An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1603 words)
t the beginning of winter Princess Mary came to Moscow. From reports
current in town she learned how the Rostóvs were situated, and how “the
son has sacrificed himself for his mother,” as people were saying.
“I never expected anything else of him,” said Princess Mary to herself,
feeling a joyous sense of her love for him. Remembering her friendly
relations with all the Rostóvs which had made her almost a member of the
family, she thought it her duty to go to see them. But remembering her
relations with Nicholas in Vorónezh she was shy about doing so. Making
a great effort she did however go to call on them a few weeks after her
arrival in Moscow.
Nicholas was the first to meet her, as the countess’ room could only be
reached through his. But instead of being greeted with pleasure as she
had expected, at his first glance at her his face assumed a cold, stiff,
proud expression she had not seen on it before. He inquired about her
health, led the way to his mother, and having sat there for five minutes
left the room.
When the princess came out of the countess’ room Nicholas met her again,
and with marked solemnity and stiffness accompanied her to the anteroom.
To her remarks about his mother’s health he made no reply. “What’s that
to you? Leave me in peace,” his looks seemed to say.
“Why does she come prowling here? What does she want? I can’t bear these
ladies and all these civilities!” said he aloud in Sónya’s presence,
evidently unable to repress his vexation, after the princess’ carriage
had disappeared.
“Oh, Nicholas, how can you talk like that?” cried Sónya, hardly able to
conceal her delight. “She is so kind and Mamma is so fond of her!”
Nicholas did not reply and tried to avoid speaking of the princess any
more. But after her visit the old countess spoke of her several times a
day.
She sang her praises, insisted that her son must call on her, expressed
a wish to see her often, but yet always became ill-humored when she
began to talk about her.
Nicholas tried to keep silence when his mother spoke of the princess,
but his silence irritated her.
“She is a very admirable and excellent young woman,” said she, “and you
must go and call on her. You would at least be seeing somebody, and I
think it must be dull for you only seeing us.”
“But I don’t in the least want to, Mamma.”
“You used to want to, and now you don’t. Really I don’t understand you,
my dear. One day you are dull, and the next you refuse to see anyone.”
“But I never said I was dull.”
“Why, you said yourself you don’t want even to see her. She is a very
admirable young woman and you always liked her, but now suddenly you
have got some notion or other in your head. You hide everything from
me.”
“Not at all, Mamma.”
“If I were asking you to do something disagreeable now—but I only ask
you to return a call. One would think mere politeness required it....
Well, I have asked you, and now I won’t interfere any more since you
have secrets from your mother.”
“Well, then, I’ll go if you wish it.”
“It doesn’t matter to me. I only wish it for your sake.”
Nicholas sighed, bit his mustache, and laid out the cards for a
patience, trying to divert his mother’s attention to another topic.
The same conversation was repeated next day and the day after, and the
day after that.
After her visit to the Rostóvs and her unexpectedly chilly reception by
Nicholas, Princess Mary confessed to herself that she had been right in
not wishing to be the first to call.
“I expected nothing else,” she told herself, calling her pride to her
aid. “I have nothing to do with him and I only wanted to see the
old lady, who was always kind to me and to whom I am under many
obligations.”
But she could not pacify herself with these reflections; a feeling akin
to remorse troubled her when she thought of her visit. Though she had
firmly resolved not to call on the Rostóvs again and to forget the whole
matter, she felt herself all the time in an awkward position. And when
she asked herself what distressed her, she had to admit that it was her
relation to Rostóv. His cold, polite manner did not express his feeling
for her (she knew that) but it concealed something, and until she could
discover what that something was, she felt that she could not be at
ease.
One day in midwinter when sitting in the schoolroom attending to her
nephew’s lessons, she was informed that Rostóv had called. With a firm
resolution not to betray herself and not show her agitation, she sent
for Mademoiselle Bourienne and went with her to the drawing room.
Her first glance at Nicholas’ face told her that he had only come to
fulfill the demands of politeness, and she firmly resolved to maintain
the tone in which he addressed her.
They spoke of the countess’ health, of their mutual friends, of the
latest war news, and when the ten minutes required by propriety had
elapsed after which a visitor may rise, Nicholas got up to say good-by.
With Mademoiselle Bourienne’s help the princess had maintained the
conversation very well, but at the very last moment, just when he rose,
she was so tired of talking of what did not interest her, and her
mind was so full of the question why she alone was granted so little
happiness in life, that in a fit of absent-mindedness she sat still, her
luminous eyes gazing fixedly before her, not noticing that he had risen.
Nicholas glanced at her and, wishing to appear not to notice her
abstraction, made some remark to Mademoiselle Bourienne and then
again looked at the princess. She still sat motionless with a look of
suffering on her gentle face. He suddenly felt sorry for her and was
vaguely conscious that he might be the cause of the sadness her face
expressed. He wished to help her and say something pleasant, but could
think of nothing to say.
“Good-by, Princess!” said he.
She started, flushed, and sighed deeply.
“Oh, I beg your pardon,” she said as if waking up. “Are you going
already, Count? Well then, good-by! Oh, but the cushion for the
countess!”
“Wait a moment, I’ll fetch it,” said Mademoiselle Bourienne, and she
left the room.
They both sat silent, with an occasional glance at one another.
“Yes, Princess,” said Nicholas at last with a sad smile, “it doesn’t
seem long ago since we first met at Boguchárovo, but how much water
has flowed since then! In what distress we all seemed to be then, yet
I would give much to bring back that time... but there’s no bringing it
back.”
Princess Mary gazed intently into his eyes with her own luminous ones
as he said this. She seemed to be trying to fathom the hidden meaning of
his words which would explain his feeling for her.
“Yes, yes,” said she, “but you have no reason to regret the past, Count.
As I understand your present life, I think you will always recall it
with satisfaction, because the self-sacrifice that fills it now...”
“I cannot accept your praise,” he interrupted her hurriedly. “On the
contrary I continually reproach myself.... But this is not at all an
interesting or cheerful subject.”
His face again resumed its former stiff and cold expression. But the
princess had caught a glimpse of the man she had known and loved, and it
was to him that she now spoke.
“I thought you would allow me to tell you this,” she said. “I had come
so near to you... and to all your family that I thought you would not
consider my sympathy misplaced, but I was mistaken,” and suddenly her
voice trembled. “I don’t know why,” she continued, recovering herself,
“but you used to be different, and...”
“There are a thousand reasons why,” laying special emphasis on the why.
“Thank you, Princess,” he added softly. “Sometimes it is hard.”
“So that’s why! That’s why!” a voice whispered in Princess Mary’s soul.
“No, it was not only that gay, kind, and frank look, not only that
handsome exterior, that I loved in him. I divined his noble, resolute,
self-sacrificing spirit too,” she said to herself. “Yes, he is poor now
and I am rich.... Yes, that’s the only reason.... Yes, were it not for
that...” And remembering his former tenderness, and looking now at his
kind, sorrowful face, she suddenly understood the cause of his coldness.
“But why, Count, why?” she almost cried, unconsciously moving closer to
him. “Why? Tell me. You must tell me!”
He was silent.
“I don’t understand your why, Count,” she continued, “but it’s hard for
me... I confess it. For some reason you wish to deprive me of our former
friendship. And that hurts me.” There were tears in her eyes and in her
voice. “I have had so little happiness in life that every loss is hard
for me to bear.... Excuse me, good-by!” and suddenly she began to cry
and was hurrying from the room.
“Princess, for God’s sake!” he exclaimed, trying to stop her.
“Princess!”
She turned round. For a few seconds they gazed silently into one
another’s eyes—and what had seemed impossible and remote suddenly became
possible, inevitable, and very near.
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
When shame makes us feel unworthy, we push away those we care about most to protect our dignity and spare them our inadequacy.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to identify when someone's coldness or distance stems from feeling inadequate rather than actual rejection or dislike.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone you care about becomes suddenly formal or distant—before assuming they don't like you, consider whether they might be feeling inadequate or ashamed about something.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"What's that to you? Leave me in peace"
Context: His unspoken response to Princess Mary's polite inquiries about his mother
This reveals how his shame has turned into defensive anger. He's not really mad at her - he's mad at the situation that makes their friendship impossible.
In Today's Words:
Why do you care? Just leave me alone
"Sometimes it is hard"
Context: His admission when Princess Mary confronts him about his changed behavior
This simple phrase breaks down his walls. He's admitting that pushing her away hurts him too, opening the door to real conversation.
In Today's Words:
Yeah, this situation really sucks
"I never expected anything else of him"
Context: Her thoughts about Nicholas sacrificing for his family
Shows she truly understands his character and admires his loyalty, which makes his coldness toward her even more painful and confusing.
In Today's Words:
That's exactly the kind of person he is
Thematic Threads
Class Barriers
In This Chapter
Nicholas's poverty makes him feel unworthy of Princess Mary's wealth and status, creating artificial distance
Development
Evolved from earlier themes of social mobility and worth - now showing how class differences poison personal relationships
In Your Life:
You might avoid relationships or opportunities because you feel you don't belong in someone's economic or social circle.
Pride as Protection
In This Chapter
Nicholas uses coldness and formality as armor to protect himself from feeling inadequate
Development
Building on earlier explorations of pride - here showing how it can destroy what we most want to preserve
In Your Life:
You might act distant or hostile when you actually feel vulnerable or ashamed about your circumstances.
Vulnerable Truth
In This Chapter
Only when Princess Mary demands honesty and Nicholas admits his feelings do they connect authentically
Development
Introduced here as the antidote to pride and pretense - showing vulnerability as strength
In Your Life:
You might find that your closest relationships require you to drop the facade and admit when you're struggling.
Love Across Divides
In This Chapter
Their genuine connection transcends social and economic barriers once they speak truthfully
Development
Evolved from earlier themes about social boundaries - now showing how authentic emotion can overcome artificial divisions
In Your Life:
You might discover that the connections you think are impossible are actually just waiting for honest communication.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Nicholas become cold and distant toward Princess Mary when she visits, even though they used to be close?
analysis • surface - 2
What role does shame about his financial situation play in Nicholas's behavior? How does feeling 'less than' someone change how we interact with them?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this same pattern today - people pushing away those they care about because they feel inadequate or unworthy?
application • medium - 4
Princess Mary breaks through Nicholas's walls by demanding honesty instead of accepting his polite coldness. How could you apply this approach when someone you care about starts pulling away?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how pride can both protect us and isolate us? When does self-protection become self-sabotage?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Decode the Distance Pattern
Think of a relationship where someone became distant or cold toward you, or where you pulled away from someone you cared about. Map out what was really happening beneath the surface behavior. What fears, insecurities, or shame might have been driving the distance? What was the person really trying to protect themselves from?
Consider:
- •Look beyond the surface behavior to the underlying emotions and fears
- •Consider how feeling 'less than' someone can make us defensive or withdrawn
- •Think about times when pride masked vulnerability or shame
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you pushed someone away because you felt unworthy or inadequate. What were you really afraid would happen if you stayed close? How might things have been different if you'd been honest about your fears instead of creating distance?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 344: Nicholas Becomes a Master Farmer
With their feelings finally in the open, Nicholas and Princess Mary must navigate what comes next. Will love be enough to bridge the gap between their different worlds, or will practical realities force them apart?
