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of course； that one has to be conscientious and punctual in the discharge of one’s duties。”
Berg smiled with a sense of his own superiority over a mere weak woman； and paused； reflecting that this charming wife of his was； after all； a weak woman； who could never attain all that constituted a man’s dignity；—ein Mann zu sein。 Vera smiled； too； at the same time with a sense of her superiority over her conscientious； excellent husband； who yet； like all men； according to Vera’s ideas of them； took such a mistaken view of life。 Berg； judging from his wife； considered all women weak and foolish。 Vera； judging from her husband only； and generalising from her observation of him； supposed that all men ascribed common…sense to none but themselves； and at the same time had no understanding for anything； and were conceited and egoistic。
Berg got up； and cautiously embracing his wife so as not to crush the lace bertha； for which he had paid a round sum； he kissed her just on her lips。
“There’s only one thing： we mustn’t have children too soon；” he said； by a connection of ideas of which he was himself unconscious。
“Yes；” answered Vera； “I don’t at all desire that。 We must live for society。”
“Princess Yusupov was wearing one just like that；” said Berg； pointing with a happy and good…humoured smile to the bertha。
At that moment they were informed that Count Bezuhov had arrived。 Both the young couple exchanged glances of self…satisfaction； each mentally claiming the credit of this visit。
“See what comes of knowing how to make acquaintances；” thought Berg。 “See what comes of behaving properly！”
“But； please； when I am entertaining guests；” said Vera； “don’t you interrupt me； because I know with what to entertain each of them； and what to say in the company of different people。”
Berg； too； smiled。
“Oh； but sometimes men must have their masculine conversation；” he said。
Pierre was shown into the little drawing…room； in which it was impossible to sit down without disturbing the symmetry； tidiness； and order； and consequently it was quite comprehensible； and not strange； that Berg should magnanimously offer to disturb the symmetry of the armchair or of the sofa for an honoured guest； and apparently finding himself in miserable indecision in the matter； should leave his guest to solve the question of selection。 Pierre destroyed the symmetry； moved out a chair for himself； and Berg and Vera promptly began their soirée； interrupting each other in their efforts to entertain their guest。
Vera； deciding in her own mind that Pierre ought to be entertained with conversation about the French Embassy； promptly embarked upon that subject。 Berg； deciding that masculine conversation was what was required； interrupted his wife’s remarks by reference to the question of war with Austria； and made an unconscious jump from that general subject to personal considerations upon the proposal made him to take part in the Austrain campaign； and the reasons which had led him to decline it。 Although the conversation was extremely disconnected； and Vera resented the intervention of the masculine element； both the young people felt with satisfaction that although only one guest was present； the soirée had begun very well； and that their soirée was as like every other soirée as two drops of water；—with the same conversation and tea and lighted candles。
The next to arrive was Boris； an old comrade of Berg’s。 There was a certain shade of patronage and condescension in his manner to Berg and Vera。 After Boris came the colonel and his lady； then the general himself； then the Rostovs； and the soirée now began to be exactly； incontestably； like all other soirées。 Berg and Vera could hardly repress their smiles of glee at the sight of all this movement in their drawing…room； at the sound of the disconnected chatter； and the rustle of skirts and of curtsies。 Everything was precisely as everybody always has it； especially so was the general； who admired their rooms； clapped Berg on the shoulder； and with paternal authority insisted on arranging the table for boston。 The general sat by Count Ilya Andreivitch； as the guest next in precedence to himself。 The elderly guests were together； the younger people together； the hostess at the tea…table； on which there were cakes in the silver cake…basket exactly like the cakes at the Panins’ soirées。 Everything was precisely like what everybody else had。
Chapter 21
PIERRE； as one of the most honoured guests； was obliged to sit down to boston with the old count； the general； and the colonel。 As he sat at the boston…table he happened to be directly facing Natasha and he was struck by the curious change that had come over her since the day of the ball。 Natasha was silent； and not only was she not so pretty as she had been at the ball； she would have been positively plain but for the look of gentle indifference to everything in her face
“What is wrong with her？” Pierre wondered； glancing at her。 She was sitting by her sister at the tea…table； she gave reluctant answers to Boris at her side and did not look at him。 After playing all of one suit and taking five tricks to his partner’s satisfaction； Pierre； having caught the sound of greetings and the steps of some one entering while he took his tricks glanced at her again。
“Why； what has happened to her？” he said to himself in still greater wonder。
Prince Andrey was standing before her saying something to her with an expression of guarded tenderness on his face。 She； lifting her head； was looking at him； flushing crimson； and visibly trying to control her breathing； which came in panting gasps。 And the vivid glow of some inner fire that had been quenched before was alight in her again。 She was utterly transformed。 From a plain girl she was once more the beautiful creature she had been at the ball。
Prince Andrey went up to Pierre； and Pierre noticed a new； youthful expression in his friend’s face。 Several times Pierre changed his seat during the play； sitting sometimes with his back to Natasha； sometimes facing her； and during all the six rubbers he was observing her and his friend。
“Something very serious is happening between them；” thought Pierre； and a feeling at once of gladness and of bitterness made him agitated and forgetful of the game。
After six rubbers the general got up； saying it was of no use playing like that； and Pierre was at liberty。 Natasha； at one side of the room； was talking to Sonya and Boris。 Vera； with a subtle smile； was saying something to Prince Andrey。 Pierre went up to his friend； and； asking whether they were talking secrets； sat down beside them。 Vera； noticing Prince Andrey’s attention to Natasha； felt that at a soirée； at a real soirée； it was absolutely necessary there should be delicate allusions to the tender passion； and seizing an opportunity when Prince Andrey was alone； began a conversation with him upon the emotions generally； and her sister in particular。 She felt that； with a guest so intellectual as she considered Prince Andrey； she must put all her diplomatic tact into the task before her。 When Pierre went up to them he noticed that Vera was in full flow of self…complacent talk； while Pri