War and Peace Ch. 260: Love Conquers Fear

Summary

The valet, returning to the cottage, told the count that Moscow was burning. The count put on his dressing gown and went out to look. Sonya and Madame Schoss, not yet undressed, went with him. Only Natasha and the countess remained in the room. Petya was no longer with the family; he had gone on with his regiment towards Troitsa. The countess, hearing that Moscow was on fire, began to cry. Natasha sat pale on the bench under the icons, where she had sat down on arriving, and paid no attention to her father's words. She was listening to the ceaseless moaning of the adjutant three houses off.

She had been in this stupor since morning, when Sonya, to the countess's surprise and anger, had told her of Prince Andrew's wound and of his being with their party. Sonya had cried and begged pardon, and now hovered over her cousin. Natasha asked what was burning, said oh yes, Moscow, looked at the window in such a way that she clearly saw nothing, and asked to be left in peace. Neither Moscow nor the fire could matter to her. All day, after they had said she could not see him, that he was seriously wounded but his life was not in danger, she had sat motionless with the wide-open look her mother feared, planning something. The countess touched her head as she did when Natasha was ill. Natasha opened the window, heard the moans more clearly, and her slim neck shook with sobs, though she knew it was not Prince Andrew who was moaning. She knew he was across the passage in the same yard.

When the household at last slept (the countess's even breathing, Madame Schoss's snore, Sonya's gentle breath, a cricket, distant cocks, the tavern dying down, the adjutant still moaning) Natasha sat up, crossed herself, and went barefoot onto the cold earthen floor of the passage. Her heart beat against the walls. She stepped over a sleeping man and opened the door where Prince Andrew lay. A tallow candle smouldered in the farthest corner. Timokhin watched from a bench; the doctor and a valet slept on the floor. For a moment she mistook his knees under the quilt for shoulders and stood in terror, imagining him as that moaning personified. Then the snuff fell from the wick and she saw him clearly, arms outside the quilt, the same as ever, only feverish, his eyes glittering towards her, his neck as delicate as a child's. She dropped on her knees. He smiled and held out his hand.

In this chapter:Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story

Why This Matters

Walking Toward Feared Truth

Natasha crosses the cold passage while Moscow burns because seeing Andrew is necessary though painful. Ask what simple rest you crave after overload.

Walking Toward Feared Truth maps Andrew's road through Moscow flight.

This chapter

Inside the Mind: Natasha

Natasha sits pale under the icons, paying no attention to Moscow's glow, listening to an adjutant's moans three houses off. She knows it is not Andrei who is groaning, and still the sound organises her night. When the household sleeps she crosses the cold passage because a rumour of his wound has already taken the city away from her.

Continue this thoughtNatasha Cannot Stay Inside the Waiting Period

Coming Up in Chapter 261

Seven days after Borodino Andrew is still expected to die of fever and injured bowels. On the seventh day he eats bread and tea; the doctor finds the temperature lower. That morning he has regained consciousness and asked to be taken out at Mytishchi.

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Original text

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Chapter 260

Love Conquers Fear

The valet, returning to the cottage, informed the count that Moscow was burning. The count donned his dressing gown and went out to look. Sónya and Madame Schoss, who had not yet undressed, went out with him. Only Natásha and the countess remained in the room. Pétya was no longer with the family, he had gone on with his regiment which was making for Tróitsa. The countess, on hearing that Moscow was on fire, began to cry. Natásha, pale, with a fixed look, was sitting on the bench under the icons just where she had sat down on arriving and…

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Love Conquers Fear

Summary

Why This Matters