II
Soon after the Christmas fetes were over, Nikolay spoke to his mother j his love for Sonya, and his immovable resolution to marry her. T: countess had long before observed what was passing between Sonya a:l Nikolay, and was expecting this announcement. She listened to his wor; without comment, and then told her son that he could marry whom : chose, but that neither she nor his father would give their blessing to sui
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marriage. For the first time in his life Nikolay felt that his mother was ispleased with him, that in spite of all her love for him she would not give fay to him. Coldly, without looking at her son, she sent for her husband; nd when he came in, the countess would have briefly and coldly, in likolay’s presence, told him her son’s intention, but she could not control erself, burst into tears of anger, and went out of the room. The old ount began irresolutely persuading and entreating Nikolay to give up his fitention. Nikolay replied he could not be false to his word, and his father, ghing and visibly embarrassed, quickly cut short the conversation and ;, ent in to the countess. In all difficulties with his son, the old count could ever lose his sense of guiltiness to him for having wasted their fortunes, nd so he could not feel angry with his son for refusing to marry an heiress nd choosing the portionless Sonya. He only felt more keenly that if their ortune had not been squandered, no better wife could have been desired )r Nikolay than Sonya; and that he, with his Mitenka and his invincible ad habits, was alone to blame for their fortune having been squandered, he father and mother did not speak of the subject again with their son; Lit a few days later the countess sent for Sonya to her room, and with a I'uelty that surprised them both, the countess upbraided her niece for luring her son and for ingratitude. Sonya, with downcast eyes, listened in lence to the countess’s cruel words, and did not understand what was cpected of her. She was ready to sacrifice everything for her benefactors, he idea of self-sacrifice was her favourite idea. But in this case she could bt see whom and what she ought to sacrifice. She could not help loving ie countess and all the Rostov family, but neither could she help loving ikolay and knowing that his happiness depended on that love. She was lent and dejected; she made no reply. Nikolay could not, so he fancied, idure this position any longer, and he went in to his mother to have it it with her. Nikolay first besought his mother to forgive him and Sonya id to agree to their marriage; then threatened his mother that if Sonya ere persecuted he would at once marry her in secret. The countess, with ;coldness her son had never seen before, replied that he was of full age, at Prince Andrey was marrying without his father’s consent, and that could do the same, but that she would never receive that intriguing leature as her daughter.
Stung to fury by the words ‘intriguing creature,’ Nikolay, raising his lice, told his mother that he had never expected her to try and force him ' sell his feelings, and that since it was so, then for the last time he . . . At he had not time to utter the fatal word, which his mother seemed, from It expression, to be awaiting in terror, and which would, perhaps, have itnained a cruel memory between them for ever. He had not time to |ish, because Natasha, who had been listening at the door, ran into the |om with a pale and set face.
‘Nikolenka, you are talking nonsense; hush, hush, hush! I tell you hsh!’ . . . she almost screamed to overpower his voice.
‘Mamma, darling, it’s not at all so . .. my sweet, poor darling,’ she said, irning to her mother, who gazed in terror at her son, feeling herself on the
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edge of an abyss; but in the obstinacy and heat of the conflict unwilling and unable to give in. ‘Nikolenka, I’ll explain to you; you go away- listen, mamma, darling,’ she said to her mother.
Her words were incoherent, but they attained the effect at which sht was aiming.
The countess, with a deep sob, hid her face on her daughter’s bosom while Nikolay got up, clutched at his head, and went out of the room.
Natasha set to work to bring about a reconciliation, and succeeded s< far that Nikolay received a promise from his mother that Sonya shouk not be worried, and himself made a promise that he would take no step without his parents’ knowledge.
Firmly resolved to settle things in his regiment, to retire, come home and marry Sonya, Nikolay at the beginning of January went back to hi regiment, sad and serious at being on bad terms with his parents, but, as i seemed to him, passionately in love.
After Nikolay’s departure, it was more depressing than ever in thiI Rostovs’ house. The countess fell ill from the emotional strains she hat passed through.
