Война и мир

Chapter 20

           

           TheyreceivedPierreintheirsmall,newdrawingroom,whereitwasimpossibletositdownanywherewithoutdisturbingitssymmetry,neatness,andorder;soitwasquitecomprehensibleandnotstrangethatBerg,havinggenerouslyofferedtodisturbthesymmetryofanarmchairorofthesofaforhisdearguest,butbeingapparentlypainfullyundecidedonthematterhimself,eventuallyleftthevisitortosettlethequestionofselection.Pierredisturbedthesymmetrybymovingachairforhimself,andBergandVéraimmediatelybegantheireveningparty,interruptingeachotherintheireffortstoentertaintheirguest.

           Véra,havingdecidedinherownmindthatPierreoughttobeentertainedwithconversationabouttheFrenchembassy,atoncebeganaccordingly.Berg,havingdecidedthatmasculineconversationwasrequired,interruptedhiswife’sremarksandtouchedonthequestionofthewarwithAustria,andunconsciouslyjumpedfromthegeneralsubjecttopersonalconsiderationsastotheproposalsmadehimtotakepartintheAustriancampaignandthereasonswhyhehaddeclinedthem.ThoughtheconversationwasveryincoherentandVérawasangryattheintrusionofthemasculineelement,bothhusbandandwifefeltwithsatisfactionthat,evenifonlyoneguestwaspresent,theireveninghadbegunverywellandwasaslikeastwopeastoeveryothereveningpartywithitstalk,tea,andlightedcandles.

           BeforelongBorís,Berg’soldcomrade,arrived.TherewasashadeofcondescensionandpatronageinhistreatmentofBergandVéra

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