Are there no women living unmarried, and even the happier for it?" So thought Prince Bolkonski while dressing, and yet the question he was always putting off demanded an immediate answer.

Prince Vasili had brought his son with the evident intention of proposing, and today or tomorrow he would probably ask for an answer.

His birth and position in society were not bad.

"Well, I've nothing against it," the prince said to himself, "but he must be worthy of her.

And that is what we shall see.