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 XVII

After Anna Mikháylovna (a noble lady with little money) had driven off (had left by carriage) with her son to visit Count Cyril Vladímirovich Bezúkhov (a very rich old nobleman), Countess (Title of a noble lady) Rostóva (the mother of the Rostóv family) sat for a long time all alone applying her handkerchief to her eyes (wiping her eyes with her handkerchief). At last she rang (she rang a bell to call a servant).

“What is the matter with you (what is wrong with you), my dear (said coldly, not kindly)?” she said crossly (angrily) to the maid (the woman servant) who kept her waiting some minutes. “Don’t you wish to serve me? (do you not want to work for me?) Then I’ll find you another place (send you away to work somewhere else).”

The countess was upset by (felt sad because of) her friend’s sorrow (her friend's sadness) and humiliating poverty (being so poor that she must feel ashamed), and was therefore out of sorts (in a bad mood), a state of mind which with her always (which, in her case, always) found expression in (showed itself in) calling her maid (her woman servant) “my dear (a cold, stiff way of speaking, not her usual friendly one)” and speaking to her with exaggerated politeness (far too polite, and not really meant).

“I am very sorry, ma’am (madam, a servant's polite word),” answered the maid (the woman servant).

“Ask the count (master of the house) to come to me.”

The count (master of the house) came waddling (walking with short, rocking steps, like a duck) in to see his wife with a rather guilty look as usual (looking a little guilty, as he always did).

“Well, little countess? (so, my darling? a loving greeting to his wife) What a sauté of game au madère (French: wild birds fried and cooked in wine) we are to have (we are going to have), my dear (said lovingly)! I tasted it. The thousand rubles I paid for Tarás (the big sum he paid to buy Tarás, the cook, who belonged to him) were not ill-spent (were money well used). He is worth it!”

He sat down by his wife, his elbows on his knees and his hands ruffling (rubbing) his gray hair.

“What are your commands (what would you like me to do), little countess (a loving name for his wife)?”

“You see (a way to start explaining), my dear (said kindly to her husband)... What’s that mess?” she said, pointing to his waistcoat (the short jacket with no sleeves, worn under his coat). “It’s the sauté (French: the fried dish), most likely,” she added with a smile. “Well, you see, Count (his noble title, used as a way to speak to him), I want some money.”

Her face became sad.

“Oh, little countess (a loving name for his wife)!” ... and the count (master of the house) began bustling (hurrying about) to get out his pocketbook (his wallet).

“I want a great deal (a lot), Count (his noble title, used as a way to speak to him)! I want five hundred rubles (a large sum of Russian money),” and taking out her cambric handkerchief (handkerchief of fine thin cotton) she began wiping (rubbing clean) her husband’s waistcoat (short jacket with no sleeves).

“Yes, immediately, immediately! Hey, who’s there?” he called out (shouted) in a tone only used by persons (in a voice used only by people) who are certain that those they call will rush to obey (do as they are told) the summons (the call). “Send Dmítri (a man's name) to me!”

Dmítri, a man of good family (a man from a respected family) who had been brought up (raised) in the count’s (master of the house) house and now managed all his affairs (ran all his business and money), stepped softly into the room.

“This is what I want, my dear fellow (a friendly way to speak to a man),” said the count (the master of the house) to the deferential (respectful and humble) young man who had entered. “Bring me...” he reflected a moment (he thought for a moment), “yes, bring me seven hundred rubles, yes! (seven hundred in Russian money; she asked for five hundred and he gives more without a thought) But mind (but be careful), don’t bring me such tattered (torn and worn) and dirty notes (paper money) as last time, but nice clean ones for the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady).”

“Yes, Dmítri, clean ones, please,” said the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady), sighing deeply.

“When would you like them, your excellency (a very polite way to speak to the count)?” asked Dmítri. “Allow me to inform you (let me tell you)... But, don’t be uneasy (do not worry),” he added, noticing that the count (master of the house) was beginning to breathe heavily and quickly which was always a sign of approaching anger (anger about to start). “I was forgetting... Do you wish it brought at once? (shall I bring it immediately?)”

“Yes, yes; just so (exactly)! Bring it. Give it to the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady).”

“What a treasure (how valuable a man) that Dmítri is,” added the count (master of the house) with a smile when the young man had departed (left). “There is never any ‘impossible’ with him (he never says a thing cannot be done). That’s a thing I hate! Everything is possible.”

“Ah, money, Count (her husband, called by his noble title), money! How much sorrow (sadness) it causes in the world,” said the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady). “But I am in great need of this sum (I badly need this money).”

“You, my little countess (a loving name for his wife, said as he teases her about spending), are a notorious spendthrift (well known for wasting money),” said the count (master of the house), and having kissed his wife’s hand he went back to his study (his private work room).

When Anna Mikháylovna (a noble lady with little money) returned from Count Bezúkhov’s (a very rich old nobleman) the money, all in clean notes (clean paper money), was lying ready under a handkerchief on the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady)’ little table, and Anna Mikháylovna (a noble lady with little money) noticed that something was agitating (upsetting) her.

“Well, my dear? (so, how did it go?)” asked the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady).

“Oh, what a terrible state he is in! One would not know him (you would not recognise him), he is so ill! I was only there a few moments and hardly said a word...”

“Annette (a French pet name for Anna Mikháylovna), for heaven’s sake (please, I beg you) don’t refuse me,” the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady) began, with a blush (going red) that looked very strange on her thin, dignified (calm and serious), elderly face, and she took the money from under the handkerchief.

Anna Mikháylovna (a noble lady with little money) instantly (at that very moment) guessed her intention and stooped (bent forward) to be ready to embrace (hug) the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady) at the appropriate moment (at the right moment).

“This is for Borís (Anna Mikháylovna's son, a young officer) from me, for his outfit (his uniform and army things).”

Anna Mikháylovna (a noble lady with little money) was already embracing (hugging) her and weeping (crying). The countess wept too (the countess cried too). They wept because (they cried because) they were friends, and because they were kindhearted (kind), and because they—friends from childhood—had to think about such a base thing as money (something as low as money), and because their youth was over.... But those tears were pleasant to them both. (crying together comforted them)