Война и мир

Chapter 4

           PrinceVasíli’swordsfrightenedher,anembitteredlookcloudedheroncehandsomeface,butonlyforamoment;thenshesmiledagainandclutchedPrinceVasíli’sarmmoretightly.

           “Listentome,Prince,”saidshe.“IhaveneveryetaskedyouforanythingandIneverwillagain,norhaveIeverremindedyouofmyfather’sfriendshipforyou;butnowIentreatyouforGod’ssaketodothisformyson—andIshallalwaysregardyouasabenefactor,”sheaddedhurriedly.“No,don’tbeangry,butpromise!IhaveaskedGolítsynandhehasrefused.Bethekindheartedmanyoualwayswere,”shesaid,tryingtosmilethoughtearswereinhereyes.

           “Papa,weshallbelate,”saidPrincessHélène,turningherbeautifulheadandlookingoverherclassicallymoldedshoulderasshestoodwaitingbythedoor.

           Influenceinsociety,however,isacapitalwhichhastobeeconomizedifitistolast.PrinceVasíliknewthis,andhavingoncerealizedthatifheaskedonbehalfofallwhobeggedofhim,hewouldsoonbeunabletoaskforhimself,hebecamecharyofusinghisinfluence.ButinPrincessDrubetskáya’scasehefelt,afterhersecondappeal,somethinglikequalmsofconscience.Shehadremindedhimofwhatwasquitetrue;hehadbeenindebtedtoherfatherforthefirststepsinhiscareer.Moreover,hecouldseebyhermannersthatshewasoneofthosewomen—mostlymothers—who,havingoncemadeuptheirminds,willnotrestuntiltheyhavegainedtheirend,andarepreparedifnecessarytogooninsistingdayafterdayandhourafterhour,andeventomakescenes.

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