She only really took part when they recalled Sónya’s first arrival. She told them how afraid she had been of Nikoláy because he had on a corded jacket and her nurse had told her that she, too, would be sewn up with cords.
“And I remember their telling me that you had been born under a cabbage,” said Natásha, “and I remember that I dared not disbelieve it then, but knew that it was not true, and I felt so uncomfortable.”
While they were talking a maid thrust her head in at the other door of the sitting room.
“They have brought the cock, Miss,” she said in a whisper.
“It isn’t wanted, Pólya. Tell them to take it away,” replied Natásha.
In the middle of their talk in the sitting room, Dimmler came in and went up to the harp that stood there in a corner. He took off