stened； laughing beforehand at what Magnitsky was going to say。 Just as Prince Andrey walked into the room； Magnitsky’s words were again drowned in laughter。 Stolypin gave vent to a bass guffaw as he munched a piece of bread and cheese。 Gervais softly hissed a chuckle； and Speransky laughed his shrill； staccato laugh。
Speransky； still laughing； gave Prince Andrey his soft； white hand。 “Very glad to see you； prince；” he said。 “One minute…” he turned to Magnitsky； whose tale he was interrupting。 “We have made a compact to…day； this is a holiday dinner； and not one word about business。” And he turned again to the story…teller； and again he laughed。
With a sense of wondering and melancholy disillusion； Prince Andrey heard his laughter and looked at Speransky laughing。 It was not Speransky； but some other man； it seemed to Prince Andrey。 All that had seemed mysterious and attractive in Speransky suddenly seemed to Prince Andrey obvious and unattractive。
At dinner the conversation never paused for a moment； and consisted of something like the contents of a jest…book。 Magnitsky had hardly finished his anecdote when another gentleman expressed his readiness to relate something even more amusing。 The anecdotes for the most part related； if not to the service itself； to persons prominent in the service。 It was as though in this circle the utter insignificance of these prominent persons was so completely accepted that the only attitude possible towards them was one of good…humoured hilarity。 Speransky told them how at the council that morning a deaf statesman； on being asked his opinion； replied that he was of the same opinion。 Gervais described a whole episode of the revision； only remarkable for the imbecility of all concerned in it。 Stolypin； stammering； took up the conversation and began talking of the abuses of the old order of things； with a warmth that threatened to give the conversation a serious turn。 Magnitsky began to make fun of Stolypin’s earnestness。 Gervais put in his joke； and the conversation resumed its former lively tone。 It was obvious that after his labours Speransky liked to rest and be amused in the circle of his friends； and all his friends understood his tastes； and were trying to amuse him and themselves。 But this kind of gaiety seemed to Prince Andrey tiresome and anything but gay。 Speransky’s high voice struck him unpleasantly； and his continual laugh in its high…pitched； falsetto note was for some reason an offence to Prince Andrey’s feelings。 Prince Andrey did not laugh； and was afraid he would be felt uncongenial by this party。 But no one noticed his lack of sympathy with the general merriment。 All of them appeared to be greatly enjoying themselves。
Several times he tried to enter into the conversation； but every time the word was snatched out of his mouth； like a cork out of water； and he could not bandy jokes with them。 There was nothing wrong or unseemly in what they said； it was all witty； and might have been amusing； but something—that very something that makes the zest of gaiety—was wanting； and they did not even know of its existence。
After dinner Speransky’s daughter and her governess rose from the table。 Speransky patted his daughter with his white hand； and kissed her。 And that gesture； too； seemed to Prince Andrey unnatural。
The men sat on over their port； after the English fashion。 A conversation sprang up about Napoleon’s doings in Spain； of which all were united in approving； while Prince Andrey attacked them。 But in the middle of this discussion Speransky； obviously wishing to change the subject； began with a smile telling an anecdote； which had no connection with it。 For several instants every one was silent。
As they sat at table； Speransky； corking up a bottle of wine and saying； “Nowadays good wine doesn’t go a…begging！” gave it to the servant and got up。 All rose； and talking just as noisily； went into the drawing…room。 Speransky was handed two envelopes brought by a special courier。 He took them and went into his study。 As soon as he had gone； there was a lull in the general gaiety； and the guests began conversing sensibly in low tones together。
“Well； now for the recitation！” said Speransky； coming out of his study。 “A marvellous talent！” he said to Prince Andrey。 Magnitsky at once threw himself into an attitude； and began to recite comic French verses； a skit he had composed on various well…known persons。 Several times he was interrupted by applause。 At the conclusion of the recitation Prince Andrey went up to Speransky to say good…bye。
“Why so early？” said Speransky。
“I promised to be at a soirée。…”
They said no more。 Prince Andrey looked at those mirror…like； impenetrable eyes； so close to his； and he felt it ludicrous that he should have expected anything from Speransky； and from all his own work connected with him； and marvelled how he could have ascribed any value to what Speransky was doing。 That punctual； mirthless laugh was ringing in Prince Andrey’s ears long after he had left Speransky’s。
On reaching home Prince Andrey began looking at his life in Peters…burg during the last four months； as though it were something new。 He thought of the efforts he had made； and the people he had tried to see； and the history of his project of army reform； which had been accepted for consideration； and had been shelved because another scheme； a very poor one； had already been worked out and presented to the Tsar。 He thought of the sittings of the committee； of which Berg was a member。 He thought of the conscientious and prolonged deliberations that took place at those sittings on every point relating to the formalities of the sittings themselves； and the studious brevity with which anything relating to the reality of their duties was touched on in passing。 He thought of his work on the legislative reforms； of his careful translation of the Roman and French codes into Russian； and he felt ashamed of himself。 Then he vividly imagined Bogutcharovo； his pursuits in the country； his expedition to Ryazan； he thought of his peasants； of Dron the village elder； and applying the section on Personal Rights； which he had divided into paragraphs； to them； he marvelled how he could have so long busied himself on work so idle。
Chapter 19
THE NEXT DAY Prince Andrey paid calls on various people whom he had not visited before； and among them on the Rostovs； with whom he had renewed his acquaintance at the ball。 Apart from considerations of politeness； which necessitated a call on the Rostovs； Prince Andrey wanted to see at home that original； eager girl； who had left such a pleasant recollection with him。
Natasha was one of the first to meet him。 She was in a blue everyday dress； in which she struck Prince Andrey as looking prettier than in her ball…dress。 She and all the family received Prince Andrey like an old friend； simply and cordially。 All the family； which Prince Andrey had once criticised so severely； now seemed to him to consist of excellent； simple； kindly people。 The hospitality and good…nature of the old count； particularly striking and attractive in Petersburg； was such that Prince Andrey could not refuse to stay to dinner。 “Yes； these are good…natured； capital people；” thought Bolkonsky。 “Of course they have no conception； what a treasure they possess in Natasha； but they are good people； who make the best possible background for the strikingly poetical figure of that charming girl； so full of life！”
Prince Andrey was conscious in Natasha of a special world； utterly remote from him； brimful of joys unknown to him； that strange world； which even in the avenue at Otradnoe； and on that moonlight night at the window had tantalised him。 Now that no longer tantalised him； it seemed no longer an alien world； but he himself was stepping into it； and finding new pleasures in it。
After dinner Natasha went to the clavichord； at Prince Andrey’s request； and began singing。 Prince Andrey stood at the window talking to the ladies； and listened to her。 In the middle of a phrase； Prince Andrey ceased speaking； and felt suddenly a lump in his throat from tears； the possibility of which he had not dreamed of in himself。 He looked at Natasha singing； and something new and blissful stirred in his soul。 He was happy； and at the same time he was sad。 He certainly had nothing to weep about； but he was ready to weep。 For what？ For his past love？ For the little princess？ For his lost illusions？ … For his hopes for the future？ … Yes； and no。 The chief thing which made him ready to weep was a sudden； vivid sense of the fearful contrast between something infinitely great and illimitable existing in him； and something limited and material； which he himself was； and even she was。
This contrast made his heart ache； and rejoiced him while she was singing。
As soon as Natasha had finished singing； she went up to him； and asked how he liked her voice。 She asked this； and was abashed after saying it； conscious that she ought not to have asked such a question。 He smiled； looking at her； and said he liked her singing； as he liked everything she did。
It was late in the evening when Prince Andrey left the Rostovs’。 He went to bed from the habit of going to bed； but soon saw that he could not sleep。 He lighted a candle and sat up in bed； then got up； then lay down again； not in the least wearied by his sleeplessness： he felt a new joy in his soul； as though he had come out of a stuffy room into the open daylight。 It never even occurred to him that he was in love with this little Rostov girl。 He was not thinking about her。 He only pictured her to himself； and the whole of life rose before him in a new light as he did so。 “Why do I struggle？ Why am I troubled in this narrow cramped routine； when life； all life； with all its joys； lies open before me？” he said to himself。 And for the first time for a very long while； he began making happy plans for the future。 He made up his mind that he ought to look after his son’s education； to find a tutor； and entrust the child to him。 Then he ought to retire from the army； and go abroad； see England； Switzerland； Italy。 “I must take advantage of my liberty； while I feel so much youth and strength in me；” he told himself。 “Pierre was right in saying