that decision.
“It’s awful! Oh, it’s awful! awful!” Natásha suddenly cried, and again burst into sobs.
“I shall die, waiting a year: it’s impossible, it’s awful!”
She looked into her lover’s face and saw in it a look of commiseration and perplexity.
“No, no! I’ll do anything!” she said, suddenly checking her tears. “I am so happy.”
The father and mother came into the room and gave the betrothed couple their blessing.
From that day Prince Andréy began to frequent the Rostóvs’ as Natásha’s affianced lover.
XXIV
No betrothal ceremony took place and Natásha’s engagement to Bolkónski was not announced; Prince Andréy insisted on that. He said that as he was responsible for the delay he ought to bear the whole burden of it; that he had given his word and bound himself forever, but that he did not wish to bind Natásha and gave