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 VI

Having thanked Anna Pávlovna (the lady giving this evening's party) for her charming (very pleasing) soiree (French: an evening party), the guests began to take their leave (say goodbye and go).

Pierre (the big young man newly back from abroad) was ungainly (clumsy in how he moved). Stout (fat and heavy), about the average height, broad, with huge red hands; he did not know, as the saying is (as people say), how to enter a drawing room (the big front room where guests were met) and still less (and even less) how to leave one; that is, how to say something particularly agreeable (especially pleasant) before going away. Besides this he was absent-minded (often forgetting what he was doing). When he rose to go (stood up to leave), he took up (lifted) instead of his own, the general’s three-cornered hat (a hat with its edge folded up into three points, worn by officers), and held it, pulling at the plume (the long feather on the hat), till the general asked him to restore it (give it back). All his absent-mindedness (habit of forgetting what he was doing) and inability (not being able) to enter a room and converse (talk with people) in it was, however, redeemed by (forgiven by everyone because of) his kindly (kind and gentle), simple, and modest (not proud) expression. Anna Pávlovna turned toward him and, with a Christian mildness that expressed forgiveness of his indiscretion (she looks gentle, as if forgiving him for saying what he should not have said, but she is really showing that she disapproves), nodded and said: “I hope to see you again, but I also hope you will change your opinions, my dear Monsieur Pierre (French: my dear Mister Pierre, both warm and polite).”

When she said this, he did not reply and only bowed, but again everybody saw his smile, which said nothing (his smile showed nothing at all, except perhaps the thought the writer gives next), unless perhaps, “Opinions are opinions (everyone thinks what they think, and that is fine), but you see what a capital, good-natured fellow (a fine, kind-hearted man) I am.” And everyone, including Anna Pávlovna, felt this.

Prince Andrew (a young nobleman, the little princess's husband) had gone out into the hall, and, turning his shoulders to (turning his back towards) the footman (the male servant who opened doors and helped guests) who was helping him on with (helping him dress in) his cloak (his long loose coat without sleeves), listened indifferently (without caring) to his wife’s chatter (quick talk about small things) with Prince Hippolyte (a young nobleman among the guests) who had also come into the hall. Prince Hippolyte stood close to the pretty, pregnant princess, and stared fixedly (without looking away) at her through his eyeglass (a single round glass held to one eye).

“Go in, Annette (a friendly short name for Anna Pávlovna), or you will catch cold,” said the little princess (Andrew's wife; little is a fond name for her), taking leave of (saying goodbye to) Anna Pávlovna. “It is settled (it is agreed),” she added in a low voice.

Anna Pávlovna had already managed to speak to Lise (the little princess's first name) about the match she contemplated (the marriage she was planning) between Anatole (Prince Vasíli's younger son) and the little princess (Andrew's wife; little is a fond name for her)’ sister-in-law (her husband's sister).

“I rely on you (I trust you to do this), my dear (a warm, friendly way of speaking to someone),” said Anna Pávlovna, also in a low tone. “Write to her and let me know how her father looks at the matter (what her father thinks of the plan). Au revoir! (French: goodbye) ”—and she left the hall.

Prince Hippolyte approached (came near) the little princess (Andrew's wife; little is a fond name for her) and, bending his face close to her, began to whisper something.

Two footmen (two male servants who opened doors and helped guests), the princess’ and his own (one servant belonging to the princess and one to Hippolyte), stood holding a shawl (a large cloth a woman wraps round her shoulders) and a cloak (a long loose coat without sleeves), waiting for the conversation to finish. They listened to the French sentences which to them were meaningless (without any sense), with an air of understanding but not wishing to appear to do so (looking as though they understood it, while trying not to show that they did). The princess as usual spoke smilingly (with a smile) and listened with a laugh.

“I am very glad I did not go to the ambassador’s (the party at the house of the English king's official sent to Russia),” said Prince Hippolyte “—so dull—. It has been a delightful evening, has it not? Delightful!”

“They say the ball (the big evening party with dancing) will be very good,” replied the princess, drawing up (lifting) her downy (covered in very soft fine hair) little lip. “All the pretty women in society (the rich and important families who all know each other) will be there.”

“Not all, for you will not be there (because you will not be there; he means she is prettier than all of them); not all,” said Prince Hippolyte smiling joyfully (very happily); and snatching (grabbing quickly) the shawl (the large cloth a woman wraps round her shoulders) from the footman (the male servant), whom he even pushed aside, he began wrapping it round the princess. Either from awkwardness or intentionally (whether by accident or on purpose) (no one could have said which) after the shawl had been adjusted (arranged properly) he kept his arm around her for a long time, as though embracing her (as if he were holding her in his arms).

Still smiling, she gracefully (smoothly and easily) moved away, turning and glancing at her husband. Prince Andrew’s eyes were closed, so weary (tired) and sleepy did he seem (and he seemed so sleepy).

“Are you ready?” he asked his wife, looking past her (not looking at her).

Prince Hippolyte hurriedly (quickly) put on his cloak (his long loose coat without sleeves), which in the latest fashion (the newest style) reached to his very heels (came all the way down to his heels), and, stumbling (tripping) in it, ran out into the porch (the covered entrance outside the front door) following the princess, whom a footman (a male servant) was helping into the carriage.

“Princesse, au revoir,” (French: Princess, goodbye) cried he (he said loudly), stumbling with his tongue as well as with his feet (getting his words wrong just as he tripped over his cloak).

The princess, picking up her dress (lifting her long skirt so she would not step on it), was taking her seat in the dark carriage, her husband was adjusting his saber (his long curved sword); Prince Hippolyte, under pretense of helping (pretending to help), was in everyone’s way (kept standing where people needed to go).

“Allow me, sir (a cold polite way of saying get out of my way),” said Prince Andrew in Russian in a cold, disagreeable (unpleasant) tone to Prince Hippolyte who was blocking his path.

“I am expecting you, Pierre,” said the same voice (Prince Andrew spoke again), but gently (softly and kindly) and affectionately (with warm fondness).

The postilion (the man riding one of the horses that pull the carriage) started (set the carriage moving), the carriage wheels rattled (made quick knocking noises). Prince Hippolyte laughed spasmodically (in sudden jerks he could not stop) as he stood in the porch (the covered entrance outside the front door) waiting for the vicomte (the French nobleman, a lord of middle rank) whom he had promised to take home.

“Well, mon cher (French: my dear fellow),” said the vicomte (the French nobleman), having seated himself beside Hippolyte in the carriage, “your little princess is very nice, very nice indeed, quite French (he speaks of her as if she were Hippolyte's, though she is Prince Andrew's wife; quite French means as charming and lively as a Frenchwoman),” and he kissed the tips of his fingers (kissed his own fingertips, a gesture meaning something is delicious). Hippolyte burst out laughing (suddenly began laughing loudly).

“Do you know, (a way of starting a remark, not a real question) you are a terrible chap (a wicked fellow, said as a joke) for all your innocent airs (even though you look so harmless),” continued the vicomte (the French nobleman). “I pity the poor husband (he does not pity him at all; he is mocking him), that little officer who gives himself the airs of a monarch (acts as grandly as if he were a king).”

Hippolyte spluttered (made broken sounds, laughing too hard to speak) again, and amid (in the middle of) his laughter said, “And you were saying that the Russian ladies are not equal to (are not as good as) the French? One has to know (you have to know) how to deal with (handle) them.”

Pierre reaching the house first went into Prince Andrew’s study (a private room for reading and writing) like one quite at home (as easily as if it were his own house), and from habit immediately lay down on the sofa (a long soft seat for several people), took from the shelf the first book that came to his hand (whatever book he touched first) (it was Caesar’s Commentaries (a famous old Roman book by Julius Caesar about his own wars)), and resting on his elbow, began reading it in the middle.

“What have you done to Mlle Schérer (Mademoiselle Schérer: French for Miss Schérer, meaning Anna Pávlovna)? She will be quite ill now (a joke: she will be very upset),” said Prince Andrew, as he entered the study (the private room for reading and writing), rubbing (moving back and forth against each other) his small white hands.

Pierre turned his whole body, making the sofa creak (make the rough noise old wood makes when it bends). He lifted his eager face to Prince Andrew, smiled, and waved his hand.

“That abbé (that priest from the party) is very interesting but he does not see the thing in the right light (understand it correctly).... In my opinion perpetual peace (a peace between countries that lasts for ever) is possible but—I do not know how to express it ... not by a balance of political power (keeping countries so equal in strength that none dares to attack)....”

It was evident that Prince Andrew was not interested in such abstract (about ideas, not about real things) conversation.

“One can’t everywhere say all one thinks (you cannot say everything you think in every place), mon cher (French: my dear fellow). Well, have you at last decided on anything? Are you going to be a guardsman (an officer in the Emperor's own best soldiers) or a diplomatist (a man who works for his country's government with other countries)?” asked Prince Andrew after a momentary (very short) silence.

Pierre sat up on the sofa, with his legs tucked under him (folded beneath his body).

“Really, I don’t yet know. I don’t like either the one or the other (either choice).”

“But you must decide on (choose) something! Your father expects it.”

Pierre at the age of ten had been sent abroad with an abbé (a French priest) as tutor (a teacher for one child at home), and had remained away till he was twenty. When he returned to Moscow (the old capital of Russia, far inland from Petersburg) his father dismissed (sent away from his job) the abbé and said to the young man, “Now go to Petersburg (the city where the Emperor and his court live), look round (see what there is), and choose your profession (the kind of work you will do in life). I will agree to anything. Here is a letter to Prince Vasíli (a powerful nobleman close to the ruler of Russia), and here is money. Write to me all about it, and I will help you in everything.” Pierre had already been choosing a career (his life's work) for three months, and had not decided on anything. It was about this choice that Prince Andrew was speaking (the writer stepped out of the scene to give Pierre's past, and now comes back to it). Pierre rubbed (moved his hand back and forth on) his forehead.

“But he must be a Freemason (a member of a secret brotherhood that met in private and talked of making men better),” said he, referring to (talking about) the abbé (the Italian priest from the party) whom he had met that evening.

“That is all nonsense.” Prince Andrew again interrupted him, “let us talk business (let us talk about what matters). Have you been to the Horse Guards (the Emperor's own best soldiers who fight on horseback)?”

“No, I have not; but this is what I have been thinking and wanted to tell you. There is a war now against Napoleon (the ruler of France, the enemy in all the evening's talk). If it were a war for freedom (a war fought to make people free) I could understand it and should be the first (would be the first) to enter the army (join the army); but to help England and Austria (two countries fighting on Russia's side against Napoleon) against the greatest man in the world is not right.”

Prince Andrew only shrugged (lifted and dropped his shoulders, showing the words were not worth an answer) his shoulders at Pierre’s childish (like a child's, foolish) words. He put on the air of one who (acted like a man who) finds it impossible to reply to such nonsense, but it would in fact have been difficult to give any other answer than the one Prince Andrew gave to this naïve (showing he knows little of the world) question.

“If no one fought except on his own conviction (because he himself believed in the cause), there would be no wars,” he said.

“And that would be splendid (wonderful),” said Pierre.

Prince Andrew smiled ironically (in a way that showed he thought Pierre's hope was foolish).

“Very likely it would be splendid (wonderful), but it will never come about (happen)....”

“Well, why are you going to the war?” asked Pierre.

“What for? I don’t know. I must. Besides that I am going....” He paused. “I am going because the life I am leading here does not suit me (is not right for me)!”