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pression of her countenance； which betokened a continual readiness to pass at once from melancholy to the unnatural ecstasies of conjugal love； Boris could not utter the decisive word； although in imagination he had long regarded himself as the owner of the Penza and Nizhnigorod estates； and had disposed of the expenditure of their several revenues。 Julie saw the hesitation of Boris； and the idea did sometimes occur to her that she was distasteful to him。 But feminine self…flattery promptly afforded her comfort； and she assured herself that it was love that made him retiring。 Her melancholy was； however； beginning to pass into irritability； and not long before the end of Boris’s leave she adopted a decisive plan of action。 Just before the expiration of Boris’s leave there appeared in Moscow； and—it need hardly be said—also in the drawing…room of the Karagins’； no less a person than Anatole Kuragin； and Julie； abruptly abandoning her melancholy； became exceedingly lively and cordial to Kuragin。
“My dear；” said Anna Mihalovna to her son； “I know from a trust…worthy source that Prince Vassily is sending his son to Moscow to marry him to Julie。 I am so fond of Julie that I should be most sorry for her。 What do you think about it； my dear？” said Anna Mihalovna。
Boris was mortified at the idea of being unsuccessful； of having wasted all that month of tedious； melancholy courtship of Julie； and of seeing all the revenues of those Penza estates—which he had mentally assigned to the various purposes for which he needed them—pass into other hands； especially into the hands of that fool Anatole。 He drove off to the Karagins’ with the firm determination to make an offer。 Julie met him with a gay and careless face； casually mentioned how much she had enjoyed the ball of the evening； and asked him when he was leaving。 Although Boris had come with the intention of speaking of his love； and was therefore resolved to take a tender tone； he began to speak irritably of the fickleness of woman； saying that women could so easily pass from sadness to joy； and their state of mind depended entirely on what sort of man happened to be paying them attention。 Julie was offended； and said that that was quite true； indeed； that a woman wanted variety； and that always the same thing would bore any one。
“Then I would advise you…” Boris was beginning； meaning to say something cutting； but at that instant the mortifying reflection occurred to him that he might leave Moscow without having attained his object； and having wasted his efforts in vain （an experience he had never had yet）。 He stopped short in the middle of a sentence； dropped his eyes； to avoid seeing her disagreeably exasperated and irresolute face； and said； “But it was not to quarrel with you that I have come here。 On the contrary…” He glanced at her to make sure whether he could go on。 All irritation had instantly vanished from her face； and her uneasy and imploring eyes were fastened upon him in greedy expectation。
“I can always manage so as to see very little of her；” thought Boris。 “And the thing’s been begun and must be finished！” He flushed crimson； raised his eyes to her face； and said to her； “You know my feeling for you！” There was no need to say more。 Julie’s countenance beamed with triumph and self…satisfaction； but she forced Boris to say everything that is usually said on such occasions； to say that he loved her； and had never loved any woman more than her。 She knew that for her Penza estates and her Nizhnigorod forests she could demand that； and she got all she demanded。
The young engaged couple； with no further allusions to trees that enfolded them in gloom and melancholy； made plans for a brilliant establishment in Petersburg； paid visits； and made every preparation for a splendid wedding。
Chapter 6
COUNT ILYA ANDREITCH ROSTOV arrived in Moscow towards the end of January with Natasha and Sonya。 The countess was still unwell； and unable to travel； but they could not put off coming till she recovered； for Prince Andrey was expected in Moscow every day。 They had； besides； to order the trousseau； to sell the estate in the suburbs of Moscow； and to take advantage of old Prince Bolkonsky’s presence in Moscow to present his future daughter…in…law to him。 The Rostovs’ house in Moscow had not been heated all the winter； and as they were coming only for a short time； and the countess was not with them； Count Ilya Andreitch made up his mind to stay with Marya Dmitryevna Ahrostimov； who had long been pressing her hospitality upon the count。
Late in the evening the four loaded sledges of the Rostovs drove into the courtyard of Marya Dmitryevna in Old Equerrys’ Place。 Marya Dmitryevna lived alone。 She had by now married off her daughter。 Her sons were all in the service。
She still held herself as erect； still gave every one her opinions in the same loud； outspoken； decided fashion； and her whole bearing seemed a reproof to other people for every sort of weakness； passion； and temptation； of which she would not admit the bare possibility。 In the early morning； in a house…jacket； she looked after the management of her household。 Then she drove on saints’ days to Mass； and from Mass to the gaols and prisons； and of what she did there； she never spoke to any one。
On ordinary days she dressed and received petitioners of various classes； of whom some sought her aid every day。 Then she had dinner； an abundant and appetising meal； at which some three or four guests were always present。 After dinner she played a game of boston； and at night had the newspapers and new books read aloud to her while she knitted。 It was only as a rare exception that she went out in the evening； if she did so； it was only to visit the most important people in the town。
She had not gone to bed when the Rostovs arrived； and the door in the vestibule squeaked on the block； as the Rostovs and their servants came in from the cold outside。 Marya Dmitryevna stood in the doorway of the hall； with her spectacles slipping down on her nose； and her head flung back； looking with a stern and irate face at the new…comers。 It might have been supposed that she was irritated at their arrival； and would pack them off again at once； had she not at the very time been giving careful instructions to her servants where to install her guests and their belongings。
“The count’s things？ Bring them here；” she said； pointing to the trunks； and not bestowing a greeting on any one。 “The young ladies’； this way to the left。 Well； what are we pottering about for？” she called to her maids。 “Warm the samovar！ She’s plumper； prettier；” she pronounced of Natasha； flushed from the frosty air； as she drew her closer by her hood。 “Foo！ she is cold！ You make haste and get your wraps off；” she shouted to the count； who would have kissed her hand。 “You’re frozen； I warrant。 Rum for the tea！ Sonyushka； bonjour；” she said to Sonya； indicating by this French phrase the slightly contemptuous affectionateness of her attitude to Sonya。
When they had all taken off their outdoor things； set themselves straight after the journey； and come in to tea； Marya Dmitryevna kissed them all in due course。
“Heartily glad you hav