WhentheyalldrovebackfromPelageyaDanilovna's, Natasha, whoalwayssawandnoticedeverything, arrangedthatsheandMadameSchossshouldgobackinthesleighwithDimmler, andSonyawithNicholasandthemaids.
OnthewaybackNicholasdroveatasteadypaceinsteadofracingandkeptpeeringbythatfantasticall-transforminglightintoSonya', andbeingremindedbythesmellofburntcorkofthesensationofherkiss, inhaledthefrostyairwithafullbreastand, lookingatthegroundflyingbeneathhimandatthesparklingsky, felthimselfagaininfairyland.
"Sonya, isitwellwiththee?" heaskedfromtimetotime.
"Yes!" shereplied."Andwiththee?"
WhenhalfwayhomeNicholashandedthereinstothecoachmanandranforamomenttoNatasha'ssleighandstoodonitswing.
"Natasha!" hewhisperedinFrench, "doyouknowIhavemadeupmymindaboutSonya?"
"Haveyoutoldher?" askedNatasha, suddenlybeamingalloverwithjoy.
"Oh, howstrangeyouarewiththatmustacheandthoseeyebrows!...Natasha—areyouglad?"
"Iamsoglad, soglad! , , Nicholas! Iamhorridsometimes, butIwasashamedtobehappywhileSonyawasnot," continuedNatasha."NowIamsoglad! Well, runbacktoher."
"No, waitabit....Oh, howfunnyyoulook!" criedNicholas, peeringintoherfaceandfindinginhissistertoosomethingnew, unusual, andbewitchinglytenderthathehadnotseeninherbefore."Natasha, it'smagical, isn'tit?"
"Yes," shereplied."Youhavedonesplendidly."
"HadIseenherbeforeassheisnow," thoughtNicholas, "Ishouldlongagohaveaskedherwhattodoandhavedonewhatevershetoldme, andallwouldhavebeenwell."
"SoyouaregladandIhavedoneright?"
"Oh, quiteright! ! , forthereisnothingbutgoodinher."
