Page 1083 - war-and-peace

Chapter XV

On returning late in the evening Sonya went to Natasha’s
room, and to her surprise found her still dressed and asleep
on the sofa. Open on the table, beside her lay Anatole’s let-
ter. Sonya picked it up and read it.
As she read she glanced at the sleeping Natasha, trying
to find in her face an explanation of what she was reading,
but did not find it. Her face was calm, gentle, and happy.
Clutching her breast to keep herself from choking, Sonya,
pale and trembling with fear and agitation, sat down in an
armchair and burst into tears.
‘How was it I noticed nothing? How could it go so far?
Can she have left off loving Prince Andrew? And how could
she let Kuragin go to such lengths? He is a deceiver and a
villain, that’s plain! What will Nicholas, dear noble Nicho-
las, do when he hears of it? So this is the meaning of her
excited, resolute, unnatural look the day before yesterday,
yesterday, and today,’ thought Sonya. ‘But it can’t be that she
loves him! She probably opened the letter without knowing
who it was from. Probably she is offended by it. She could
not do such a thing!’
Sonya wiped away her tears and went up to Natasha,
again scanning her face.
‘Natasha!’ she said, just audibly.
Natasha awoke and saw Sonya.

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