The novels and other works of Lyof N. Tolstoï Volume 6

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ... fits, so also she had to exert herself for her other peculiarities,--the pretext for thinking would be "patience." When she had occasion to shed tears, then the pretext would be the late count. When she wanted to be anxious, her pretext was Nikolai and his health. When she wanted to speak sarcastically, then her pretext was the Countess Mariya. When she wanted to exercise her voice,--this was generally about seven o'clock, after her digesting nap, in her darkened room,--then the pretext was forever the same old stories, which she would always tell to the same audience. This state of second childhood was understood by all the household, though no one ever mentioned it, and all possible endeavors were made to gratify her desires. Only occasional glances, accompanied by a melancholy half-smile, exchanged between Nikolai and Pierre, Natasha and the Countess Mariya, would express the reciprocal comprehension of her state. But these glances also said something else: they declared that she had already played her part in life, that what was now to be seen in her was not wholly herself, that all would at last come to be the same, and that it was a pleasure to yield to her, to restrain ourselves for this poor creature who was once so dear, who was once as full of life as we ourselves. Memento mori, said these glances. Only utterly depraved and foolish people and little children failed to understand this, and avoided her. CHAPTER XIII When Pierre and his wife came into the drawingroom, the countess found herself, as usual, absorbed in what she considered the intellectual labor of working out her grand-patience, and therefore, according to her custom, she spoke the words which she was sure to speak on the return of Pierre or her son, namely, " Late,...