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 III

Anna Pávlovna (the Petersburg hostess)’s reception (a receiving; a formal welcome) was in full swing (to sway to and fro). The spindles (the turning spike that twists thread) hummed (a low steady droning sound) steadily (without wavering) and ceaselessly (without stopping) on all sides. With the exception (a case left out) of the aunt (a parent's sister), beside (at the side of) whom sat only one elderly (getting old) lady, who with her thin (of little thickness) careworn (worn by worry) face was rather out of place in this brilliant society, the whole company had settled (to fix in place; to bring to rest) into three groups. One, chiefly (mainly) masculine (of men; manly), had formed round the abbé (a French priest or tutor — French). Another, of young people, was grouped round the beautiful Princess Hélène (Prince Vasíli's beautiful daughter), Prince Vasíli (Prince Vasíli Kurágin, the smooth court intriguer)’s daughter, and the little Princess Bolkónskaya (a lady of the Bolkónski family), very pretty and rosy (pink as a rose), though rather too plump (round and full-fleshed) for her age. The third group was gathered (to bring together) round Mortemart (the French royalist émigré vicomte) and Anna Pávlovna.

The vicomte (a French noble rank below count) was a nice-looking (pleasant to look at) young man with soft features and polished (rubbed smooth and bright) manners, who evidently (as plainly appears) considered himself a celebrity (fame) but out of politeness (good manners) modestly (with modest reserve) placed himself at the disposal (getting rid; free use) of the circle in which he found himself. Anna Pávlovna was obviously serving him up as a treat to her guests. As a clever (quick of mind) maître (from maître d'hôtel — a head servant of the table — French) d’hôtel (from maître d'hôtel — a head servant of the table — French) serves up as a specially (for a special purpose) choice delicacy (a choice fine food; fine sensitivity) a piece of meat that no one who had seen it in the kitchen would have cared to eat, so Anna Pávlovna served up to her guests, first the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) and then the abbé (a French priest or tutor — French), as peculiarly (especially; strangely) choice morsels (a small tasty piece). The group about Mortemart immediately began discussing the murder of the Duc (duke — French) d’Enghien (the Bourbon duke Napoleon had shot). The vicomte (a French noble rank below count) said that the Duc (duke — French) d’Enghien had perished (to die; be destroyed) by his own magnanimity (greatness of heart), and that there were particular reasons for Buonaparte (Bonaparte — the scornful Italian spelling)’s hatred (deep hate) of him.

“Ah, yes! Do tell us all about it, Vicomte (a French noble rank below count),” said Anna Pávlovna, with a pleasant (pleasing) feeling that there was something à la Louis XV in the sound of that sentence: “Contez nous çela, Vicomte (a French noble rank below count).”

The vicomte (a French noble rank below count) bowed (to bend in respect; a ribbon knot) and smiled courteously (with polite grace) in token (a sign; a keepsake) of his willingness (readiness of will) to comply (to do as asked). Anna Pávlovna arranged (to set in order) a group round him, inviting (to bid to come) everyone to listen to his tale (a story).

“The vicomte (a French noble rank below count) knew the duc (duke — French) personally,” whispered (a soft hushed voice) Anna Pávlovna to one of the guests. “The vicomte (a French noble rank below count) is a wonderful raconteur (a skilled teller of stories),” said she to another. “How evidently (as plainly appears) he belongs (to be one's own; to be part of) to the best society,” said she to a third; and the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) was served up to the company in the choicest (finest) and most advantageous (bringing gain) style, like a well-garnished (dressed out with trimmings) joint of roast (to cook before the fire) beef (ox meat) on a hot dish (a plate; a prepared food).

The vicomte (a French noble rank below count) wished to begin his story and gave a subtle (fine and delicate) smile.

“Come over here, Hélène, dear,” said Anna Pávlovna to the beautiful young princess who was sitting some way off, the center of another group.

The princess smiled. She rose with the same unchanging (never changing) smile with which she had first entered the room—the smile of a perfectly beautiful woman. With a slight (small; to treat as of no account) rustle (a soft dry whispering sound) of her white dress trimmed (neat; to make neat) with moss (the soft green ground plant) and ivy (the climbing evergreen vine), with a gleam (a soft flash of light) of white shoulders, glossy (smooth and shining) hair, and sparkling (to flash with small lights) diamonds (the hardest precious stone), she passed between the men who made way for her, not looking at any of them but smiling on all, as if graciously (with kind courtesy) allowing each the privilege (a special right) of admiring (to look on with wonder) her beautiful figure and shapely (well shaped) shoulders, back, and bosom (the breast)—which in the fashion of those days were very much exposed—and she seemed to bring the glamour (enchanting charm) of a ballroom (a great room for dancing) with her as she moved toward Anna Pávlovna. Hélène was so lovely that not only did she not show any trace (a left mark; to follow the track) of coquetry (flirting charm), but on the contrary (opposite) she even appeared shy (timid) of her unquestionable (beyond question) and all too victorious (winning the victory) beauty. She seemed to wish, but to be unable, to diminish (to make smaller) its effect.

“How lovely!” said everyone who saw her; and the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) lifted his shoulders and dropped his eyes as if startled (jolted with surprise) by something extraordinary (beyond the ordinary) when she took her seat opposite and beamed (a great timber; a ray of light; to smile brightly) upon him also with her unchanging (never changing) smile.

“Madame (my lady — French), I doubt my ability before such an audience,” said he, smilingly (with a smile) inclining (to lean toward) his head.

The princess rested her bare (uncovered) round arm on a little table and considered a reply unnecessary (not needed). She smilingly (with a smile) waited. All the time the story was being told she sat upright (standing straight; honest), glancing (a quick look) now at her beautiful round arm, altered (to change) in shape by its pressure on the table, now at her still more beautiful bosom (the breast), on which she readjusted (to set right again) a diamond (the hardest precious stone) necklace (a neck ornament). From time to time she smoothed (even; without roughness) the folds (to bend over on itself) of her dress, and whenever the story produced an effect she glanced (a quick look) at Anna Pávlovna, at once adopted just the expression she saw on the maid of honor (a court lady attending the Empress)’s face, and again relapsed (a falling back) into her radiant (shining with light) smile.

The little princess had also left the tea table and followed Hélène.

“Wait a moment, I’ll get my work.... Now then, what are you thinking of?” she went on, turning to Prince Hippolyte (Prince Vasíli's dull elder son). “Fetch (to go and bring) me my workbag (a bag for sewing work).”

There was a general movement as the princess, smiling and talking merrily (with merry cheer) to everyone at once, sat down and gaily (merrily) arranged (to set in order) herself in her seat.

“Now I am all right,” she said, and asking the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) to begin, she took up her work.

Prince Hippolyte, having brought the workbag (a bag for sewing work), joined the circle and moving a chair close to hers (belonging to her) seated himself beside (at the side of) her.

Le charmant (charming — French) Hippolyte was surprising (causing surprise) by his extraordinary (beyond the ordinary) resemblance (likeness) to his beautiful sister, but yet more by the fact that in spite of (despite) this resemblance (likeness) he was exceedingly (extremely) ugly (not pleasing to see). His features were like his sister’s, but while in her case everything was lit up by a joyous (full of joy), self-satisfied (pleased with oneself), youthful (young and fresh), and constant smile of animation (lively spirit), and by the wonderful classic beauty of her figure, his face on the contrary (opposite) was dulled (not sharp; not bright) by imbecility (dull feebleness of mind) and a constant expression of sullen (silently ill-tempered) self-confidence (confidence in oneself), while his body was thin (of little thickness) and weak. His eyes, nose, and mouth all seemed puckered (to draw into wrinkles) into a vacant (empty), wearied (tired out) grimace (a twisted face of pain or disgust), and his arms and legs always fell into unnatural (against nature) positions.

“It’s not going to be a ghost (a spirit of the dead) story?” said he, sitting down beside (at the side of) the princess and hastily (in a hurry) adjusting (to set right) his lorgnette (eyeglasses held on a handle), as if without this instrument (a tool; a music maker) he could not begin to speak.

“Why no, my dear fellow,” said the astonished (greatly surprised) narrator (the teller of a story), shrugging (to lift the shoulders) his shoulders.

“Because I hate ghost (a spirit of the dead) stories,” said Prince Hippolyte in a tone (a sound's quality; a manner) which showed that he only understood the meaning of his words after he had uttered (complete; to speak) them.

He spoke with such self-confidence (confidence in oneself) that his hearers (one who listens) could not be sure whether what he said was very witty (quick with clever words) or very stupid. He was dressed in a dark-green dress coat (an outer garment), knee (the leg's middle joint) breeches (knee-length trousers) of the color of cuisse de nymphe effrayée, as he called it, shoes, and silk (the fine soft thread of the East) stockings (a knitted leg covering).

The vicomte (a French noble rank below count) told his tale (a story) very neatly (with neat order). It was an anecdote (a short amusing story), then current, to the effect that the Duc (duke — French) d’Enghien had gone secretly (in secret) to Paris to visit Mademoiselle George (a famous actress of Paris); that at her house he came upon Bonaparte (Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French), who also enjoyed the famous actress (a woman player on the stage)’ favors, and that in his presence Napoleon (Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French) happened to fall into one of the fainting (falling senseless) fits to which he was subject, and was thus at the duc (duke — French)’s mercy (pity shown to the helpless). The latter spared (to hold back from harming; extra) him, and this magnanimity (greatness of heart) Bonaparte subsequently (afterward) repaid (to pay back) by death.

The story was very pretty and interesting, especially at the point where the rivals (one striving for the same prize) suddenly recognized one another; and the ladies looked agitated (stirred up; troubled).

“Charming (delightfully attractive)!” said Anna Pávlovna with an inquiring (to ask) glance (a quick look) at the little princess.

“Charming (delightfully attractive)!” whispered (a soft hushed voice) the little princess, sticking the needle (the sewing spike) into her work as if to testify (to bear witness) that the interest (interest: the spectacle that draws a crowd — the old sense here) and fascination (a spellbound drawing) of the story prevented her from going on with it.

The vicomte (a French noble rank below count) appreciated this silent (making no sound) praise (words of approval) and smiling gratefully (with thanks) prepared to continue, but just then Anna Pávlovna, who had kept a watchful (keeping careful watch) eye on the young man who so alarmed (sudden fear; a warning) her, noticed that he was talking too loudly (with loud voice) and vehemently (with hot force) with the abbé (a French priest or tutor — French), so she hurried (to move with haste) to the rescue (to save from danger). Pierre had managed to start a conversation with the abbé (a French priest or tutor — French) about the balance of power, and the latter, evidently (as plainly appears) interested by the young man’s simple-minded (simple of mind) eagerness (keen desire), was explaining his pet (a favorite kept animal; to stroke fondly) theory. Both were talking and listening too eagerly (with eager keenness) and too naturally (by nature; of course), which was why Anna Pávlovna disapproved (to judge against).

“The means are ... the balance of power in Europe and the rights of the people,” the abbé (a French priest or tutor — French) was saying. “It is only necessary for one powerful nation like Russia—barbaric (savage; wild) as she is said to be—to place herself disinterestedly (with no selfish stake) at the head of an alliance (a union of powers) having for its object the maintenance of the balance of power of Europe, and it would save the world!”

“But how are you to get that balance?” Pierre was beginning.

At that moment Anna Pávlovna came up and, looking severely (with hard strictness) at Pierre, asked the Italian how he stood Russian climate. The Italian’s face instantly (at once) changed and assumed an offensively (in an insulting way) affected, sugary (sweet as sugar) expression, evidently (as plainly appears) habitual (usual by habit) to him when conversing (to talk together) with women.

“I am so enchanted (delighted as by magic) by the brilliancy (bright splendor) of the wit (quickness of mind) and culture of the society, more especially of the feminine (of women) society, in which I have had the honor of being received, that I have not yet had time to think of the climate,” said he.

Not letting the abbé (a French priest or tutor — French) and Pierre escape, Anna Pávlovna, the more conveniently (without trouble) to keep them under observation (careful watching; a remark), brought them into the larger circle.