of being useful.”
So thought Prince Andréy as he listened to the talking, and he roused himself only when Paulucci called him and everyone was leaving.
At the review next day the Emperor asked Prince Andréy where he would like to serve, and Prince Andréy lost his standing in court circles forever by not asking to remain attached to the sovereign’s person, but for permission to serve in the army.
XII
Before the beginning of the campaign, Rostóv had received a letter from his parents in which they told him briefly of Natásha’s illness and the breaking off of her engagement to Prince Andréy (which they explained by Natásha’s having rejected him) and again asked Nikoláy to retire from the army and return home. On receiving this letter, Nikoláy did not even make any attempt to get leave of absence or to retire from the army, but wrote to his parents that he was sorry Natásha was ill and her engagement broken off, and that he would do all he could to meet their wishes. To Sónya he wrote separately.