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nner at Moscow； and would indeed have regarded such an extremely free and easy manner of dancing as not correct； as bad style； but here he felt it incumbent on him to astonish them all by something extraordinary； something that they would be sure to take for the usual thing in the capital； though new to them in the provinces。
All the evening Nikolay paid the most marked attention to a blue…eyed； plump； and pleasing little blonde； the wife of one of the provincial officials。 With the na？ve conviction of young men who are enjoying themselves； that other men’s wives are created for their special benefit； Rostov never left this lady’s side； and treated her husband in a friendly way； almost as though there were a private understanding between them； as though they knew without speaking of it how capitally they； that is； how Nikolay and the wife； would get on。 The husband did not； however； appear to share this conviction； and tried to take a gloomy tone with Rostov。 But Nikolay’s good…humoured na？veté was so limitless that at times the husband could not help being drawn into his gay humour。 Towards the end of the evening； however； as the wife’s face grew more flushed and animated； the husband’s grew steadily more melancholy and stolid； as though they had a given allowance of liveliness between them； and as the wife’s increased； the husband’s dwindled。
Chapter 5
WITH A SMILE that never left his lips； Nikolay sat bent a little forward on a low chair； and stooping close over his blonde beauty； he paid her mythological compliments。
Jauntily shifting the posture of his legs in his tight riding…breeches； diffusing a scent of perfume； and admiring his fair companion and himself and the fine lines of his legs in the tight breeches； Nikolay told the blonde lady that he wanted to elope with a lady here； in Voronezh。
“What is she like？”
“Charming； divine。 Her eyes” （Nikolay gazed at his companion） “are blue； her lips are coral； her whiteness…” he gazed at her shoulders； “the shape of Diana…”
The husband came up to them and asked his wife gloomily what she was talking of。
“Ah！ Nikita Ivanitch；” said Nikolay； rising courteously。 And as though anxious for Nikita Ivanitch to take a share in his jests； he began to tell him too of his intention of running away with a blonde lady。
The husband smiled grimly； the wife gaily。
The good…natured governor’s wife came up to them with a disapproving air。
“Anna Ignatyevna wants to see you； Nikolay；” she said； pronouncing the name in such a way that Rostov was at once aware that Anna Ignatyevna was a very great lady。 “Come； Nikolay。 You let me call you so； don’t you？”
“Oh； yes； ma tante。 Who is she？”
“Anna Ignatyevna Malvintsev。 She has heard about you from her niece； how you rescued her…Do you guess？…”
“Oh； I rescued so many！” cried Nikolay。
“Her niece； Princess Bolkonsky。 She is here in Voronezh with her aunt。 Oho！ how he blushes！ Eh？”
“Not a bit of it； nonsense； ma tante。”
“Oh； very well； very well。 Oh！ oh！ what a boy it is！”
The governor’s wife led him up to a tall and very stout lady in a blue toque； who had just finished a game of cards with the personages of greatest consequence in the town。 This was Madame Malvintsev； Princess Marya’s aunt on her mother’s side； a wealthy； childless widow； who always lived in Voronezh。 She was standing up； reckoning her losses； when Rostov came up to her。
She dropped her eyelids with a severe and dignified air； glanced at him； and went on upbraiding the general who had been winning from her。
“Delighted； my dear boy；” she said； holding out her hand to him。 “Pray come and see me。”
After saying a few words about Princess Marya and her late father； whom Madame Malvintsev had evidently disliked； and inquiring what Nikolay knew about Prince Andrey； who was apparently also not in her good graces； the dignified old lady dismissed him； repeating her invitation to come and see her。
Nikolay promised to do so and blushed again as he took leave of Madame Malvintsev。 At the mention of Princess Marya’s name； Rostov experienced a sensation of shyness； even of terror； which he could not have explained to himself。
On leaving Madame Malvintsev； Rostov would have gone back to the dance； but the little governor’s wife laid her plump little hand on his sleeve； and saying that she wanted to have a few words with him； led him into the divan…room； the persons in that room promptly withdrew that they might not be in her way。
“Do you know； mon cher；” said the governor’s wife with a serious expression on her good…natured； little face； “this is really the match for you； if you like； I will try and arrange it。”
“Whom do you mean； ma tante？” asked Nikolay。
“I will make a match for you with the princess。 Katerina Petrovna talks of Lili； but I say； no—the princess。 Do you wish it？ I am sure your mamma will be grateful。 Really； she is such a splendid girl； charming！ And she is by no means so very plain。”
“Not at all so；” said Nikolay； as though offended at the idea。 “As for me； ma tante； as a soldier should； I don’t force myself on any one； nor refuse anything that turns up；” said Rostov； before he had time to consider what he was saying。
“So remember then； this is no jesting matter。”
“How could it be！”
“Yes； yes；” said the governor’s wife； as though talking to herself。 “And entre autres； mon cher； you are too assiduous with the other—the blonde。 One feels sorry for the husband； really…”
“Oh no； we are quite friendly；” said Nikolay in the simplicity of his heart： it had never occurred to him that such an agreeable pastime for him could be other than agreeable to any one else。
“What a stupid thing I said to the governor’s wife though！” suddenly came into Nikolay’s mind at supper。 “She really will begin to arrange a match； and Sonya？…”
And on taking leave of the governor’s wife； as she said to him once more with a smile； “Well； remember then；” he drew her aside。
“But there is something…To tell you the truth； ma tante…”
“What is it； what is it； my dear？ Come； let us sit down here。”
Nikolay had a sudden desire； an irresistible impulse to talk of all his most secret feelings （such as he would never have spoken of to his mother； to his sister； to an intimate friend） to this woman； who was almost a stranger。 Whenever Nikolay thought afterwards of this uncalled…for outbursts of inexplicable frankness—though it had most important consequences for him—it seemed to him （as it always seems to people in such cases） that it had happened by chance； through a sudden fit of folly。 But at the same time this outburst of frankness； together with other insignificant events； had consequences of immense importance to him and to all his family。
“It’s like this； ma tante。 It has long been maman’s wish to marry me to an heiress； but the mere idea of it—marrying for money—is revolting to me。”
“Oh yes； I can understand that；” said the governor’s wife。
“But Princess Bolkonsky； that’s a different matter。 In the first place； I’ll tell you the truth； I like her very much； I feel drawn to her； and then； ever since I came across her in such a position； so strangely； it has often struck me； that