Therustleofawoman', andhisfaceassumedthelookithadhadinAnnaPavlovna'.
"Howisit," shebegan, asusualinFrench, settlingdownbrisklyandfussilyintheeasychair, "howisitAnnettenevergotmarried? Howstupidyoumenallarenottohavemarriedher! Excusemeforsayingso, , MonsieurPierre!"
"'tunderstandwhyhewantstogotothewar," repliedPierre, addressingtheprincesswithnoneoftheembarrassmentsocommonlyshownbyyoungmenintheirintercoursewithyoungwomen.
'swordstouchedhertothequick.
"Ah, thatisjustwhatItellhim!" saidshe."Idon'tunderstandit; Idon'tintheleastunderstandwhymencan''twantanythingofthekind, don'tneedit? : HereheisUncle'saide-de-camp, , ' Iheardaladyasking, 'IsthatthefamousPrinceAndrew?' Ididindeed." Shelaughed."?"
Pierrelookedathisfriendand, noticingthathedidnotliketheconversation, gavenoreply.
"Whenareyoustarting?" heasked.
"Oh, don'tspeakofhisgoing, don't! Iwon'thearitspokenof," saidtheprincessinthesamepetulantlyplayfultoneinwhichshehadspokentoHippolyteinthedrawingroomandwhichwassoplainlyillsuitedtothefamilycircleofwhichPierrewasalmostamember."TodaywhenIrememberedthatallthesedelightfulassociationsmustbebrokenoff...andthenyouknow, Andre..." (shelookedsignificantlyatherhusband) "I'mafraid, I'mafraid!" shewhispered, andashudderrandownherback.
HerhusbandlookedatherasifsurprisedtonoticethatsomeonebesidesPierreandhimselfwasintheroom, andaddressedherinatoneoffrigidpoliteness.
"Whatisityouareafraidof, Lise? Idon'tunderstand," saidhe.
