When First Impressions Go Wrong — War and Peace

Next day, on Márya Dmítrievna's advice, Count Rostóv takes Natásha to call on Prince Nicholas Bolkónski. He does not set out cheerfully: he remembers the last interview, an angry reprimand over enrollment quotas. Natásha, in her best gown, is sure they cannot help liking her if she is willing to be fond of his father and sister. They drive up to the gloomy house on the Vozdvízhenka. Servants whisper in the anteroom; a maid runs mentioning the princess; at last a cross old footman announces that the prince is not receiving but the princess begs them to walk up.

Mademoiselle Bourienne greets them with special politeness. Mary comes in flushed in patches, treading heavily, trying to appear cordial. From the first glance she does not like Natásha: too fashionably dressed, frivolously gay and vain. She does not realize that envy of beauty, youth, and her brother's love has prejudiced her, nor that the old prince has shouted they are not to be admitted to him. The count, uneasy, presents his songstress, then uses a diplomatic ruse to drive round to Anna Semënovna in the Dogs' Square, both to give the girls a tête-à-tête and to avoid the old man. Natásha notices his flurry, blushes for him, grows angrier at having blushed, and looks defiant. Bourienne will not leave, chattering of Moscow amusements. Constrained minutes pass. Slippered feet approach. The old prince bursts in wearing a dressing gown and white nightcap, stressing God as his witness that he did not know they had honoured him, looks Natásha over from head to foot, and goes out. Only Bourienne smiles.

When the count returns, Natásha is impolitely pleased to leave. She hates the stiff princess who never once mentioned Andrew. Mary hurries after, takes her hand, and says she is glad her brother has found happiness, then pauses, feeling she is not telling the truth. Natásha, with external coldness, says it is not convenient to speak of that now, though tears choke her. At home she cries like a child. Sónya kisses her hair and says no one is to blame. Natásha says it is her fault, it all hurts, why does he not come. She comes to dinner with red eyes. Márya Dmítrievna, who knows how the prince received them, pretends not to notice and jests loudly with the count and the other guests.