Chapter 16 Chapter Sixteen

Rostov hadn't enjoyed music as much as he did today for a long time.But as soon as Natasha finished singing the gondolier, he was reminded of real life.Without a word he went out and went downstairs to his room.A quarter of an hour later, the old count returned from the club, happy and satisfied.When Nikolay heard of his return, he went to see him. "Well, have you been happy for a while?" said Ilya Andreitch, smiling cheerfully and proudly at his son.Nikolay wanted to say "Yes," but could not, and was on the verge of crying.The count sat smoking his pipe, not seeing his son's expression.

"Oh, the inevitable!" thought Nikolai for the first and last time.Suddenly he spoke to his father in that nonchalant tone which made himself mean, as if he were asking his father for a buggy to take a trip into town. "Father, I have something to ask you. I almost forgot. I need money." "So that's what happened," said the father, with a particularly cheerful heart. "I told you that there wasn't enough money. Do you want a lot of money?" "It's a lot of money," said Nikolay, blushing, with a foolish, careless smile which he never forgave himself for a long time afterwards. "I lost a little money in gambling, that is, even It can be said that he lost a lot, a lot, forty-three thousand rubles."

"What? Lost to whom?... You're kidding!" shouted the count, and suddenly his neck and the back of his head flushed like an old man's stroke. "I promise to pay tomorrow," said Nikolay. "Really? . . . " said the old count, and sat down feebly on the sofa, spreading his hands. "What on earth is going to be done! Such a thing would never happen to anyone." The son said in a presumptuous and bold tone, but in his heart he thought that he was a villain and a vulgar person who could never atone for his life.He would have liked to kiss his father's hand, kneel down and beg his forgiveness, but he said in a casual, even rude tone that it could happen to anyone.

"Yes, yes," he said, "it will be very difficult, I am afraid it will be difficult to get the money... It happens to everyone! Yes, it happens to everyone..." And the count With a quick glance in his son's face, he walked out of the room... Nikolai was ready to be blamed, but he never expected such a thing in his mind. "Papa! Papa...Papa!" He cried bitterly behind his father's back, "Please forgive me!" He grabbed his father's hand, kissed it tightly with his lips, and burst into tears. While father and son are talking at length, mother and daughter are explaining an equally important matter.Natasha ran up to her mother nervously.

"Mother!...Mother!...He begged me..." "What do you want?" "Please, propose, mother! Mother!" she cried. The Countess could not believe her ears.Denisov proposed.To whom?Propose to this little girl, Natasha, who not so long ago played with dolls and is still taking lessons. "Natasha, that's enough, stop talking nonsense!" she said, still hoping that it was only a joke. "Look, you're talking nonsense! I'm telling you the truth," said Natasha angrily, "and I came to ask what to do, but you said to me: 'It's nonsense.'"

..." The Countess shrugged her shoulders. "If it's true that Mr. Denisov proposed to you, tell him he's a fool and forget it." "No, he's not a fool," said Natasha complainingly and seriously. "Well, what do you want? You are really in love today. Well, you are in love with him, then marry him," said the countess, laughing angrily, "God bless you!" "No, mother, I'm not in love with him, maybe not." "Okay, then tell him that." "Mother, are you angry? Don't be angry, dear, what is my fault?"

"No, my darling, there is nothing, is there? If you like, I will go and tell him," said the countess, smiling. "No, I'll tell it myself, just teach me. You're always at ease," added Natasha, answering her smile, "if only you knew what he said to me! I It turned out that he didn't want to mention this matter, but he brought it up inadvertently." "Well, he should still be rejected." "No, it shouldn't. I pity him so much! How lovely he is." "Well, then you accept the proposal, and it's time to get married," said the mother angrily and mockingly.

"No, mother, I pity him too much. I don't know what to say to him." "You needn't tell me, I'll tell it myself," said the countess, indignant that anyone had dared to treat little Natasha like a grown-up. "No, you don't go, I'll go by myself, just listen at the door." Natasha ran across the drawing room to the hall, while Denisov, covering his face with his hands, was still sitting by the clavichord on that chair.He jumped up when he heard her light footsteps. "Natasha," he said, coming swiftly up to her, "you decide my fate. You have mastered it!"

"Vassily Dmitritch, I pity you so much! . . . No, but you are a good man . . . but you shouldn't be . . . I will always love you." Denisov bent over her hand, and she heard the strange voice, which she could not understand.She kissed his black, curly, tousled head.Now the countess could be heard rustling as she flicked her frock hastily.She walked up to them. "Vassily Dmitrich, I thank you for your kindness," said the countess in an embarrassed voice that sounded serious to Denisov, "but my daughter is too young, and I thought you were My son's friend, you must speak to me first. Then you will not make me obliged to refuse you on this occasion."

"Countess..." Denisov began, lowering his eyes, showing remorse, and wanted to say something in his heart, but he couldn't come out. Natasha could not look calmly at his miserable state.She began to choke up loudly. "Countess, I have offended you," continued Denisov in a broken voice, "but you know that I am very fond of your daughter and your whole family, and I would give it twice to . . . Life." He looked at the countess, saw her serious face... "Good-bye, countess," he said, kissing her hand, and walked quickly without looking at Natasha. , Walked out of the room with firm steps.

The next day Rostov sent Denisov off because he did not want to stay another day in Moscow.Denisov's friends from Moscow were seeing him off at the gypsies, and he could hardly remember how they put him on the sled and drove him through the first three stages. After Denisov left, Rostov waited for the money, but the old count could not receive the money at once, so Rostov remained in Moscow for another two weeks, staying mostly at the lady's house. in our room. Sonia was softer and more loyal to him than ever.Evidently she wanted to show him that his loss at the gamble was the greatest act of heroism for which she loved him now even more.But Nicholas thought himself unworthy of her. He filled the little girl's yearbook with poems and scores, and finally sent 43,000 rubles.And after receiving Dolokhov's receipt, without saying goodbye to any acquaintances, he set off at the end of November to catch up with the regiments that had already arrived in Poland.