"It's nothing, nothing; leave me alone!" sobbed Sonya.

"Ah, I know what it is.

" "Well, if you do, so much the better, and you can go back to her!" "So-o-onya! Look here! How can you torture me and yourself like that, for a mere fancy?" said Nicholas taking her hand.

Sonya did not pull it away, and left off crying.

Natasha, not stirring and scarcely breathing, watched from her ambush with sparkling eyes.