"Whatdoyouthink?" Verawassayingwithanarchsmile."Youaresodiscerning, Prince, andunderstandpeople'? Couldshebeconstantinherattachments? Couldshe, likeotherwomen" (Verameantherself), "loveamanonceforallandremaintruetohimforever? , Prince?"
"Iknowyoursistertoolittle," repliedPrinceAndrew, withasarcasticsmileunderwhichhewishedtohidehisembarrassment, "tobeabletosolvesodelicateaquestion, andthenIhavenoticedthatthelessattractiveawomanisthemoreconstantsheislikelytobe," headded, andlookedupatPierrewhowasjustapproachingthem.
"Yes, thatistrue, ," continuedVera—mentioning "ourdays" aspeopleoflimitedintelligencearefondofdoing, imaginingthattheyhavediscoveredandappraisedthepeculiaritiesof "ourdays" andthathumancharacteristicschangewiththetimes—"." ThisreturntothesubjectofNataliecausedPrinceAndrewtoknithisbrowswithdiscomfort: hewasabouttorise, butVeracontinuedwithastillmoresubtlesmile:
"Ithinknoonehasbeenmorecourtedthanshe," shewenton, ", Count," shesaidtoPierre, "evenourdearcousinBoris, who, betweenourselves, wasveryfargoneinthelandoftenderness..." (alludingtoamapoflovemuchinvogueatthattime).
PrinceAndrewfrownedandremainedsilent.
"YouarefriendlywithBoris, aren'tyou?" askedVera.
"Yes, Iknowhim..."
"IexpecthehastoldyouofhischildishloveforNatasha?"
"Oh, therewaschildishlove?" suddenlyaskedPrinceAndrew, blushingunexpectedly.
"Yes, .[1] Don'tyouthinkso?"
"Oh, undoubtedly!" saidPrinceAndrew, andwithsuddenandunnaturallivelinesshebeganchaffingPierreabouttheneedtobeverycarefulwithhisfiftyyear-oldMoscowcousins, andinthemidstofthesejestingremarksherose, takingPierrebythearm, anddrewhimaside.
"Well?" askedPierre, seeinghisfriend'sstrangeanimationwithsurprise, andnoticingtheglanceheturnedonNatashaasherose.
"Imust...Imusthaveatalkwithyou," saidPrinceAndrew."Youknowthatpairofwomen'sgloves?" (HereferredtothemasonicglovesgiventoanewlyinitiatedBrothertopresenttothewomanheloved.) "I...butno, Iwilltalktoyoulateron," andwithastrangelightinhiseyesandrestlessnessinhismovements, .
ButatthatmomentBergcametoPierreandbeganinsistingthatheshouldtakepartinanargumentbetweenthegeneralandthecolonelontheaffairsinSpain.
: theladies' subtletalk, thecards, thegeneralraisinghisvoiceatthecardtable, andthesamovarandtheteacakes; .
[1]"Cousinhoodisadangerousneighborhood."
