Maximum-assistance view: every word above everyday vocabulary is explained at every appearance; each name is introduced at its first appearance in the chapter.

CHAPTER XI

Silence ensued (then everyone went quiet). The countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady) looked at her callers (visitors), smiling affably (in a friendly way), but not concealing the fact (letting it show) that she would not be distressed (would be glad) if they now rose (stood up) and took their leave (said goodbye and went). The visitor’s daughter was already smoothing down her dress (making her dress flat and neat, ready to stand) with an inquiring look at her mother (looking at her mother as if to ask whether to go), when suddenly from the next room were heard the footsteps (the sound of feet) of boys and girls running to the door and the noise of a chair falling over, and a girl of thirteen, hiding something in the folds of (the loose cloth of) her short muslin frock (dress of thin light cotton), darted in (ran in quickly) and stopped short (stopped suddenly) in the middle of the room. It was evident (it was clear) that she had not intended her flight (her running away) to bring her so far (this far into the room). Behind her in the doorway appeared (then these young people came in; their names come later) a student with a crimson coat collar (a deep red collar, part of a university uniform), an officer of the Guards (an officer from the Emperor's own best soldiers), a girl of fifteen, and a plump rosy-faced (chubby, with pink cheeks) boy in a short jacket.

The count (master of the house) jumped up and, swaying from side to side (rocking a little as he moved), spread his arms wide and threw them round (put them around) the little girl who had run in.

“Ah, here she is!” he exclaimed (said loudly) laughing. “My pet (my darling, a loving name for a child), whose name day it is (whose special day it is, the feast day of the saint she is named after). My dear pet (my darling)!”

“Ma chère (French: my dear), there is a time for everything (this is not the right moment for this),” said the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady) with feigned severity (pretending to be strict). “You spoil her (you let her do whatever she likes), Ilyá (the count's first name),” she added, turning to her husband.

“How do you do, my dear? (a polite hello) I wish you many happy returns of your name day (a wish that she will enjoy this day for many years),” said the visitor. “What a charming (sweet and pleasing) child,” she added, addressing the mother (speaking to the mother).

This black-eyed, wide-mouthed (her mouth was wide) girl, not pretty but full of life (lively)—with childish (like a child) bare shoulders which after her run heaved and shook her bodice (rose and fell with her breathing, moving the top of her dress), with black curls (black hair in rings) tossed backward (thrown back), thin bare arms, little legs in lace-frilled drawers (long pants with lace edges, seen below a short dress), and feet in low slippers (soft light shoes)—was just at that charming (sweet) age when a girl is no longer a child (between a child and a grown woman), though the child is not yet a young woman. Escaping from her father she ran to hide her flushed (red and hot) face in the lace (the fine patterned net cloth) of her mother’s mantilla (a lace scarf worn over the shoulders)—not paying the least attention (not listening at all) to her severe (strict) remark—and began to laugh. She laughed, and in fragmentary sentences (in broken bits of sentences) tried to explain about a doll which she produced (pulled) from the folds of her frock (the loose cloth of her dress).

“Do you see?... My doll... Mimi (the doll's name)... You see...” was all Natásha (the count and countess's little girl; today is her saint's day, kept like a birthday) managed to utter (say) (to her everything seemed funny). She leaned against her mother and burst into (suddenly started) such a loud, ringing fit (loud, clear burst) of laughter that even the prim (stiff and proper) visitor could not help joining in (could not stop herself laughing too).

“Now then (a firm way to start telling a child what to do), go away and take your monstrosity (ugly thing (a joke about the doll)) with you,” said the mother, pushing away her daughter with pretended sternness (pretending to be strict), and turning to the visitor she added: “She is my youngest girl.”

Natásha (the count and countess's little girl; today is her saint's day, kept like a birthday), raising her face for a moment from her mother’s mantilla (lace scarf), glanced up (looked up quickly) at her through tears of laughter (tears from laughing so hard), and again hid her face.

The visitor, compelled to look on at (forced to watch) this family scene, thought it necessary to take some part (felt she had to join in somehow) in it.

“Tell me, my dear (a kind way to speak to a child),” said she to Natásha (the count and countess's little girl; today is her saint's day, kept like a birthday), “is Mimi (the doll) a relation of yours (one of your family)? A daughter, I suppose? (she speaks to the child as if to a baby, pretending to take the doll seriously)”

Natásha (the count and countess's little girl; today is her saint's day, kept like a birthday) did not like the visitor’s tone of condescension to childish things (way of speaking to children as if they were silly). She did not reply, but looked at her seriously.

Meanwhile the younger generation (the young people): Borís (a young officer, raised with this family), the officer, Anna Mikháylovna’s (Borís's mother, a noble lady with no money) son; Nicholas (the older son of the house; his father is a count, a nobleman of high rank; he is a student), the undergraduate (the university student), the count’s (master of the house) eldest (oldest) son; Sónya (a girl who lives with the family), the count’s fifteen-year-old niece (daughter of his brother or sister), and little Pétya (the youngest of the boys), his youngest boy, had all settled down (sat down quietly) in the drawing room (the best sitting room, where guests are welcomed) and were obviously trying to restrain within the bounds of decorum (to control, so that they behaved politely) the excitement and mirth (fun and laughter) that shone in all their faces (showed brightly on all their faces). Evidently (clearly) in the back rooms, from which they had dashed out so impetuously (rushed out so wildly), the conversation had been more amusing than the drawing room talk (the polite talk of the best sitting room) of society scandals (shocking gossip about important families), the weather, and Countess Apráksina (a lady the visitors have been gossiping about). Now and then (sometimes) they glanced at one another, hardly able to suppress their laughter (only just able to stop themselves laughing).

The two young men, the student and the officer, friends from childhood, were of the same age and both handsome fellows (good-looking young men), though not alike. Borís (a young officer, raised with this family) was tall and fair (tall, with light-coloured hair), and his calm and handsome face had regular, delicate features (an even, finely shaped face). Nicholas (the older son of the house; his father is a count, a nobleman of high rank; he is a student) was short with curly hair and an open expression (an honest face that shows his feelings). Dark hairs were already showing on his upper lip, and his whole face expressed impetuosity and enthusiasm (quick, eager feeling). Nicholas (the older son of the house; his father is a count, a nobleman of high rank; he is a student) blushed (went red in the face) when he entered the drawing room (the best sitting room, where guests are welcomed). He evidently (clearly) tried to find something to say, but failed. Borís (a young officer, raised with this family) on the contrary (but in the opposite way to his shy friend) at once found his footing (felt comfortable immediately), and related quietly and humorously (told calmly and in a funny way) how he had known that doll Mimi (the doll's name) when she was still quite a young lady (a joke: he talks of the old doll as if she were a real woman who has grown old), before her nose was broken; how she had aged during the five years he had known her, and how her head had cracked (broken open) right across (all the way across) the skull. Having said this he glanced at Natásha (the count and countess's little girl; today is her saint's day, kept like a birthday). She turned away from him and glanced at her younger brother, who was screwing up his eyes (squeezing his eyes almost shut) and shaking with suppressed laughter (laughter he was trying to keep quiet), and unable to control herself any longer, she jumped up and rushed from the room as fast as her nimble (quick and light) little feet would carry her. Borís did not laugh. (unlike the others, Borís keeps control of himself)

“You were meaning to go out (you were planning to go out), weren’t you, Mamma (Mother)? Do you want the carriage?” he asked his mother (Anna Mikháylovna, who is in the room) with a smile.

“Yes, yes, go and tell them to get it ready,” she answered, returning his smile (smiling back at him).

Borís (a young officer, raised with this family) quietly left the room and went in search of (went to look for) Natásha (the count and countess's little girl; today is her saint's day, kept like a birthday). The plump boy (Pétya, the youngest boy) ran after them angrily, as if vexed (annoyed) that their program had been disturbed (their plans had been spoiled).