Page 598 - war-and-peace

Chapter IX

The little princess lay supported by pillows, with a white
cap on her head (the pains had just left her). Strands of her
black hair lay round her inflamed and perspiring cheeks,
her charming rosy mouth with its downy lip was open
and she was smiling joyfully. Prince Andrew entered and
paused facing her at the foot of the sofa on which she was
lying. Her glittering eyes, filled with childlike fear and ex-
citement, rested on him without changing their expression.
‘I love you all and have done no harm to anyone; why must
I suffer so? Help me!’ her look seemed to say. She saw her
husband, but did not realize the significance of his appear-
ance before her now. Prince Andrew went round the sofa
and kissed her forehead.
‘My darling!’ he saida word he had never used to her be-
fore. ‘God is merciful...’
She looked at him inquiringly and with childlike re-
proach.
‘I expected help from you and I get none, none from you
either!’ said her eyes. She was not surprised at his having
come; she did not realize that he had come. His coming had
nothing to do with her sufferings or with their relief. The
pangs began again and Mary Bogdanovna advised Prince
Andrew to leave the room.
The doctor entered. Prince Andrew went out and, meet-

598 War and Peace