PrinceAndrewneededhisfather'sconsenttohismarriage, andtoobtainthishestartedforthecountrynextday.
Hisfatherreceivedhisson'scommunicationwithexternalcomposure, , whenhisownlifewasalreadyending."IfonlytheywouldletmeendmydaysasIwantto," thoughttheoldman, "thentheymightdoastheyplease." Withhisson, however, heemployedthediplomacyhereservedforimportantoccasionsand, adoptingaquiettone, discussedthewholematter.
Inthefirstplacethemarriagewasnotabrilliantoneasregardsbirth, wealth, , PrinceAndrewwasnolongerasyoungashehadbeenandhishealthwaspoor (theoldmanlaidspecialstressonthis), , hehadasonwhomitwouldbeapitytoentrusttoachitofagirl."Fourthlyandfinally," thefathersaid, lookingironicallyathisson, "Ibegyoutoputitoffforayear:goabroad, takeacure, —asyouplease—isstillasgreat, marry! Andthat', thelast..." concludedtheprince, inatonewhichshowedthatnothingwouldmakehimalterhisdecision.
PrinceAndrewsawclearlythattheoldmanhopedthathisfeelings, orhisfiancee's, wouldnotstandayear'stest, orthathe (theoldprincehimself) woulddiebeforethen, andhedecidedtoconformtohisfather'swish—topropose, andpostponetheweddingforayear.
ThreeweeksafterthelasteveninghehadspentwiththeRostovs, PrinceAndrewreturnedtoPetersburg.
NextdayafterhertalkwithhermotherNatashaexpectedBolkonskiallday, , notknowingthatPrinceAndrewhadgonetoseehisfather, couldnotexplainhisabsencetoherself.
, idleandlistless; , thiswoundtohervanityintensifiedhermisery.
Onceshecametohermother, triedtosaysomething, .
