Chapter 15

           

           Natáshahadnothadamomentfreesinceearlymorningandhadnotoncehadtimetothinkofwhatlaybeforeher.

           Inthedampchillairandcrowdedclosenessoftheswayingcarriage,sheforthefirsttimevividlyimaginedwhatwasinstoreforherthereattheball,inthosebrightlylightedrooms—withmusic,flowers,dances,theEmperor,andallthebrilliantyoungpeopleofPetersburg.Theprospectwassosplendidthatshehardlybelieveditwouldcometrue,sooutofkeepingwasitwiththechilldarknessandclosenessofthecarriage.Sheunderstoodallthatawaitedheronlywhen,aftersteppingovertheredbaizeattheentrance,sheenteredthehall,tookoffherfurcloak,and,besideSónyaandinfrontofhermother,mountedthebrightlyilluminatedstairsbetweentheflowers.Onlythendidsherememberhowshemustbehaveataball,andtriedtoassumethemajesticairsheconsideredindispensableforagirlonsuchanoccasion.But,fortunatelyforher,shefelthereyesgrowingmisty,shesawnothingclearly,herpulsebeatahundredtotheminute,andthebloodthrobbedatherheart.Shecouldnotassumethatpose,whichwouldhavemadeherridiculous,andshemovedonalmostfaintingfromexcitementandtryingwithallhermighttoconcealit.Andthiswastheveryattitudethatbecameherbest.Beforeandbehindthemothervisitorswereentering,alsotalkinginlowtonesandwearingballdresses.Themirrorsonthelandingreflectedladiesinwhite,pale-blue,andpinkdresses,withdiamondsandpearlsontheirbarenecksandarms.

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