Though Pierre, Natásha, Nikoláy, Countess Márya, and Denísov had much to talk about that they could not discuss before the old countess⁠—not that anything was hidden from her, but because she had dropped so far behindhand in many things that had they begun to converse in her presence they would have had to answer inopportune questions and to repeat what they had already told her many times: that so-and-so was dead and so-and-so was married, which she would again be unable to remember⁠—yet they sat at tea round the samovar in the drawing room from habit, and Pierre answered the countess’ questions as to whether Prince Vasíli had aged and whether Countess Márya Alexéevna had sent greetings and still thought of them, and other matters that interested no one and to which she herself was indifferent.