Love Transforms Everything — War and Peace

Pierre plays boston facing Natásha, who looks plain and gently indifferent after the ball until Prince Andrew enters and she flares alive again while Borís sits beside her without breaking the spell.

Pierre watches the pair through six rubbers, joyful and pained, as Véra corners Andrew with arch questions about Natásha's constancy, cousin Borís, and the map of tenderness until Andrew's blush and forced jokes betray him and he pulls Pierre aside about Masonic gloves he cannot yet explain.

Berg drags Pierre into a Spain argument the general and colonel want, satisfied because the party finally lacks only a loud clever dispute among men; the chapter ends with love unreadable to cards but obvious to every watcher in the room.