“Not a patriot at all, but simply⁠ ⁠…” Natásha replied in an injured tone. “Everything seems funny to you, but this isn’t at all a joke.⁠ ⁠…”

“A joke indeed!” put in the count. “Let him but say the word and we’ll all go.⁠ ⁠… We’re not Germans!”

“But did you notice, it says, ‘for consultation’?” said Pierre.

“Never mind what it’s for.⁠ ⁠…”

At this moment, Pétya, to whom nobody was paying any attention, came up to his father with a very flushed face and said in his breaking voice that was now deep and now shrill:

“Well, Papa, I tell you definitely, and Mamma too, it’s as you please, but I say definitely that you must let me enter the army, because I can’t⁠ ⁠… that’s all.⁠ ⁠…”

The countess, in dismay, looked up to heaven, clasped her hands, and turned angrily to her husband.