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Pierre listened to her attentively and seriously。 Prince Andrey went out of the room。 And leaving God’s folk to finish their tea； Princess Marya followed him with Pierre to the drawing…room。 “You are very kind；” she said to him。
“Ah； I really didn’t mean to hurt her feelings； I so well understand those feelings； and prize them so highly。”
Princess Marya looked mutely at him； and smiled affectionately。
“I have known you for a long time； you see； and I love you like a brother；” she said。 “How do you think Andrey is looking？” she asked hurriedly； not letting him have time to say anything in reply to her affectionate words。 “He makes me very uneasy。 His health was better in the winter； but last spring the wound reopened； and the doctor says he ought to go away for proper treatment。 And I feel afraid for him morally。 He has not a character like us women； to suffer and find relief for sorrow in tears。 He keeps it all within him。 To…day he is lively and in good spirits。 But that’s the effect of your being with him； he is not often like this。 If only you could persuade him to go abroad。 He needs activity； and this quiet； regular life is bad for him。 Others don’t notice it； but I see it。”
Towards ten o’clock the footmen rushed to the steps； hearing the bells of the old prince’s carriage approaching。 Prince Andrey and Pierre； too； went out on to the steps。
“Who’s that？” asked the old prince； as he got out of the carriage and saw Pierre。
“Ah！ very glad！ kiss me！” he said； on learning who the young stranger was。
The old prince was in good humour and very cordial to Pierre。
Before supper； Prince Andrey； on coming back into his father’s study； found the old prince in hot dispute with Pierre。 The latter was maintaining that a time would come when there would be no more war。 The old prince was making fun of him but with good humour。
“Let off blood from men’s veins and fill them up with water； then there’ll be no more war。 Old women’s nonsense； old women’s nonsense；” he was saying； but still he slapped Pierre affectionately on the shoulder； and went up to the table where Prince Andrey； evidently not caring to take part in the conversation； was looking through the papers the old prince had brought from the town。 The old prince went up to him and began to talk of business。
“The marshal； a Count Rostov； hasn’t sent half his contingent。 Came to the town and thought fit to invite me to dinner—a pretty dinner I gave him； … And here； look at this。… Well； my boy；” said the old prince to his son； clapping Pierre on the shoulder； “your friend is a capital fellow； I like him！ He warms me up。 Other people will talk sense and one doesn’t care to listen； and he talks nonsense； but it does an old man like me good。 There； run along；” he said； “maybe I’ll come and sit with you at your supper。 We’ll have another dispute。 Make friends with my dunce； Princess Marya；” he shouted to Pierre from the door。
It was only now on his visit to Bleak Hills that Pierre appreciated fully all the charm of his friendship with Prince Andrey。 The charm was not so manifest in his relations with his friend himself as in his relations with all his family and household。 Though he had hardly known them； Pierre felt at once like an old friend both with the harsh old prince and the gentle； timid Princess Marya。 They all liked him。 Not only Princess Marya； who had been won by his kindliness with the pilgrims； looked at him with her most radiant expression； little Prince Nikolay； as the old prince called the year…old baby； smiled at Pierre and went to him。 Mihail Ivanitch and Mademoiselle Bourienne looked at him with smiles when he talked to the old prince。
The old prince came in to supper； it was obviously on Pierre’s account。 He was extremely warm with him both days of his stay at Bleak Hills； and asked him to come and stay with him again。
When Pierre had gone； and all the members of the family were met together； they began to criticise him； as people always do after a new guest has left； and as rarely happens； all said nothing but good of him。
Chapter 15
ON RETURNING this time from his leave； Rostov for the first time felt and recognised how strong was the tie that bound him to Denisov and all his regiment。
When Rostov reached the regiment； he experienced a sensation akin to what he had felt on reaching his home at Moscow。 When he caught sight of the first hussar in the unbuttoned uniform of his regiment； when he recognised red…haired Dementyev； and saw the picket ropes of the chestnut horses； when Lavrushka gleefully shouted to his master； “The count has come！” and Denisov； who had been asleep on his bed； ran all dishevelled out of the mud…hut； and embraced him； and the officers gathered around to welcome the newcomer—Rostov felt the same sensation as when his mother had embraced him； and his father and sisters； and the tears of joy that rose in his throat prevented his speaking。 The regiment was a home； too； and a home as unchangeably dear and precious as the parental home。
After reporting himself to his colonel； being assigned to his own squadron； and serving on orderly duty and going for forage； after entering into all the little interests of the regiment； and feeling himself deprived of liberty and nailed down within one narrow； unchangeable framework； Rostov had the same feeling of peace and of moral support and the same sense of being at home here； and in his proper place； as he had once felt under his father’s roof。 Here was none of all that confusion of the free world； where he did not know his proper place； and made mistakes in exercising free choice。 There was no Sonya； with whom one ought or ought not to have a clear understanding。 There was no possibility of going to one place or to another。 There were not twenty…four hours every day which could be used in so many different ways。 There were not those innumerable masses of people of whom no one was nearer or further from one。 There were none of those vague and undefined money relations with his father； no memories of his awful loss to Dolohov。 Here in the regiment everything was clear and simple。 The whole world was divided into two unequal parts： one； our Pavlograd regiment； and the other—all the remainder。 And with all that great remainder one had no concern。 In the regiment everything was well known： this man was a lieutenant； that one a captain； this was a good fellow and that one was not； but most of all； every one was a comrade。 The canteen keeper would give him credit； his pay would come every four months。 There was no need of thought or of choice； one had only to do nothing that was considered low in the Pavlograd regiment； and when occasion came； to do what was clear and distinct； defined and commanded； and all would be well。
On becoming subject again to the definite regulations of regimental life； Rostov had a sense of pleasure and relief； such as a weary man feels in lying down to rest。 The regimental life was the greater relief to Rostov on this campaign； because after his loss to Dolohov （for which； in spite of his family’s efforts to console him； he could not forgive himself）； he had resolved not to serve as before； but to atone for his fault by