War and Peace Volume 1, PT. 1; A Historical Novel

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1887 Excerpt: ...beams of light were shed from the huge front windows. All the household had gathered in the hall to take leave of the young master, while a little party of intimates had assembled in the great drawing-room. Everyone was waiting for Prince André who had gone into his father's room, the old prince having sent for him to speak with him alone. André, on going in, had found his father seated at his table writing, with his spectacles on, and wrapped in a white dressing-gown--a costume in which, as a. rule, he never allowed himself to be seen. He looked up at his son. "You are off then?" he said and he began to write again. "Yes--I have come to say good-bye." "Kiss me,"--and he offered him a cheek... "Thank you, and again thank you." "What for?" "For not stopping at home tied to your wife's apronstrings. The service before all things--so thank you." And again he began writing, but he was so nervous that his pen creaked and spluttered in every direction. " If you have anything you want to say I am listening." "My wife--I am vexed to leave her here in this way, a burden on your hands." "What next will you say? Say something more to the point." "When the time draws near send to Moscow for a doctor; let him be here in time...." The old man looked at his son in stern astonishment. " Of course I know that nothing can be done if nature rebels against science," André went on, not without some emotion; "and I know that out of a thousand such cases not more than one perhaps goes wrong, but it is her fancy, and mine too. She has been crammed with all sorts of notions in consequence of a. dream." ' " H...