Finding Your People — War and Peace

Pelagéya, appeased and encouraged, gives a long account of Father Amphilochus, whose hands smelled of incense, and of monks who let her have the keys of the Kiev catacombs. Taking dried bread, she spent two days among the saints, praying, pondering, sleeping a bit, kissing relics, in such peace and blessedness that she did not want to come out even into the light of heaven. Pierre listens attentively and seriously. Andrew leaves the room. Mary, leaving God's folk to finish their tea, takes Pierre into the drawing room and calls him very kind. He says he understands them and has the greatest respect. She looks at him silently, smiles affectionately, and says she has known him a long time and is as fond of him as of a brother. Then, hurriedly: how does he find Andrew? She is anxious. His health was better in winter, but last spring his wound reopened and the doctor said he ought to go away for a cure. She is still more afraid for him spiritually. He has not a character like women who can weep away sorrow; he keeps it all within. Today he is cheerful, but that is the effect of Pierre's visit. If Pierre could persuade him to go abroad: he needs activity, and this quiet regular life is very bad for him. Others do not notice; she sees it.

Toward ten the men servants rush to the front door at the bells of the old prince's carriage. Andrew and Pierre go out onto the porch. Who's that, the old prince asks, noticing Pierre; then, learning who the stranger is, he is very glad and tells him to kiss him. He is in a good temper and gracious. Before supper Andrew finds his father disputing hotly with the visitor. Pierre maintains that a time will come when there will be no more wars. The old prince disputes it chaffingly, without getting angry: drain the blood from men's veins and put in water; old women's nonsense. Still he pats Pierre's shoulder, then turns to papers Andrew is looking over, papers brought from town. The marshal, a Count Rostóv, has not sent half his contingent, came to town, wanted to invite him to dinner; the old prince gave him a pretty dinner. He likes Pierre: a fine fellow who stirs him up. Another says clever things and one does not care to listen; this one talks rubbish yet stirs an old fellow. He shouts after Pierre to make friends with his little fool, Princess Mary.

Only now, on this visit, does Pierre fully realise the strength and charm of his friendship with Andrew, expressed less in their pair than with the whole household. With the stern old prince and timid Mary, though he has scarcely known them, he at once feels like an old friend. They are all fond of him already. Mary, won by his gentleness with the pilgrims, gives him her most radiant looks; one-year-old Prince Nicholas smiles and lets himself be taken in Pierre's arms; Michael Ivánovich and Mademoiselle Bourienne look on with pleasant smiles when he talks to the old prince. The old prince comes in to supper, evidently on Pierre's account, is extremely kind through the two days of the visit, and tells him to come again. After Pierre has gone, the household meet to give their opinions of the new acquaintance, as people always do, but as seldom happens, no one says anything but what is good of him.