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there’s nothing but good in her。”
“So it’s all right？” said Nikolay； once more gazing intently at his sister’s expression to find out whether that were the truth。 Then he jumped off the sledge and ran； his boots crunching over the wet snow； to his sledge。 The same happy； smiling Circassian； with a moustache and sparkling eyes； peeping from under the sable hood； was still sitting there； and that Circassian was Sonya； and that Sonya was for certain now his happy and loving future wife。
On reaching home； the young ladies told the countess how they had spent the time at the Melyukov’s； and then went to their room。 They changed their dresses； but without washing off their moustaches； sat for a long while talking of their happiness。 They talked of how they would live when they were married； how their husbands would be friends； and they would be happy。 Looking…glasses were standing on Natasha’s table； set there earlier in the evening by Dunyasha； and arranged in the traditional way for looking into the future。
“Only when will that be？ I’m so afraid it never will be。…It would be too happy！” said Natasha； getting up and going to the looking…glasses。
“Sit down； Natasha； perhaps you will see him；” said Sonya。
Natasha lighted the candles and sat down。 “I do see some one with a moustache；” said Natasha； seeing her own face。
“You mustn’t laugh； miss；” said Dunyasha。
With the assistance of Sonya and the maid； Natasha got the mirrors into the correct position。 Her face took a serious expression； and she was silent。 For a long while she went on sitting； watching the series of retreating candles reflected in the looking…glasses； and expecting （in accordance with the tales she had heard） at one minute to see a coffin； at the next to see him； Prince Andrey； in the furthest； dimmest； indistinct square。 But ready as she was to accept the slightest blur as the form of a man or of a coffin； she saw nothing。 She began to blink； and moved away from the looking…glass。
“Why is it other people see things and I never see anything？” she said。 “Come； you sit down； Sonya； to…day you really must。 Only look for me … I feel so full of dread to…day！”
Sonya sat down to the looking…glass； got the correct position； and began looking。
“You will see； Sonya Alexandrovna will be sure to see something；” whispered Dunyasha； “you always laugh。”
Sonya heard these words； and heard Natasha say in a whisper： “Yes； I know she’ll see something； she saw something last year too。” For three minutes all were mute。
“Sure to！” whispered Natasha； and did not finish。… All at once Sonya drew back from the glass she was holding and put her hand over her eyes。 “O Natasha！” she said。 “Seen something？ Seen something？ What did you see？” cried Natasha； supporting the looking…glass。 Sonya had seen nothing。 She was just meaning to blink and to get up； when she heard Natasha’s voice say： “Sure to！” … She did not want to deceive either Dunyasha or Natasha； and was weary of sitting there。 She did not know herself how and why that exclamation had broken from her as she covered her eyes。
“Did you see him？” asked Natasha； clutching her by the hand。
“Yes。 Wait a bit。… I … did see him；” Sonya could not help saying； not yet sure whether by him Natasha meant Nikolay or Andrey。 “Why not say I saw something？ Other people see things！ And who can tell whether I have or have not？” flashed through Sonya’s mind。
“Yes； I saw him；” she said。
“How was it？ How？ Standing or lying down？”
“No； I saw … At first there was nothing； then I saw him lying down。”
“Andrey lying down？ Is he ill？” Natasha asked； fixing eyes of terror on her friend。
“No； on the contrary—on the contrary； his face was cheerful； and he turned to me”； and at the moment she was saying this； it seemed to herself that she really had seen what she described。
“Well； and then； Sonya？ …”
“Then I could make out more； something blue and red。…”
“Sonya； when will he come back？ When shall I see him？ My God！ I feel so frightened for him； and for me； and frightened for everything …” cried Natasha； and answering not a word to Sonya’s attempts to comfort her； she got into bed； and long after the candle had been put out she lay with wide…open eyes motionless on the bed； staring into the frosty moonlight through the frozen window…panes。
Chapter 13
SOON AFTER THE CHRISTMAS FêTES were over； Nikolay spoke to his mother of his love for Sonya； and his immovable resolution to marry her。 The countess had long before observed what was passing between Sonya and Nikolay； and was expecting this announcement。 She listened to his words without comment； and then told her son that he could marry whom he chose； but that neither she nor his father would give their blessing to such a marriage。 For the first time in his life Nikolay felt that his mother was displeased with him； that in spite of all her love for him she would not give way to him。 Coldly； without looking at her son； she sent for her husband； and when he came in； the countess would have briefly and coldly； in Nikolay’s presence； told him her son’s intention； but she could not control herself； burst into tears of anger； and went out of the room。 The old count began irresolutely persuading and entreating Nikolay to give up his intention。 Nikolay replied he could not be false to his word； and his father； sighing and visibly embarrassed； quickly cut short the conversation and went in to the countess。 In all difficulties with his son； the old count could never lose his sense of guiltiness to him for having wasted their fortunes； and so he could not feel angry with his son for refusing to marry an heiress and choosing the portionless Sonya。 He only felt more keenly that if their fortune had not been squandered； no better wife could have been desired for Nikolay than Sonya； and that he； with his Mitenka and his invincible bad habits； was alone to blame for their fortune having been squandered。 The father and mother did not speak of the subject again with their son； but a few days later the countess sent for Sonya to her room； and with a cruelty that surprised them both； the countess upbraided her niece for alluring her son and for ingratitude。 Sonya； with downcast eyes； listened in silence to the countess’s cruel words； and did not understand what was expected of her。 She was ready to sacrifice everything for her benefactors。 The idea of self…sacrifice was her favourite idea。 But in this case she could not see whom and what she ought to sacrifice。 She could not help loving the countess and all the Rostov family； but neither could she help loving Nikolay and knowing that his happiness depended on that love。 She was silent and dejected； she made no reply。 Nikolay could not； so he fancied； endure this position any longer； and he went in to his mother to have it out with her。 Nikolay first besought his mother to forgive him and Sonya and to agree to their marriage； then threatened his mother that if Sonya were persecuted he would at once marry her in secret。 The countess； with a coldness her son had never seen before； replied that he was of full age； that Prince Andrey was marrying without his father’s consent； and that he could do t