Chapter 2

           

           AtthebeginningofwinterPrinceNicholasBolkónskiandhisdaughtermovedtoMoscow.AtthattimeenthusiasmfortheEmperorAlexander’sregimehadweakenedandapatrioticandanti-Frenchtendencyprevailedthere,andthis,togetherwithhispastandhisintellectandhisoriginality,atoncemadePrinceNicholasBolkónskianobjectofparticularrespecttotheMoscovitesandthecenteroftheMoscowoppositiontothegovernment.

           Theprincehadagedverymuchthatyear.Heshowedmarkedsignsofsenilitybyatendencytofallasleep,forgetfulnessofquiterecentevents,remembranceofremoteones,andthechildishvanitywithwhichheacceptedtheroleofheadoftheMoscowopposition.Inspiteofthistheoldmaninspiredinallhisvisitorsalikeafeelingofrespectfulveneration—especiallyofaneveningwhenhecameintoteainhisold-fashionedcoatandpowderedwigand,arousedbyanyone,toldhisabruptstoriesofthepast,orutteredyetmoreabruptandscathingcriticismsofthepresent.Forthemall,thatold-fashionedhousewithitsgiganticmirrors,pre-Revolutionfurniture,powderedfootmen,andthesternshrewdoldman(himselfarelicofthepastcentury)withhisgentledaughterandtheprettyFrenchwomanwhowerereverentlydevotedtohimpresentedamajesticandagreeablespectacle.Butthevisitorsdidnotreflectthatbesidesthecoupleofhoursduringwhichtheysawtheirhost,therewerealsotwenty-twohoursinthedayduringwhichtheprivateandintimatelifeofthehousecontinued.

           LatterlythatprivatelifehadbecomeverytryingforPrincessMary.

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