“Your offer⁠ ⁠…” she began at last sedately. He remained silent, looking into her eyes. “Your offer⁠ ⁠…” (she grew confused) “is agreeable to us, and I accept your offer. I am glad. And my husband⁠ ⁠… I hope⁠ ⁠… but it will depend on her.⁠ ⁠…”

“I will speak to her when I have your consent.⁠ ⁠… Do you give it to me?” said Prince Andréy.

“Yes,” replied the countess. She held out her hand to him, and with a mixed feeling of estrangement and tenderness pressed her lips to his forehead as he stooped to kiss her hand. She wished to love him as a son, but felt that to her he was a stranger and a terrifying man. “I am sure my husband will consent,” said the countess, “but your father⁠ ⁠…”

“My father, to whom I have told my plans, has made it an express condition of his consent that the wedding is not to take place for a year. And I wished to tell you of that,” said Prince Andréy.

“It is true that Natásha is still young, but⁠—so long as that?⁠ ⁠…”