"Why not?" asked Natasha in a frightened tone.

"I cannot take him away from his grandfather, and besides..." "How I should have loved him!" said Natasha, immediately guessing his thought; "but I know you wish to avoid any pretext for finding fault with us.

" Sometimes the old count would come up, kiss Prince Andrew, and ask his advice about Petya's education or Nicholas' service.

The old countess sighed as she looked at them; Sonya was always getting frightened lest she should be in the way and tried to find excuses for leaving them alone, even when they did not wish it.

When Prince Andrew spoke (he could tell a story very well), Natasha listened to him with pride; when she spoke she noticed with fear and joy that he gazed attentively and scrutinizingly at her.