“I had heard that it happens like this, and you must have heard it too, but it’s only now that I feel such love. It’s not the same as before. As soon as I saw him I felt he was my master and I his slave, and that I could not help loving him. Yes, his slave! Whatever he orders I shall do. You don’t understand that. What can I do? What can I do, Sónya?” cried Natásha with a happy yet frightened expression.

“But think what you are doing,” cried Sónya. “I can’t leave it like this. This secret correspondence⁠ ⁠… How could you let him go so far?” she went on, with a horror and disgust she could hardly conceal.

“I told you that I have no will,” Natásha replied. “Why can’t you understand? I love him!”

“Then I won’t let it come to that⁠ ⁠… I shall tell!” cried Sónya, bursting into tears.

“What do you mean? For God’s sake⁠ ⁠… If you tell, you are my enemy!” declared Natásha. “You want me to be miserable, you want us to be separated.⁠ ⁠…”