Page 548 - war-and-peace

marry her, Rostov thought, but just now there were so many
other pleasures and interests before him! ‘Yes, they have
taken a wise decision,’ he thought, ‘I must remain free.’
‘Well then, that’s excellent,’ said he. ‘We’ll talk it over lat-
er on. Oh, how glad I am to have you!
‘Well, and are you still true to Boris?’ he continued.
‘Oh, what nonsense!’ cried Natasha, laughing. ‘I don’t
think about him or anyone else, and I don’t want anything
of the kind.’
‘Dear me! Then what are you up now?’
‘Now?’ repeated Natasha, and a happy smile lit up her
face. ‘Have you seen Duport?’
‘No.’
‘Not seen Duportthe famous dancer? Well then, you
won’t understand. That’s what I’m up to.’
Curving her arms, Natasha held out her skirts as danc-
ers do, ran back a few steps, turned, cut a caper, brought her
little feet sharply together, and made some steps on the very
tips of her toes.
‘See, I’m standing! See!’ she said, but could not maintain
herself on her toes any longer. ‘So that’s what I’m up to! I’ll
never marry anyone, but will be a dancer. Only don’t tell
anyone.’
Rostov laughed so loud and merrily that Denisov, in his
bedroom, felt envious and Natasha could not help joining
in.
‘No, but don’t you think it’s nice?’ she kept repeating.
‘Nice! And so you no longer wish to marry Boris?’
Natasha flared up. ‘I don’t want to marry anyone. And

548 War and Peace