Война и мир

Chapter 20

           

           Contrarytohishabitofbeinglate,PierreonthatdayarrivedattheBergs’house,notattenbutatfifteenminutestoeight.

           Havingpreparedeverythingnecessaryfortheparty,theBergswerereadyfortheirguests’arrival.

           Intheirnew,clean,andlightstudywithitssmallbustsandpicturesandnewfurnituresatBergandhiswife.Berg,closelybuttonedupinhisnewuniform,satbesidehiswifeexplainingtoherthatonealwayscouldandshouldbeacquaintedwithpeopleaboveone,becauseonlythendoesonegetsatisfactionfromacquaintances.

           “Youcangettoknowsomething,youcanaskforsomething.SeehowImanagedfrommyfirstpromotion.”(Bergmeasuredhislifenotbyyearsbutbypromotions.)“Mycomradesarestillnobodies,whileIamonlywaitingforavacancytocommandaregiment,andhavethehappinesstobeyourhusband.”(HeroseandkissedVéra’shand,andonthewaytoherstraightenedoutaturned-upcornerofthecarpet.)“AndhowhaveIobtainedallthis?Chieflybyknowinghowtochoosemyaquaintances.Itgoeswithoutsayingthatonemustbeconscientiousandmethodical.”

           Bergsmiledwithasenseofhissuperiorityoveraweakwoman,andpaused,reflectingthatthisdearwifeofhiswasafterallbutaweakwomanwhocouldnotunderstandallthatconstitutesaman’sdignity,whatitwaseinMannzusein.*Véraatthesametimesmilingwithasenseofsuperiorityoverhergood,conscientioushusband,whoallthesameunderstoodlifewrongly,asaccordingtoVéraallmendid.Berg,judgingbyhiswife,thoughtallwomenweakandfoolish.

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