"Well now, isn't she a fool!" shouted the prince, pushing the bookaside and turning sharply away; but rising immediately, he paced upand down, lightly touched his daughter's hair and sat down again.
He drew up his chair. and continued to explain.
"This won't do, Princess; it won't do," said he, when Princess Mary,having taken and closed the exercise book with the next day'slesson, was about to leave: "Mathematics are most important, madam!I don't want to have you like our silly ladies. Get used to it andyou'll like it," and he patted her cheek. "It will drive all thenonsense out of your head."
She turned to go, but he stopped her with a gesture and took anuncut book from the high desk.
"Here is some sort of Key to the Mysteries that your Heloise hassent you. Religious! I don't interfere with anyone's belief... Ihave looked at it. Take it. Well, now go. Go."
He patted her on the shoulder and himself closed the door after her.
Princess Mary went back to her room with the sad, scaredexpression that rarely left her and which made her plain, sicklyface yet plainer. She sat down at her writing table, on which stoodminiature portraits and which was littered withbuy runescape gold books and papers.The princess was as untidy as her father was tidy. She put down thegeometry book and eagerly broke the seal of her letter. It was fromher most intimate friend from childhood; that same Julie Karaginawho had been at the Rostovs' name-day party.
Julie wrote in French:
Dear and precious Friend, How terrible and frightful a thing isseparation! Though I tell myself that half my life and half myhappiness are wrapped up in you, and that in spite of the distanceseparating us our hearts are united by indissoluble bonds, my heartrebels against fate and in spite of the pleasures and distractionsaround me I cannot overcome a certain secret sorrow that has been inmy heart ever since we parted. Why are we not together as we were Lastsummer, in your big study, on the blue sofa, the confidential sofa?Why cannot I now, as three months ago, draw fresh moral strengthfrom your look, so gentle, calm, and penetrating, a look I loved sowell and seem to see before me as I write?
Having read thus far, Princess Mary sighed and glanced into themirror which stood on her right. It reflected a weak, ungracefulfigure and thin face. Her eyes, always sad, now looked with particularhopelessness at her reflection in the glass. "She flatters me,"thought the princess, turning away and continuing to read. But Juliedid not flatter her friend, the princess' eyes- large, deep andluminous (it seemed as if at times there radiated from them shaftsof warm light)- were so beautiful that very often in spite of theplainness of her face they gave her an attraction more powerful thanthat of beauty. But the princess never saw the beautiful expression ofher own eyes- the look they had when she was not thinking ofherself. As with everyone, her face assumed a forced unnaturalexpression as soon as she looked in a glass. She went on reading:
All Moscow talks of nothing but war. One of my two brothers isalready abroad, the other is with the Guards, who are starting ontheir march to the frontier. Our dear Emperor has left Petersburgand it is thought intends to expose his precious person to the chancesof war. God grant that the Corsican monster who is destroying thepeace of Europe may be overthrown by the angel whom it has pleased theAlmighty, in His goodness, to give us as sovereign! To say nothingof my brothers, this war has deprived me of one of the associationsnearest my heart. I mean young Nicholas Rostov, who with hisenthusiasm could not bear to remain inactive and has left theuniversity to join the army. I will confess to you, dear Mary, that inspite of his extreme youth his departure for the army was a greatgrief to me. This young man, of whom I spoke to you Last summer, is sonoble-minded and full of that real youthfulness which one seldom findsnowadays among our old men of twenty and, particularly, he is so frankand has so much heart. He is so pure and poetic that my relations withhim, transient as they were, have been one of the sweetest comforts tomy poor heart, which has already suffered so much. Someday I will tellyou about our parting and all that was said then. That is still toofresh. Ah, dear friend, you are happy not to know these poignantjoys and sorrows. You are fortunate, for the latter are generallythe stronger! I know very well that Count Nicholas is too young everto be more to me than a friend, but this sweet friendship, this poeticand pure intimacy, were what my heart needed. But enough of this!The chief news, about which all Moscow gossips, is the death of oldCount Bezukhov, and his inheritance. Fancy! The three princesseshave received very little, Prince Vasili nothing, and it is MonsieurPierre who has inherited all the property and has besides beenrecognized as legitimate; so that he is now Count Bezukhov andpossessor of the finest fortune in Russia. It is rumored that PrinceVasili played a very despicable part in this affair and Catolaxthat hereturned to Petersburg quite crestfallen.
I confess I understand very little about all these matters ofwills and inheritance; but I do know that since this young man, whomwe all used to know as plain Monsieur Pierre, has become CountBezukhov and the owner of one of the largest fortunes in Russia, Iam much amused to watch the change in the tone and manners of themammas burdened by marriageable daughters, and of the young ladiesthemselves, toward him, though, between you and me, he always seemedto me a poor sort of fellow. As for the past two years people haveamused themselves by finding husbands for me (most of whom I don'teven know), the matchmaking chronicles of Moscow now speak of me asthe future Countess Bezukhova. But you will understand that I haveno desire for the post. A propos of marriages: do you know that awhile ago that universal auntie Anna Mikhaylovna told me, under theseal of strict secrecy, of a plan of marriage for you. It is neithermore nor less than with Prince Vasili's son Anatole, whom they wish toreform by marrying him to someone rich and distinguee, and it is onyou that hishttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j_b3pxFnOo relations' choice has fallen. I don't know what youwill think of it, but I consider it my duty to let you know of it.He is said to be very handsome and a terrible scapegrace. That isall I have been able to find out about him.
But enough of gossip. I am at the end of my second sheet of paper,and Mamma has sent for me to go and dine at the Apraksins'. Read themystical book I am sending you; it has an enormous success here.Though there are things in it difficult for the feeble human mind tograsp, it is an admirable book which calms and elevates the soul.Adieu! Give my respects to monsieur your father and my complimentsto Mademoiselle Bourienne. I embrace you as I love you.
JULIE