Война и мир

Chapter 4

           Thequestionwaswhetherhecouldeverbringhimselftopartfromhisdaughterandgivehertoahusband.Theprinceneverdirectlyaskedhimselfthatquestion,knowingbeforehandthathewouldhavetoansweritjustly,andjusticeclashednotonlywithhisfeelingsbutwiththeverypossibilityoflife.LifewithoutPrincessMary,littleasheseemedtovalueher,wasunthinkabletohim.“Andwhyshouldshemarry?”hethought.“Tobeunhappyforcertain.There’sLise,marriedtoAndrew—abetterhusbandonewouldthinkcouldhardlybefoundnowadays—butisshecontentedwithherlot?AndwhowouldmarryMarieforlove?Plainandawkward!They’lltakeherforherconnectionsandwealth.Aretherenowomenlivingunmarried,andeventhehappierforit?”SothoughtPrinceBolkónskiwhiledressing,andyetthequestionhewasalwaysputtingoffdemandedanimmediateanswer.PrinceVasílihadbroughthissonwiththeevidentintentionofproposing,andtodayortomorrowhewouldprobablyaskforananswer.Hisbirthandpositioninsocietywerenotbad.“Well,I’venothingagainstit,”theprincesaidtohimself,“buthemustbeworthyofher.Andthatiswhatweshallsee.”

           “Thatiswhatweshallsee!Thatiswhatweshallsee!”headdedaloud.

           Heenteredthedrawingroomwithhisusualalertstep,glancingrapidlyroundthecompany.Henoticedthechangeinthelittleprincess’dress,MademoiselleBourienne’sribbon,PrincessMary’sunbecomingcoiffure,MademoiselleBourienne’sandAnatole’ssmiles,andthelonelinessofhisdaughteramidthegeneralconversation.

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