NobetrothalceremonytookplaceandNatasha'sengagementtoBolkonskiwasnotannounced; ; thathehadgivenhiswordandboundhimselfforever, , ', butdidnotbehavetoNatashaasanaffiancedlover: hedidnotusethefamiliarthou, butsaidyoutoher, , quitedifferent, intimate, ; theyfeltthemselvesnowquitedifferentbeings: thentheywereartificial, ; heseemedamanfromanotherworld, andforalongtimeNatashatrainedthefamilytogetusedtohim, proudlyassuringthemallthatheonlyappearedtobedifferent, butwasreallyjustlikeallofthem, , andwithoutrestraintinhispresencepursuedtheirusualwayoflife, , fashionswiththecountessandNatasha, , andattheevidentomenstherehadbeenofit: PrinceAndrew'scomingtoOtradnoeandtheircomingtoPetersburg, andthelikenessbetweenNatashaandPrinceAndrewwhichhernursehadnoticedonhisfirstvisit, andAndrew'sencounterwithNicholasin1805, andmanyotherincidentsbetokeningthatithadtobe.
, leftalone, , , asheoftendidnow—Natashaparticularlylikeditinhim—andsaidthathissonwouldnotlivewiththem.
"Whynot?" askedNatashainafrightenedtone.
"Icannottakehimawayfromhisgrandfather, andbesides..."
"HowIshouldhavelovedhim!" saidNatasha, immediatelyguessinghisthought; "butIknowyouwishtoavoidanypretextforfindingfaultwithus."
