"Youremember?" Sonyawenton."Isawitthenandtoldeverybody, ," saidshe, makingagesturewithherhandandaliftedfingerateachdetail, "andthathehadhiseyesclosedandwascoveredjustwithapinkquilt, andthathishandswerefolded," sheconcluded, convincingherselfthatthedetailsshehadjustseenwereexactlywhatshehadseeninthemirror.
Shehadinfactseennothingthenbuthadmentionedthefirstthingthatcameintoherhead, —thatheturnedtolookatherandsmiledandwascoveredwithsomethingred—butwasfirmlyconvincedthatshehadthenseenandsaidthathewascoveredwithapinkquiltandthathiseyeswereclosed.
"Yes, yes, itreallywaspink!" criedNatasha, whonowthoughtshetoorememberedthewordpinkbeingused, andsawinthisthemostextraordinaryandmysteriouspartoftheprediction.
"Butwhatdoesitmean?" sheaddedmeditatively.
"Oh, Idon'tknow, itisallsostrange," repliedSonya, clutchingatherhead.
AfewminuteslaterPrinceAndrewrangandNatashawenttohim, butSonya, feelingunusuallyexcitedandtouched, remainedatthewindowthinkingaboutthestrangenessofwhathadoccurred.
Theyhadanopportunitythatdaytosendletterstothearmy, andthecountesswaswritingtoherson.
"Sonya!" saidthecountess, raisinghereyesfromherletterasherniecepassed, "Sonya, won'tyouwritetoNicholas?" Shespokeinasoft, tremulousvoice, , shameathavingtoask, fearofarefusal, andreadinessforrelentlesshatredincaseofsuchrefusal.
Sonyawentuptothecountessand, kneelingdown, kissedherhand.
"Yes, Mamma, Iwillwrite," saidshe.
Sonyawassoftened, excited, andtouchedbyallthathadoccurredthatday, 'srelationswithPrinceAndrewwouldpreventNicholasfrommarryingPrincessMary, —interruptedseveraltimesbythetearsthatdimmedhervelvetyblackeyes—shewrotethattouchingletterthearrivalofwhichhadsoamazedNicholas.
