"Nicholas, haveyoucome? Comehere, dear!" calledtheoldcountessfromthedrawingroom.
Nicholaswenttoher, kissedherhand, , theystillheardthelaughterandmerryvoicestryingtopersuadeNatashatosing.
"Allwight! Allwight!" shoutedDenisov."It'snogoodmakingexcusesnow! It'syourturntosingtheba'cawolla—Ientweatyou!"
Thecountessglancedathersilentson.
"Whatisthematter?" sheasked.
"Oh, nothing," saidhe, asifwearyofbeingcontinuallyaskedthesamequestion."WillPapabebacksoon?"
"Iexpectso."
"Everything'! WhereamItogo?" thoughtNicholas, andwentagainintothedancingroomwheretheclavichordstood.
Sonyawassittingattheclavichord, playingthepreludetoDenisov'.
Nicholasbeganpacingupanddowntheroom.
"Whydotheywanttomakehersing? Howcanshesing? There'snothingtobehappyabout!" thoughthe.
Sonyastruckthefirstchordoftheprelude.
"MyGod, I'maruinedanddishonoredman! Abulletthroughmybrainistheonlythingleftme—notsinging!" histhoughtsranon."Goaway? Butwhereto? It'sone—letthemsing!"
Hecontinuedtopacetheroom, lookinggloomilyatDenisovandthegirlsandavoidingtheireyes.
"Nikolenka, whatisthematter?" Sonya'.
, withherquickinstinct, hadinstantlynoticedherbrother', thoughshenoticedit, shewasherselfinsuchhighspiritsatthatmoment, sofarfromsorrow, sadness, orself-reproach, thatshepurposelydeceivedherselfasyoungpeopleoftendo."No, Iamtoohappynowtospoilmyenjoymentbysympathywithanyone'ssorrow," shefelt, andshesaidtoherself: "No, Imustbemistaken, hemustbefeelinghappy, justasIam."
