cheerful, and he turned to me.” And when saying this she herself fancied she had really seen what she described.
“Well, and then, Sónya? …”
“After that, I could not make out what there was; something blue and red. …”
“Sónya! When will he come back? When shall I see him! O, God, how afraid I am for him and for myself and about everything! …” Natásha began, and without replying to Sónya’s words of comfort she got into bed, and long after her candle was out lay open-eyed and motionless, gazing at the moonlight through the frosty windowpanes.
XIII
Soon after the Christmas holidays Nikoláy told his mother of his love for Sónya and of his firm resolve to marry her. The countess, who had long noticed what was going on between them and was expecting this declaration, listened to