas visit and the invitation for that evening,
Marya Dmitrievna remarked:
"I dont care to have anything to do with Bezukhova and dont advise
you to; however, if youve promised--go. It will divert your
thoughts," she added, addressing Natasha.
CHAPTER XIII
Count Rostov took the girls to Countess Bezukhovas. There were a
good many people there, but nearly all strangers to Natasha. Count
Rostov was displeased to see that the company consisted almost
entirely of men and women known for the freedom of their conduct.
Mademoiselle George was standing in a
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