Nextday, havingbeeninvitedbythecount, PrinceAndrewdinedwiththeRostovsandspenttherestofthedaythere.
EveryoneinthehouserealizedforwhosesakePrinceAndrewcame, , butinthewholehouse, , inapanicofexpectation, .
Intheevening, whenPrinceAndrewhadleft, thecountesswentuptoNatashaandwhispered: "Well, what?"
"Mamma! Forheaven'ssakedon'taskmeanythingnow! Onecan'ttalkaboutthat," saidNatasha.
ButallthesamethatnightNatasha, nowagitatedandnowfrightened, layalongtimeinhermother', howhetoldherhewasgoingabroad, askedherwheretheyweregoingtospendthesummer, andthenhowhehadaskedheraboutBoris.
"Butsucha...sucha...neverhappenedtomebefore!" shesaid."'? Doesitmeanthatit'stherealthing? Yes? Mamma, areyouasleep?"
"No, mylove; Iamfrightenedmyself," answeredhermother."Nowgo!"
"AllthesameIshan', tosleep! Mummy! Mummy! suchathingneverhappenedtomebefore," shesaid, surprisedandalarmedatthefeelingshewasawareofinherself."Andcouldweeverhavethought!..."
, unexpectedhappinessofmeetingagaintheverymanshehadthenchosen (shewasfirmlyconvincedshehaddoneso) andoffindinghim, asitseemed, notindifferenttoher.
"! Alreadythen, directlyIsawhimIfeltsomethingpeculiar."
"Whatelsedidhesaytoyou? Whatarethoseverses? Readthem..." saidhermother, thoughtfully, referringtosomeversesPrinceAndrewhadwritteninNatasha'salbum.
"Mamma, oneneednotbeashamedofhisbeingawidower?"
"Don't, Natasha! PraytoGod.'Marriagesaremadeinheaven,'" saidhermother.
"DarlingMummy, howIloveyou! HowhappyIam!" criedNatasha, sheddingtearsofjoyandexcitementandembracinghermother.
