"Nicholas, haveyoucome? Comehere, dear!" calledtheoldcountessfromthedrawingroom.

Nicholaswenttoher, kissedherhand, , theystillheardthelaughterandmerryvoicestryingtopersuadeNatashatosing.

"Allwight! Allwight!" shoutedDenisov."It'snogoodmakingexcusesnow! It'syourturntosingtheba'cawolla—Ientweatyou!"

Thecountessglancedathersilentson.

"Whatisthematter?" sheasked.

"Oh, nothing," saidhe, asifwearyofbeingcontinuallyaskedthesamequestion."WillPapabebacksoon?"

"Iexpectso."

"Everything'! WhereamItogo?" thoughtNicholas, andwentagainintothedancingroomwheretheclavichordstood.

Sonyawassittingattheclavichord, playingthepreludetoDenisov'.

Nicholasbeganpacingupanddowntheroom.

"Whydotheywanttomakehersing? Howcanshesing? There'snothingtobehappyabout!" thoughthe.

Sonyastruckthefirstchordoftheprelude.

"MyGod, I'maruinedanddishonoredman! Abulletthroughmybrainistheonlythingleftme—notsinging!" histhoughtsranon."Goaway? Butwhereto? It'sone—letthemsing!"

Hecontinuedtopacetheroom, lookinggloomilyatDenisovandthegirlsandavoidingtheireyes.

"Nikolenka, whatisthematter?" Sonya'.

, withherquickinstinct, hadinstantlynoticedherbrother', thoughshenoticedit, shewasherselfinsuchhighspiritsatthatmoment, sofarfromsorrow, sadness, orself-reproach, thatshepurposelydeceivedherselfasyoungpeopleoftendo."No, Iamtoohappynowtospoilmyenjoymentbysympathywithanyone'ssorrow," shefelt, andshesaidtoherself: "No, Imustbemistaken, hemustbefeelinghappy, justasIam."