Maximum-assistance view: every word above everyday vocabulary is explained at every appearance; each name is introduced at its first appearance in the chapter.
CHAPTER XV
“My dear Borís (Borís Drubetskóy, the ambitious young officer),” said Princess Anna (a woman's name — Anna Pávlovna Schérer and others) Mikháylovna (a patronymic — daughter of Michael) to her son as Countess Rostóva (a lady of the Rostóv family)’s carriage (a wheeled passenger vehicle; bearing) in which they were seated drove over the straw (dried grain stalks) covered street and turned into the wide courtyard (an enclosed yard) of Count Cyril Vladímirovich (a patronymic — son of Vladímir) Bezúkhov (the family name of Pierre, the novel's hero)’s house. “My dear Borís,” said the mother, drawing her hand from beneath (under) her old mantle (a cloak) and laying it timidly (with shy fear) and tenderly (with tender love) on her son’s arm, “be affectionate (full of warm love) and attentive (paying close attention) to him. Count Cyril Vladímirovich is your godfather (a child's sponsor at baptism) after all, and your future depends on him. Remember that, my dear, and be nice to him, as you so well know how to be.”
“If only I knew that anything besides humiliation (crushing shame) would come of it...” answered her son coldly (without warmth). “But I have promised and will do it for your sake (for the good of).”
Although the hall porter (a carrier; a doorkeeper) saw someone’s carriage (a wheeled passenger vehicle; bearing) standing at the entrance (the way in), after scrutinizing (to examine closely) the mother and son (who without asking to be announced (to make known) had passed straight through the glass porch (a covered entrance) between the rows of statues (a carved figure) in niches (a wall hollow)) and looking significantly at the lady’s old cloak (a loose outer wrap), he asked whether they wanted the count or the princesses, and, hearing that they wished to see the count, said his excellency (the title of a high official) was worse today, and that his excellency (the title of a high official) was not receiving anyone.
“We may as well go back,” said the son in French.
“My dear!” exclaimed (to cry out) his mother imploringly (begging with looks), again laying her hand on his arm as if that touch might soothe (to calm; comfort) or rouse (stirred up; awakened) him.
Borís said no more, but looked inquiringly (with a questioning look) at his mother without taking off his cloak (a loose outer wrap).
“My friend,” said Anna Mikháylovna in gentle (mild and kind) tones (a sound's quality; a manner), addressing the hall porter (a carrier; a doorkeeper), “I know Count Cyril Vladímirovich is very ill... that’s why I have come... I am a relation (a connection; a relative). I shall not disturb (to break the quiet of) him, my friend... I only need see Prince Vasíli (Prince Vasíli Kurágin, the smooth court intriguer) Sergéevich (a patronymic — son of Sergéy): he is staying here, is he not? Please announce (to make known) me.”
The hall porter (a carrier; a doorkeeper) sullenly (in gloomy ill humor) pulled a bell that rang upstairs (on the floor above), and turned away.
“Princess Drubetskáya (Princess Anna Mikháylovna Drubetskáya, Borís' scheming mother) to see Prince Vasíli Sergéevich,” he called to a footman (a liveried man servant) dressed in knee (the leg's middle joint) breeches (knee-length trousers), shoes, and a swallow-tail (a coat with long divided tails) coat (an outer garment), who ran downstairs (on the floor below) and looked over from the halfway (at the middle point) landing (a coming to land; a stair platform).
The mother smoothed (even; without roughness) the folds (to bend over on itself) of her dyed (coloring for cloth) silk (the fine soft thread of the East) dress before a large Venetian mirror (the reflecting glass) in the wall, and in her trodden-down (worn down at the heel) shoes briskly (with quick energy) ascended (to climb up) the carpeted (a woven floor covering) stairs (a step of a flight).
“My dear,” she said to her son, once more stimulating (to spur to action) him by a touch, “you promised me!”
The son, lowering his eyes, followed her quietly (without noise).
They entered the large hall, from which one of the doors led to the apartments assigned (to allot to) to Prince Vasíli.
Just as the mother and son, having reached the middle of the hall, were about to ask their way of an elderly (getting old) footman (a liveried man servant) who had sprung up as they entered, the bronze (the brown metal of statues) handle of one of the doors turned and Prince Vasíli came out—wearing a velvet (soft rich pile cloth) coat (an outer garment) with a single star on his breast (the chest), as was his custom (settled usage) when at home—taking leave of a good-looking (handsome), dark-haired (with dark hair) man. This was the celebrated (famous) Petersburg doctor, Lorrain (the fashionable French doctor).
“Then it is certain?” said the prince.
“Prince, humanum est errare, * but...” replied the doctor, swallowing (to take down the throat; the swift bird) his r’s, and pronouncing (to speak a word; declare) the Latin words with a French accent (the tone of one's speech).
* To err (to make a mistake) is human.
“Very well, very well...”
Seeing Anna Mikháylovna and her son, Prince Vasíli dismissed (to send away) the doctor with a bow (to bend in respect; a ribbon knot) and approached them silently (without sound) and with a look of inquiry (an asking; an investigation). The son noticed that an expression of profound (deep) sorrow (deep sadness) suddenly clouded (a sky mass of vapor; to darken with sadness) his mother’s face, and he smiled slightly.
“Ah, Prince! In what sad circumstances we meet again! And how is our dear invalid (a sick person; without force)?” said she, as though unaware (not knowing) of the cold offensive (insulting; attacking) look fixed on her.
Prince Vasíli stared at her and at Borís questioningly (with a questioning look) and perplexed (puzzled). Borís bowed (to bend in respect; a ribbon knot) politely (with good manners). Prince Vasíli without acknowledging (to admit; to answer a greeting) the bow (to bend in respect; a ribbon knot) turned to Anna Mikháylovna, answering her query (a question) by a movement of the head and lips (the mouth's edge) indicating (to point out) very little hope for the patient.
“Is it possible?” exclaimed (to cry out) Anna Mikháylovna. “Oh, how awful (awful: full of awe — the old sense here)! It is terrible to think.... This is my son,” she added, indicating (to point out) Borís. “He wanted to thank you himself.”
Borís bowed (to bend in respect; a ribbon knot) again politely (with good manners).
“Believe me, Prince, a mother’s heart will never forget what you have done for us.”
“I am glad I was able to do you a service, my dear Anna Mikháylovna,” said Prince Vasíli, arranging (to set in order) his lace (fine open threadwork) frill (edged with lace folds), and in tone (a sound's quality; a manner) and manner, here in Moscow to Anna Mikháylovna whom he had placed under an obligation (a binding duty), assuming an air of much greater importance than he had done in Petersburg at Anna Schérer (Anna Pávlovna Schérer, the Petersburg hostess)’s reception (a receiving; a formal welcome).
“Try to serve well and show yourself worthy (deserving),” added he, addressing Borís with severity (hard strictness). “I am glad.... Are you here on leave?” he went on in his usual tone (a sound's quality; a manner) of indifference (absence of care or interest).
“I am awaiting (to wait for) orders to join my new regiment (a body of soldiers under a colonel), your excellency (the title of a high official),” replied Borís, betraying (to give up to an enemy; to be false to) neither annoyance (irritation) at the prince’s brusque (blunt; abrupt) manner nor a desire to enter into conversation, but speaking so quietly (without noise) and respectfully (with respect) that the prince gave him a searching (looking deeply) glance (a quick look).
“Are you living with your mother?”
“I am living at Countess Rostóva’s,” replied Borís, again adding, “your excellency (the title of a high official).”
“That is, with Ilyá (Count Ilyá Rostóv, the open-handed old count) Rostóv (the family name of Nicholas, Natásha, and Pétya) who married (to take in marriage) Nataly (Natásha — French form) Shinshiná (a lady of the Shinshín family),” said Anna Mikháylovna.
“I know, I know,” answered Prince Vasíli in his monotonous (unchanging and dull) voice. “I never could understand how Nataly made up her mind to marry (to take in marriage) that unlicked (an unlicked bear — a raw, unpolished fellow) bear! A perfectly absurd (against all sense) and stupid fellow, and a gambler (one who plays for money) too, I am told.”
“But a very kind man, Prince,” said Anna Mikháylovna with a pathetic (stirring pity) smile, as though she too knew that Count Rostóv deserved this censure (blame; disapproval), but asked him not to be too hard on the poor old man. “What do the doctors say?” asked the princess after a pause (a brief stop), her worn (used to wearing out) face again expressing deep sorrow (deep sadness).
“They give little hope,” replied the prince.
“And I should so like to thank Uncle (a parent's brother) once for all his kindness (kind goodness) to me and Borís. He is his godson (a boy one sponsors at baptism),” she added, her tone (a sound's quality; a manner) suggesting that this fact ought (should) to give Prince Vasíli much satisfaction (content; amends given).
Prince Vasíli became thoughtful (full of thought; considerate) and frowned (drew the brows in displeasure). Anna Mikháylovna saw that he was afraid of finding in her a rival (one striving for the same prize) for Count Bezúkhov’s fortune (wealth; luck), and hastened (to hurry) to reassure (to give back confidence) him.
“If it were not for my sincere (true of heart) affection (warm love) and devotion (deep loyal love) to Uncle (a parent's brother),” said she, uttering (complete; to speak) the word with peculiar (peculiar: its own; particular — the old sense here) assurance (confident sureness) and unconcern (easy absence of worry), “I know his character: noble (high-born; morally lofty), upright (standing straight; honest) ... but you see he has no one with him except the young princesses.... They are still young....” She bent (to curve; to bow) her head and continued in a whisper (a soft hushed voice): “Has he performed his final duty, Prince? How priceless (beyond price) are those last moments! It can make things no worse, and it is absolutely necessary to prepare him if he is so ill. We women, Prince,” and she smiled tenderly (with tender love), “always know how to say these things. I absolutely must see him, however painful (full of pain) it may be for me. I am used (use: habit; custom — the old sense here) to suffering.”
Evidently (as plainly appears) the prince understood her, and also understood, as he had done at Anna Pávlovna (the Petersburg hostess)’s, that it would be difficult to get rid of Anna Mikháylovna.
“Would not such a meeting be too trying for him, dear Anna Mikháylovna?” said he. “Let us wait until evening. The doctors are expecting a crisis.”
“But one cannot delay (to put off), Prince, at such a moment! Consider that the welfare (well-being) of his soul is at stake (a pointed post; money risked). Ah, it is awful (awful: full of awe — the old sense here): the duties of a Christian...”
A door of one of the inner rooms opened and one of the princesses, the count’s niece (a brother's or sister's daughter), entered with a cold, stern (severe; a ship's rear) face. The length of her body was strikingly (in a way that seizes the eye) out of proportion (due relation of parts) to her short legs. Prince Vasíli turned to her.
“Well, how is he?”
“Still the same; but what can you expect, this noise...” said the princess, looking at Anna Mikháylovna as at a stranger (one unknown).
“Ah, my dear, I hardly knew you,” said Anna Mikháylovna with a happy smile, ambling (a smooth, easy walking pace) lightly (with light touch) up to the count’s niece (a brother's or sister's daughter). “I have come, and am at your service to help you nurse (one who tends the sick; to feed at the breast) my uncle (a parent's brother). I imagine what you have gone through,” and she sympathetically (with fellow feeling) turned up her eyes.
The princess gave no reply and did not even smile, but left the room as Anna Mikháylovna took off her gloves (a covering for the hand) and, occupying (to hold; to fill) the position she had conquered (to overcome by force), settled (to fix in place; to bring to rest) down in an armchair (a chair with arms), inviting (to bid to come) Prince Vasíli to take a seat beside (at the side of) her.
“Borís,” she said to her son with a smile, “I shall go in to see the count, my uncle (a parent's brother); but you, my dear, had better go to Pierre meanwhile (in the time between) and don’t forget to give him the Rostóvs (the warm-hearted Moscow family at the novel's center)’ invitation (a bidding to come). They ask him to dinner. I suppose he won’t go?” she continued, turning to the prince.
“On the contrary (opposite),” replied the prince, who had plainly (clearly; simply) become depressed (cast down), “I shall be only too glad if you relieve (to ease; to take another's place on duty) me of that young man.... Here he is, and the count has not once asked for him.”
He shrugged (to lift the shoulders) his shoulders. A footman (a liveried man servant) conducted Borís down one flight of stairs (a step of a flight) and up another, to Pierre’s rooms.