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 XIII

When Natásha (the youngest daughter of the family) ran out of the drawing room (the best sitting room, where guests are welcomed) she only went as far as the conservatory (a glass room full of plants). There she paused and stood listening to the conversation in the drawing room (the talk in the best sitting room), waiting for Borís (a friend of the family since childhood) to come out. She was already growing impatient (tired of waiting), and stamped her foot (brought her foot down hard, as an angry child does), ready to cry at his not coming (ready to cry because he did not come) at once (immediately), when she heard the young man’s discreet steps (quiet, careful footsteps) approaching neither quickly nor slowly (not fast and not slow). At this (when she heard this) Natásha (the youngest daughter of the family) dashed swiftly (ran fast) among the flower tubs (big pots for plants) and hid there.

Borís (a friend of the family since childhood) paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little dust from the sleeve (arm of his coat) of his uniform, and going up to a mirror (walking over to a mirror) examined his handsome face. Natásha (the youngest daughter of the family), very still, peered out from her ambush (looked out carefully from her hiding place), waiting to see what he would do. He stood a little while before the glass, smiled (in front of the mirror, he smiled at himself), and walked toward the other door. Natásha was about to call him but changed her mind. “Let him look for me (she is playing a hiding game, as children do, and watching in secret),” thought she. Hardly had Borís gone than (as soon as Borís had left,) Sónya (a poor cousin who lives with the family), flushed (red in the face), in tears, and muttering (talking quietly to herself) angrily, came in at the other door. Natásha checked her first impulse (stopped herself from what she first wanted to do) to run out to her, and remained in her hiding place, watching—as under an invisible cap (like someone in a fairy tale wearing a magic cap that hides them)—to see what went on (what was happening) in the world (around her). She was experiencing a new and peculiar pleasure (a new and strange kind of fun). Sónya, muttering to herself, kept looking round toward the drawing room door (the door of the best sitting room). It opened and Nicholas (the family's older son) came in.

“Sónya, what is the matter with you? (what is wrong?) How can you? (how can you act like this?)” said he, running up to her.

“It’s nothing, nothing; leave me alone!” sobbed (said, crying hard) Sónya.

“Ah, I know what it is.”

“Well, if you do, so much the better (good), and you can go back to her (go back to the other girl you were talking to)!”

“Só-o-onya (Sónya, her name said slowly and long)! Look here! (listen to me!) How can you torture (hurt terribly) me and yourself like that, for a mere fancy (over something you only imagined)?” said Nicholas (the family's older son) taking her hand.

Sónya did not pull it away, and left off crying (stopped crying). Natásha (the youngest daughter of the family), not stirring and scarcely breathing (not moving and hardly breathing), watched from her ambush (hiding place) with sparkling eyes. “What will happen now?” thought she.

“Sónya! What is anyone in the world to me? (nobody else in the world matters to me) You alone are everything!” said Nicholas (the family's older son). “And I will prove it to you.”

“I don’t like you to talk like that.”

“Well, then, I won’t; only forgive me, Sónya!” He drew her to him (he pulled her close) and kissed her.

“Oh, how nice,” thought Natásha (the youngest daughter of the family); and when Sónya and Nicholas (the family's older son) had gone out of the conservatory (glass room full of plants) she followed and called Borís (a friend of the family since childhood) to her.

“Borís (a friend of the family since childhood), come here,” said she with a sly and significant look (a secret look full of meaning). “I have something to tell you. Here, here!” and she led him into the conservatory (glass room full of plants) to the place among the tubs (big plant pots) where she had been hiding.

Borís (a friend of the family since childhood) followed her, smiling.

“What is the something?” asked he.

She grew confused (she did not know what to do), glanced round (looked quickly around), and, seeing the doll she had thrown down on one of the tubs (big plant pots), picked it up.

“Kiss the doll,” said she.

Borís (a friend of the family since childhood) looked attentively (carefully) and kindly at her eager (excited and hopeful) face, but did not reply.

“Don’t you want to? Well, then, come here,” said she, and went further in among the plants and threw down the doll. “Closer, closer!” she whispered.

She caught the young officer (Borís, who is an army officer) by his cuffs (the ends of his coat sleeves), and a look of solemnity and fear (a very serious, frightened look) appeared on her flushed (red) face.

“And me? Would you like to kiss me?” she whispered almost inaudibly (so quietly she could hardly be heard), glancing up at him from under her brows (with her head down, looking up), smiling, and almost crying from excitement.

Borís (a friend of the family since childhood) blushed (went red).

“How funny you are!” he said, bending down to her and blushing still more (his face going even redder), but he waited and did nothing.

Suddenly she jumped up onto a tub (a big plant pot) to be higher than he, embraced (hugged) him so that both her slender (thin) bare arms clasped (held tightly) him above his neck, and, tossing back her hair (throwing her hair back), kissed him full on the lips (kissed him right on the mouth).

Then she slipped down (moved down quietly) among the flowerpots (small pots with flowers growing in them) on the other side of the tubs (big plant pots) and stood, hanging her head (looking down, shy).

“Natásha (the youngest daughter of the family),” he said, “you know that I love you, but....”

“You are in love with me?” Natásha (the youngest daughter of the family) broke in (said quickly, stopping him).

“Yes, I am, but please don’t let us do like that (let us not do things like that).... In another four years ... then I will ask for your hand (then I will ask to marry you).”

Natásha (the youngest daughter of the family) considered (thought about it).

“Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen (her age now and in each coming year, counting to when she can marry),” she counted on her slender (thin) little fingers. “All right! Then it’s settled? (so it is agreed?)”

A smile of joy and satisfaction (feeling pleased) lit up (made bright) her eager (excited) face.

“Settled! (agreed!)” replied Borís (a friend of the family since childhood).

“Forever?” said the little girl. “Till death itself? (until we die?)”

She took his arm and with a happy face went with him into the adjoining (next) sitting room.