l as a slur on the honoured memory of his father； and so he would not hear of such a course； and accepted the inheritance with the obligation of paying the debts。
The creditors； who had so long been silent； held in check during the old count’s lifetime by the vague but powerful influence of his easy good…nature； all beset Nikolay at once。 There seemed； as so often happens； a sort of rivalry among them； which should get paid first； and the very people； such as Mitenka and others； who held promissory notes； not received in discharge of debts； but as presents； were now the most importunate of the creditors。 They would give Nikolay no peace and no respite； and those who had shown pity for the old man； who was responsible for their losses （if they really had lost money by him）； were now ruthless in their persecution of the young heir； who was obviously guiltless as far as they were concerned； and had voluntarily undertaken to pay them。
Not one of the plans that Nikolay resorted to was successful： the estate was sold by auction at half its value； and half the debts remained still unpaid。 Nikolay accepted a loan of thirty thousand roubles offered him by his brother…in…law Bezuhov； and paid that portion of the debts that he recognised as genuine obligations。 And to avoid being thrown into prison for the remainder； as the creditors threatened； he once more entered the government service。
To return to the army； where at the next promotion he would have been colonel； was out of the question； because his mother now clung to her son as her one hold on life。 And so in spite of his disinclination to remain in Moscow； in the midst of a circle of acquaintances who had known him in former days； in spite of his distaste for the civil service； he accepted a civilian post in Moscow； and taking off his beloved uniform； established himself in a little lodging in Sivtsevoy Vrazhok with his mother and Sonya。
Natasha and Pierre were living at this period in Petersburg； and had no very distinct idea of Nikolay’s position。 After having borrowed money from his brother…in…law； Nikolay did his utmost to conceal his poverty…stricken position from him。 His situation was rendered the more difficult； as with his twelve hundred roubles of salary he had not only to keep himself； Sonya； and his mother； but to keep his mother in such a way that she would not be sensible of their poverty。 The countess could not conceive of life being possible without the luxurious surroundings to which she had been accustomed from her childhood； and without any idea of its being difficult for her son； she was continually insisting on having a carriage； which they had not； to send for a friend； or an expensive delicacy for herself； or wine for her son； or money to buy a present； as a surprise for Natasha； for Sonya； or for Nikolay himself。
Sonya kept house； waited on her aunt； read aloud to her； bore with her caprices and her secret dislike； and helped Nikolay to conceal from the old countess their poverty…stricken position。 Nikolay felt himself under a debt of gratitude to Sonya that he could never repay； for all she did for his mother； he admired her patience and devotion； but he tried to keep himself aloof from her。
In his heart he seemed to feel a sort of grudge against her for being too perfect； and for there being no fault to find with her。 She had all the good qualities for which people are valued； but little of what would have made him love her。 And he felt that the more he valued her the less he loved her。 He had taken her at her word when she had written to him giving him his freedom； and now he behaved with her as though what had passed between them had been long； long ago forgotten； and could never under any circumstances be renewed。
Nikolay’s position was becoming worse and worse。 His hope of laying by something out of his salary proved to be an idle dream。 Far from saving anything； he was even running up some small debts to satisfy his mother’s exigencies。 There seemed no means of escape from his position。 The idea of marrying a rich heiress； which his female relatives suggested； was repulsive to him。 The only other solution of his difficulties—the death of his mother—never entered his head。 He desired nothing； and hoped for nothing； and at the bottom of his heart he took a stern and gloomy satisfaction in the unrepining endurance of his position。 He tried to avoid his old acquaintances； with their commiseration and their mortifying offers of assistance； shunned every sort of entertainment and amusement； and even at home did nothing but play patience with his mother； pace silently about the room； and smoke pipe after pipe。 He seemed studiously to maintain in himself that gloomy temper； which alone enabled him to bear his position。
Chapter 6
AT THE BEGINNING of the winter Princess Marya arrived in Moscow。 From the gossip of the town she heard of the position of the Rostovs； and of how ‘‘the son was sacrificing himself for his mother；’’ as the gossips said。 ‘‘It is just what I expected of him；’’ Princess Marya said to herself； finding in it a delightful confirmation of her love for him。 Remembering her intimate relations with the whole family—almost as one of themselves—she thought it her duty to call on them。 But thinking of her relations with Nikolay in Voronezh； she was afraid of doing so。 A few weeks after her arrival in Moscow； she did； however； make an effort； and went to see the Rostovs。
Nikolay was the first to meet her； since it was impossible to reach the countess’s room without passing through his room。 Instead of the expression of delight Princess Marya had expected to see on his face at the first glance at her； he met her with a look of chilliness； stiffness； and pride that she had never seen before。 Nikolay inquired after her health； conducted her to his mother； and； after staying five minutes； went out of the room。
When Princess Marya left the countess； Nikolay again met her； and with marked formality and stiffness led her to the hall。 He made no reply to her remarks about the countess’s health。 ‘‘What is it to you？ Leave me in peace；’’ his expression seemed to say。
‘‘And why should she stroll in here？ What does she want？ I can’t endure these ladies and all these civilities！’’ he said aloud before Sonya； obviously unable to restrain his vexation； after the princess’s carriage had rolled away from the house。
‘‘Oh； how can you talk like that； Nicolas；’’ said Sonya； hardly able to conceal her delight。 ‘‘She is so kind； and maman is so fond of her。’’
Nikolay made no reply； and would have liked to say no more about Princess Marya。 But after her visit the old countess talked about her several times every day。
She sang her praises； insisted that her son should go and see her； expressed a wish to see more of her； and yet was always out of temper when she had been talking of her。
Nikolay tried to say nothing when his mother talked of Princess Marya； but his silence irritated her。
‘‘She is a very good and conscientious girl；’’ she would say； ‘‘and you must go and call on her。 Anyway； you will see some one； and it is dull for you； I expect； with us。’’
‘‘But I don’t at all wish to； mamma。’’
‘‘Why； you wanted to see people and now you don’t wish it。 I really don’t understand you； my dear。 At one minute you are dull； and the next you suddenly don’t care to see any one。’’
‘‘Why； I never said I was dull。’’
‘‘Why； you said yourself you did not even wish to see her。 She is a very good girl； and you always liked her； and now all of a sudden you have some reasons or other。 Everything is kept a secret from me。’’
‘‘Not at all； mamma。’’
‘‘If I were to beg you to do something unpleasant； but as it is； I simply beg you to drive over and return her call。 Why； civility demands it； I should suppose … I have begged you to do so； and now I will meddle no further since you have secrets from your mother。’’
‘‘But I will go； if you wish it。’’
‘‘It’s nothing to me； it’s for your sake I wish it。’’
Nikolay sighed； and bit his moustache； and dealt the cards； trying to draw his mother’s attention to another subject。
Next day； and the third； and the fourth； the same conversation was repeated again and again。
After her visit to the Rostovs； and the unexpectedly cold reception she had met with from Nikolay； Princess Marya acknowledged to herself that she had been right in not wanting to be the first to call。
‘‘It was just what I expected；’’ she said to herself； summoning her pride to her aid。 ‘‘I have no concern with him； and I only wanted to see the old lady； who was always kind to me； and to whom I am under obligation for many things。’’
But she could not tranquillise herself with these reflections： a feeling akin to remorse fretted her； when she thought of her visit。 Although she was firmly resolved not to call again on the Rostovs； and to forget all about it； she was continually feeling herself in an undefined position。 And when she asked herself what it was that worried her； she was obliged to admit that it was her relation to Rostov。 His cold； ceremonious tone did not proceed from his feeling for her （of that she was convinced）； but that tone covered something。 What that something was； she wanted to see clearly； and till then she felt that she could not be at peace。
In the middle of the winter she was sitting in the schoolroom； supervising her nephew’s lessons； when the servant announced that Rostov was below。 With the firm determination not to betray her secret； and not to manifest any embarrassment； she summoned Mademoiselle Bourienne； and with her went into the drawing…room。
At the first glance at Nikolay’s face； she saw that he had come merely to perform the obligations of civility； and she determined to keep to the tone he adopted towards her。
They talked of the health of the countess； of common acquaintances； of the latest news of the war； and when the ten minutes required by propriety had elapsed； Nikolay got up to say good…bye。
With the aid of Mademoiselle Bourienne； Princess Marya had kept up the conversation very well。 But at the very last moment； just when he was getting up； she was so weary of talking of what did not interest her； and she was so absorbed in wondering