Page 1089 - war-and-peace

‘I am afraid you’re going to your ruin,’ said Sonya reso-
lutely, and was herself horrified at what she had said.
Anger again showed in Natasha’s face.
‘And I’ll go to my ruin, I will, as soon as possible! It’s not
your business! It won’t be you, but I, who’ll suffer. Leave me
alone, leave me alone! I hate you!’
Natasha!’ moaned Sonya, aghast.
‘I hate you, I hate you! You’re my enemy forever!’ And
Natasha ran out of the room.
Natasha did not speak to Sonya again and avoided her.
With the same expression of agitated surprise and guilt she
went about the house, taking up now one occupation, now
another, and at once abandoning them.
Hard as it was for Sonya, she watched her friend and did
not let her out of her sight.
The day before the count was to return, Sonya noticed
that Natasha sat by the drawingroom window all the morn-
ing as if expecting something and that she made a sign to an
officer who drove past, whom Sonya took to be Anatole.
Sonya began watching her friend still more attentively
and noticed that at dinner and all that evening Natasha was
in a strange and unnatural state. She answered questions at
random, began sentences she did not finish, and laughed at
everything.
After tea Sonya noticed a housemaid at Natasha’s door
timidly waiting to let her pass. She let the girl go in, and
then listening at the door learned that another letter had
been delivered.
Then suddenly it became clear to Sonya that Natasha had

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