and made his offer。
Berg’s proposal was received at first with a hesitation by no means flattering for him。 It seemed a strange idea at first that the son of an obscure Livonian gentleman should propose for the hand of a Countess Rostov。 But Berg’s leading characteristic was an egoism so na？ve and good…natured that the Rostovs unconsciously began to think that it must be a good thing since he was himself so firmly convinced that it would be a good thing； and indeed a very good thing。 The Rostovs were； moreover； seriously embarrassed in their pecuniary affairs； a fact of which the suitor could not but be aware； and what was the chief consideration； Vera was now four…and…twenty； and had been brought out everywhere； and； in spite of the fact that she was undeniably good…looking and sensible； no one had hitherto made her an offer。 The offer was accepted。
“You see；” Berg said to a comrade； whom he called his friend—only because he knew all people do have friends—“you see； I have taken everything into consideration； and I should not have got married if I had not thought it well over； or if it had been unsuitable in any way。 But at present my papa and mamma are well provided for； I have secured them the lease of that place in the Ostsee district； and I can live in Petersburg with my pay and her fortune and my careful habits。 We can get along nicely。 I’m not marrying for money； I consider that ungentlemanly； but the wife ought to bring her share and the husband his。 I have my position in the service； she has connections and some small means。 That’s worth something nowadays； isn’t it？ And what’s the chief consideration； she’s handsome； estimable girl； and she loves me。…”
Berg blushed and smiled。
“And I love her because she has a character that is reasonable and very nice。 Her sister now—though they are of the same family—is utterly different； and her character is disagreeable； and she has none of that intelligence； but something you know … I don’t like。 … But my betrothed … You must come and see us； come to …” Berg； went on； he was going to say “to dinner；” but on second thoughts he said “to tea；” and putting out his tongue he blew a little ring of tobacco smoke that embodied for him all his dreams of happiness。
The first feeling of hesitation aroused in the parents by Berg’s proposal had been followed by the festivity and rejoicing in the family usual on such occasions； but the rejoicing was apparent and not genuine。
A certain embarrassment and shamefacedness could be detected in the feelings of the relations in regard to this marriage。 It was as though their conscience smote them for not having been very fond of Vera and of being so ready now to get her off their hands。 The old count was more disconcerted over it than any one。 He would most likely have been unable to say what made him feel so； but his financial difficulties were at the root of the matter。 He absolutely did not know what he had； how much his debts amounted to； and what he would be in a position to give for Vera’s dowry。 Each of his daughters had at their birth been assigned a portion； consisting of an estate with three hundred serfs on it。 But one of those estates had by now been sold； and the other had been mortgaged； and the interest was so much in arrears that it would have to be sold； so that to give this estate was impossible。 There was no money either。
Berg had been betrothed more than a month； and it was only a week before the date fixed for the wedding； but the count was still unable to come to a decision on the subject of the dowry； and had not spoken of it to his wife。 At one time the count thought of making over the Ryazan estate to Vera； then he thought of selling his forest； then of borrowing money on a note of hand。
A few days before the wedding； Berg went early in the morning into the count’s study； and with an agreeable smile； respectfully invited his father…in…law to let him know what fortune would be given with the Countess Vera。 The count was so much disconcerted by this long…foreseen inquiry that； without thinking； he said the first thing that came into his head。
“I like your being businesslike about it； I like it； you will be quite satisfied…”
And clapping Berg on the shoulder； he got up； intending to cut short the conversation。 But Berg； smiling blandly； announced that if he were not to know for certain what would be given with Vera； and to receive at least part of the dowry in advance； he would be obliged to break off the marriage。 “Because； you must consider； count； if I were to allow myself to marry now without having a definite security for the maintenance of my wife I should be acting like a scoundrel…”
The conversation ended by the count； in his anxiety to be generous and to avoid further requests； saying that he would give him a note of hand for eighty thousand。 Berg smiled gently； kissed the count on the shoulder； and said that he was very grateful； but could not make his arrangements in his new life without receiving thirty thousand in ready money。 “Twenty thousand at least； count；” he added； “and then a note of hand simply for sixty thousand。”
“Yes； yes； very good；” said the count hurriedly。 “Only excuse me； my dear boy； I’ll give you twenty thousand and the note of hand for eighty thousand as well。 That’s all right； kiss me。”
Chapter 12
NATASHA was sixteen； and it was the year 1809； that year to which she had reckoned up on her fingers with Boris； after she had kissed him four years before。 Since then she had not once seen him。 When Boris was mentioned she would speak quite freely of it before Sonya and her mother； treating it as a settled thing that all that had passed between them was childish nonsense； not worth talking of and long ago forgotten。 But in the most secret recesses of her soul the question whether her engagement to Boris were really a mere jest or a solemn； binding promise worried her。
Ever since Boris had left Moscow in 1805 to go into the army he had not once seen the Rostovs。 Several times he had been in Moscow； and in travelling had passed not far from Otradnoe； but he had not once been at the Rostovs’。
It had sometimes occurred to Natasha that he did not want to see her； and her surmises had been confirmed by the mournful tone in which he was referred to by her elders。
“Old friends are soon forgotten nowadays；” the countess would say after Boris had been mentioned。
Anna Mihalovna had taken in these latter days to seeing less of the Rostovs。 There was a marked dignity； too； in her manner with them； and she spoke on every occasion with thankfulness and enthusiasm of her son’s great abilities and brilliant career。 When the Rostovs arrived in Petersburg Boris came to call on them。
It was not without emotion that he came to see them。 His reminiscences of Natasha were Boris’s most poetic memories。 But at the same time he came to call on them firmly resolved to make her and her relations feel that the childish vows between Natasha and him could have no binding force for her or for him。 He had a brilliant position in society； thanks to his intimacy with Countess Bezuhov； a brilliant position in the service； thanks to the protection of a great person whose confidence he had completely won； and he was beginning to make plans for marrying one of the richest heiresses in Petersburg； plans which might very easily be realised。 When Boris went into the Rostovs’ drawing…room； Natasha was in her own room。 On hearing of his arrival she almost ran with a flushed face into the drawing…room； radiant with a smile that was more than cordial。
Boris had thought of Natasha as the little girl he had known four years before in a short frock； with black eyes glancing under her curls； and a desperate； childish giggle； and so； when a quite different Natasha came in； he was taken aback and his face expressed surprise and admiration。 His expression delighted Natasha。
“Well； would you know your mischievous little playmate？” said the countess。 Boris kissed Natasha’s hand； and said he was surprised at the change in her。
“How pretty you have grown！”
“I should hope so！” was the answer in Natasha’s laughing eyes。
“And does papa look older？” she asked。
Natasha sat still； taking no part in the talk between Boris and her mother。 Silently and minutely she scrutinised the young man who had been her suitor in her childhood。 He felt oppressed by that persistent； friendly gaze； and glanced once or twice at her。
The uniform； the spurs； the tie； the way Boris had brushed his hair；—it was all fashionable and comme il faut。 That Natasha noticed at once。 He sat a little sideways on a low chair beside the countess； with his right hand smacking the exquisitely clean and perfectly fitting glove on his left。 He talked with a peculiar； refined compression of the lips about the divisions of the best society in Petersburg； with faint irony referred to old days in Moscow and old Moscow acquaintances。 Not unintentionally； as Natasha felt； he mentioned some of the highest aristocracy； alluded to the ambassador’s ball； at which he had been present； and to invitations from N。 N。 and from S。 S。
Natasha sat the whole time without speaking； looking up from under her brows at him。 Her eyes made Boris more and more uneasy and embarrassed。 He looked round more frequently at Natasha； and broke off in his sentences。 After staying no more than ten minutes he got up and took leave。 Still the same curious； challenging； and rather ironical eyes gazed at him。 After his first visit； Boris said to himself that Natasha was as attractive to him as she had been in the past； but that he must not give way to his feelings； because to marry her—a girl almost without fortune—would be the ruin of his career； and to renew their old relations without any intention of marriage would be dishonourable。 Boris resolved to avoid meeting Natasha； but in spite of this resolution he came a few days later； and began to come often； and to spend whole days at the Rostovs’。 He fancied that it was essential for him to have a frank explanation with Natasha； to tell her that all the past must be forgotten； that in spite of everything…she could not be his wife； that he had no means； and that they would never consent to her marrying him。 B