Chapter 6

           

           Hélène,havingreturnedwiththecourtfromVílnatoPetersburg,foundherselfinadifficultposition.

           InPetersburgshehadenjoyedthespecialprotectionofagrandeewhooccupiedoneofthehighestpostsintheEmpire.InVílnashehadformedanintimacywithayoungforeignprince.WhenshereturnedtoPetersburgboththemagnateandtheprincewerethere,andbothclaimedtheirrights.Hélènewasfacedbyanewproblem—howtopreserveherintimacywithbothwithoutoffendingeither.

           WhatwouldhaveseemeddifficultorevenimpossibletoanotherwomandidnotcausetheleastembarrassmenttoCountessBezúkhova,whoevidentlydeservedherreputationofbeingaverycleverwoman.Hadsheattemptedconcealment,ortriedtoextricateherselffromherawkwardpositionbycunning,shewouldhavespoiledhercasebyacknowledgingherselfguilty.ButHélène,likeareallygreatmanwhocandowhateverhepleases,atonceassumedherownpositiontobecorrect,asshesincerelybelievedittobe,andthateveryoneelsewastoblame.

           Thefirsttimetheyoungforeignerallowedhimselftoreproachher,sheliftedherbeautifulheadand,halfturningtohim,saidfirmly:“That’sjustlikeaman—selfishandcruel!Iexpectednothingelse.Awomansacrificesherselfforyou,shesuffers,andthisisherreward!Whatrighthaveyou,monseigneur,todemandanaccountofmyattachmentsandfriendships?Heisamanwhohasbeenmorethanafathertome!”Theprincewasabouttosaysomething,butHélèneinterruptedhim.

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