An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 726 words)
hen Natásha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the
conservatory. There she paused and stood listening to the conversation
in the drawing room, waiting for Borís to come out. She was already
growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming
at once, when she heard the young man’s discreet steps approaching
neither quickly nor slowly. At this Natásha dashed swiftly among the
flower tubs and hid there.
Borís paused in the middle of the room, looked round, brushed a little
dust from the sleeve of his uniform, and going up to a mirror examined
his handsome face. Natásha, very still, peered out from her ambush,
waiting to see what he would do. He stood a little while before the
glass, smiled, and walked toward the other door. Natásha was about to
call him but changed her mind. “Let him look for me,” thought she.
Hardly had Borís gone than Sónya, flushed, in tears, and muttering
angrily, came in at the other door. Natásha checked her first impulse
to run out to her, and remained in her hiding place, watching—as
under an invisible cap—to see what went on in the world. She was
experiencing a new and peculiar pleasure. Sónya, muttering to herself,
kept looking round toward the drawing room door. It opened and Nicholas
came in.
“Sónya, what is the matter with you? How can you?” said he, running
up to her.
“It’s nothing, nothing; leave me alone!” sobbed Sónya.
“Ah, I know what it is.”
“Well, if you do, so much the better, and you can go back to her!”
“Só-o-onya! Look here! How can you torture me and yourself like that,
for a mere fancy?” said Nicholas taking her hand.
Sónya did not pull it away, and left off crying. Natásha, not stirring
and scarcely breathing, watched from her ambush with sparkling eyes.
“What will happen now?” thought she.
“Sónya! What is anyone in the world to me? You alone are
everything!” said Nicholas. “And I will prove it to you.”
“I don’t like you to talk like that.”
“Well, then, I won’t; only forgive me, Sónya!” He drew her to him
and kissed her.
“Oh, how nice,” thought Natásha; and when Sónya and Nicholas had
gone out of the conservatory she followed and called Borís to her.
“Borís, come here,” said she with a sly and significant look. “I
have something to tell you. Here, here!” and she led him into the
conservatory to the place among the tubs where she had been hiding.
Borís followed her, smiling.
“What is the something?” asked he.
She grew confused, glanced round, and, seeing the doll she had thrown
down on one of the tubs, picked it up.
“Kiss the doll,” said she.
Borís looked attentively and kindly at her eager face, but did not
reply.
“Don’t you want to? Well, then, come here,” said she, and
went further in among the plants and threw down the doll. “Closer,
closer!” she whispered.
She caught the young officer by his cuffs, and a look of solemnity and
fear appeared on her flushed face.
“And me? Would you like to kiss me?” she whispered almost inaudibly,
glancing up at him from under her brows, smiling, and almost crying from
excitement.
Borís blushed.
“How funny you are!” he said, bending down to her and blushing still
more, but he waited and did nothing.
Suddenly she jumped up onto a tub to be higher than he, embraced him so
that both her slender bare arms clasped him above his neck, and, tossing
back her hair, kissed him full on the lips.
Then she slipped down among the flowerpots on the other side of the tubs
and stood, hanging her head.
“Natásha,” he said, “you know that I love you, but....”
“You are in love with me?” Natásha broke in.
“Yes, I am, but please don’t let us do like that.... In another four
years ... then I will ask for your hand.”
Natásha considered.
“Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen,” she counted on her slender
little fingers. “All right! Then it’s settled?”
A smile of joy and satisfaction lit up her eager face.
“Settled!” replied Borís.
“Forever?” said the little girl. “Till death itself?”
She took his arm and with a happy face went with him into the adjoining
sitting room.
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
People unconsciously copy the emotional and social behaviors they observe, often without understanding the deeper meaning or consequences behind those actions.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between genuine feelings and borrowed emotional scripts that people copy from others.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone's reaction seems too perfectly scripted—are they feeling it, or performing what they think the situation requires?
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"She was experiencing a new and peculiar pleasure."
Context: When Natasha realizes she can watch the adult drama unfold without being seen
This captures the intoxicating power of being an unseen observer. Natasha discovers she can learn about adult emotions and relationships by watching secretly, giving her knowledge and a sense of control she's never had before.
In Today's Words:
She was getting a rush from being able to spy on the grown-ups.
"Let him look for me."
Context: When she decides not to call out to Boris but to stay hidden instead
This shows Natasha's first taste of romantic strategy and power. She's learning that withholding attention can be as powerful as giving it, a lesson she's absorbed from watching adult relationships.
In Today's Words:
I'm going to make him work for it.
"Kiss me as you kissed Sonya."
Context: When she leads Boris to recreate the romantic scene she witnessed
Natasha directly copies what she observed, showing how children learn relationship behaviors by imitation. She wants the same emotional experience she saw Sonya have, not understanding the deeper context or consequences.
In Today's Words:
I want what she had - do the same thing with me.
Thematic Threads
Identity Formation
In This Chapter
Natasha experiments with adult romantic identity by copying observed behaviors
Development
Building on earlier themes of children navigating adult expectations
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself adopting behaviors or attitudes that aren't truly yours but seem to work for others.
Power Dynamics
In This Chapter
Natasha discovers that certain behaviors can secure promises and attention from others
Development
Continues exploration of how different characters navigate social hierarchies
In Your Life:
You might recognize when you're using emotional manipulation or when others are using it on you.
Social Performance
In This Chapter
Both children perform adult roles without genuine understanding of their meaning
Development
Extends the theme of characters playing expected social parts
In Your Life:
You might notice when you're going through motions in relationships or work without authentic engagement.
Observation and Learning
In This Chapter
Natasha learns by watching and immediately applies what she observes
Development
Introduced here as a key mechanism for character development
In Your Life:
You might become more conscious of what behaviors you're modeling for others or copying from them.
Innocence and Experience
In This Chapter
The gap between childish imitation and adult emotional reality becomes apparent
Development
Building on earlier contrasts between youthful idealism and complex reality
In Your Life:
You might recognize areas where you're still operating from outdated or immature emotional patterns.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does Natasha do immediately after watching Nicholas and Sonya together, and why do you think she chooses Boris for this?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Natasha copy the exact sequence she witnessed - the tears, the comfort, the kiss, the promise - rather than creating her own approach?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people today copying behaviors they've observed without understanding the deeper meaning behind them?
application • medium - 4
How can you tell the difference between genuine feelings and performed emotions in yourself or others?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how we learn to navigate relationships and power dynamics?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Script Detective: Identify Your Borrowed Behaviors
Think of a situation where you acted in a way that felt 'not quite you' - maybe at work, in a relationship, or with family. Write down what you did, then trace it back: whose behavior were you copying? What did you think that behavior would get you? Now imagine how you might handle the same situation using your authentic voice instead of a borrowed script.
Consider:
- •Consider whether the behavior actually achieved what you hoped it would
- •Think about whether the person you copied was genuinely successful or just appeared to be
- •Notice if you felt satisfied or empty after using the borrowed behavior
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone copied your behavior or communication style. How did it feel to see your patterns reflected back at you? What did this teach you about the behaviors you model for others?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 14: Family Dynamics and Social Maneuvering
The consequences of childhood promises begin to unfold as the adult world intrudes on these innocent games. The weight of expectations and social obligations starts to press down on even the youngest members of the household.
