Natashahadnothadamomentfreesinceearlymorningandhadnotoncehadtimetothinkofwhatlaybeforeher.
Inthedampchillairandcrowdedclosenessoftheswayingcarriage, sheforthefirsttimevividlyimaginedwhatwasinstoreforherthereattheball, inthosebrightlylightedrooms—withmusic, flowers, dances, theEmperor, , , aftersteppingovertheredbaizeattheentrance, sheenteredthehall, tookoffherfurcloak, and, besideSonyaandinfrontofhermother, , , fortunatelyforher, shefelthereyesgrowingmisty, shesawnothingclearly, herpulsebeatahundredtotheminute, , whichwouldhavemadeherridiculous, , , paleblue, andpinkdresses, withdiamondsandpearlsontheirbarenecksandarms.
, footsteps, andgreetingsdeafenedNatasha, , whohadalreadybeenstandingatthedoorforhalfanhourrepeatingthesamewordstothevariousarrivals, "Charmedevousvoir," [1] greetedtheRostovsandPeronskayainthesamemanner.
Thetwogirlsintheirwhitedresses, eachwitharoseinherblackhair, bothcurtsiedinthesameway, butthehostess' , .
"Charming!" saidhe, kissingthetipsofhisfingers.
, andthisobservationhelpedtocalmher.
"Therearesomelikeourselvesandsomeworse," shethought.
Peronskayawaspointingouttothecountessthemostimportantpeopleattheball.
"ThatistheDutchambassador, doyousee? Thatgray-hairedman," shesaid, indicatinganoldmanwithaprofusionofsilver-graycurlyhair, whowassurroundedbyladieslaughingatsomethinghesaid.
