“No, it’s not that. I never leave off loving you. And one couldn’t love more, but this is something special.⁠ ⁠… Yes, of course⁠—” he did not finish because their eyes meeting said the rest.

“What nonsense it is,” Natásha suddenly exclaimed, “about honeymoons, and that the greatest happiness is at first! On the contrary, now is the best of all. If only you did not go away! Do you remember how we quarreled? And it was always my fault. Always mine. And what we quarreled about⁠—I don’t even remember!”

“Always about the same thing,” said Pierre with a smile. “Jealo⁠ ⁠…”

“Don’t say it! I can’t bear it!” Natásha cried, and her eyes glittered coldly and vindictively. “Did you see her?” she added, after a pause.

“No, and if I had I shouldn’t have recognized her.”

They were silent for a while.