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nothing and all those idiotic societies！〃 Natasha declared of the very
affairs in the immense importance of which she firmly believed。
And she would go to the nursery to nurse Petya； her only boy。 No one
else could tell her anything so comforting or so reasonable as this
little three…month…old creature when he lay at her breast and she
was conscious of the movement of his lips and the snuffling of his
little nose。 That creature said： 〃You are angry； you are jealous；
you would like to pay him out； you are afraid… but here am I！ And I am
he。。。〃 and that was unanswerable。 It was more than true。
During that fortnight of anxiety Natasha resorted to the baby for
comfort so often； and fussed over him so much； that she overfed him
and he fell ill。 She was terrified by his illness； and yet that was
just what she needed。 While attending to him she bore the anxiety
about her husband more easily。
She was nursing her boy when the sound of Pierre's sleigh was
heard at the front door； and the old nurse… knowing how to please
her mistress… entered the room inaudibly but hurriedly and with a
beaming face。
〃Has he come？〃 Natasha asked quickly in a whisper； afraid to move
lest she should rouse the dozing baby。
〃He's come； ma'am；〃 whispered the nurse。
The blood rushed to Natasha's face and her feet involuntarily moved；
but she could not jump up and run out。 The baby again opened his
eyes and looked at her。 〃You're here？〃 he seemed to be saying； and
again lazily smacked his lips。
Cautiously withdrawing her breast； Natasha rocked him a little；
handed him to the nurse； and went with rapid steps toward the door。
But at the door she stopped as if her conscience reproached her for
having in her joy left the child too soon； and she glanced round。
The nurse with raised elbows was lifting the infant over the rail of
his cot。
〃Go； ma'am！ Don't worry； go！〃 she whispered； smiling； with the
kind of familiarity that grows up between a nurse and her mistress。
Natasha ran with light footsteps to the anteroom。
Denisov； who had come out of the study into the dancing room with
his pipe； now for the first time recognized the old Natasha。 A flood
of brilliant； joyful light poured from her transfigured face。
〃He's come！〃 she exclaimed as she ran past； and Denisov felt that he
too was delighted that Pierre； whom he did not much care for； had
returned。
On reaching the vestibule Natasha saw a tall figure in a fur coat
unwinding his scarf。 〃It's he！ It's really he！ He has come！〃 she
said to herself； and rushing at him embraced him； pressed his head
to her breast； and then pushed him back and gazed at his ruddy；
happy face； covered with hoarfrost。 〃Yes； it is he； happy and
contented。。。〃
Then all at once she remembered the tortures of suspense she had
experienced for the last fortnight； and the joy that had lit up her
face vanished； she frowned and overwhelmed Pierre with a torrent of
reproaches and angry words。
〃Yes； it's all very well for you。 You are pleased； you've had a good
time。。。。 But what about me？ You might at least have shown
consideration for the children。 I am nursing and my milk was
spoiled。。。。 Petya was at death's door。 But you were enjoying yourself。
Yes； enjoying。。。〃
Pierre knew he was not to blame； for he could not have come
sooner； he knew this outburst was unseemly and would blow over in a
minute or two； above all he knew that he himself was bright and happy。
He wanted to smile but dared not even think of doing so。 He made a
piteous； frightened face and bent down。
〃I could not； on my honor。 But how is Petya？〃
〃All right now。 Come along！ I wonder you're not ashamed！ If only you
could see what I was like without you； how I suffered！〃
〃You are well？〃
〃Come； come！〃 she said； not letting go of his arm。 And they went
to their rooms。
When Nicholas and his wife came to look for Pierre he was in the
nursery holding his baby son； who was again awake； on his huge right
palm and dandling him。 A blissful bright smile was fixed on the baby's
broad face with its toothless open mouth。 The storm was long since
over and there was bright； joyous sunshine on Natasha's face as she
gazed tenderly at her husband and child。
〃And have you talked everything well over with Prince Theodore？〃 she
asked。
〃Yes； capitally。〃
〃You see； he holds it up。〃 （She meant the baby's head。） 〃But how
he did frighten me。。。 You've seen the princess？ Is it true she's in
love with that。。。〃
〃Yes； just fancy。。。〃
At that moment Nicholas and Countess Mary came in。 Pierre with the
baby on his hand stooped； kissed them； and replied to their inquiries。
But in spite of much that was interesting and had to be discussed； the
baby with the little cap on its unsteady head evidently absorbed all
his attention。
〃How sweet！〃 said Countess Mary； looking at and playing with the
baby。 〃Now； Nicholas；〃 she added； turning to her husband； 〃I can't
understand how it is you don't see the charm of these delicious
marvels。〃
〃I don't and can't；〃 replied Nicholas； looking coldly at the baby。
〃A lump of flesh。 Come along； Pierre！〃
〃And yet he's such an affectionate father；〃 said Countess Mary；
vindicating her husband； 〃but only after they are a year old or so。。。〃
〃Now； Pierre nurses them splendidly；〃 said Natasha。 〃He says his
hand is just made for a baby's seat。 Just look！〃
〃Only not for this。。。〃 Pierre suddenly exclaimed with a laugh； and
shifting the baby he gave him to the nurse。
EP1｜CH12
CHAPTER XII
As in every large household； there were at Bald Hills several
perfectly distinct worlds which merged into one harmonious whole；
though each retained its own peculiarities and made concessions to the
others。 Every event； joyful or sad； that took place in that house
was important to all these worlds； but each had its own special
reasons to rejoice or grieve over that occurrence independently of the
others。
For instance； Pierre's return was a joyful and important event and
they all felt it to be so。
The servants… the most reliable judges of their masters because they
judge not by their conversation or expressions of feeling but by their
acts and way of life… were glad of Pierre's return because they knew
that when he was there Count Nicholas would cease going every day
attend to the estate； and would would be in better spirits and temper；
and also because they would all receive handsome presents for the
holidays。
The children and their governesses were glad of Pierre's return
because no one else drew them into the social life of the household as
he did。 He alone could play on the clavichord that ecossaise （his only
piece） to which； as he said； all possible dances could be danced；
and they felt sure he had brought presents for them all。
Young Nicholas； now a slim lad of fifteen； delicate and intelligent；
with curly light…brown hair and beautiful eyes； was delighted
because Uncle Pierre as he called him wa