Page 872 - war-and-peace

wife glanced at one another, both smiling with self-satisfac-
tion, and each mentally claiming the honor of this visit.
‘This is what what comes of knowing how to make ac-
quaintances,’ thought Berg. ‘This is what comes of knowing
how to conduct oneself.’
‘But please don’t interrupt me when I am entertaining
the guests,’ said Vera, ‘because I know what interests each
of them and what to say to different people.’
Berg smiled again.
‘It can’t be helped: men must sometimes have masculine
conversation,’ said he.
They received Pierre in their small, new drawing-room,
where it was impossible to sit down anywhere without dis-
turbing its symmetry, neatness, and order; so it was quite
comprehensible and not strange that Berg, having gener-
ously offered to disturb the symmetry of an armchair or of
the sofa for his dear guest, but being apparently painfully
undecided on the matter himself, eventually left the visi-
tor to settle the question of selection. Pierre disturbed the
symmetry by moving a chair for himself, and Berg and Vera
immediately began their evening party, interrupting each
other in their efforts to entertain their guest.
Vera, having decided in her own mind that Pierre ought
to be entertained with conversation about the French em-
bassy, at once began accordingly. Berg, having decided that
masculine conversation was required, interrupted his wife’s
remarks and touched on the question of the war with Aus-
tria, and unconsciously jumped from the general subject to
personal considerations as to the proposals made him to

872 War and Peace