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 IV

Just then another visitor (one who visits) entered the drawing room: Prince Andrew Bolkónski (the family name of Prince Andrew and Princess Mary), the little princess’ husband. He was a very handsome (fine-looking) young man, of medium height, with firm, clearcut (sharply defined) features. Everything about him, from his weary (tired out), bored (wearied by dullness) expression to his quiet, measured (in careful measure) step, offered a most striking (seizing the eye) contrast (a set difference) to his quiet, little wife. It was evident (plain to see) that he not only knew everyone in the drawing room, but had found them to be so tiresome (wearying) that it wearied (tired out) him to look at or listen to them. And among all these faces that he found so tedious (tiresomely long), none seemed to bore (a tiresome person; to weary with dullness; carried) him so much as that of his pretty wife. He turned away from her with a grimace (a twisted face of pain or disgust) that distorted (to twist out of true shape) his handsome (fine-looking) face, kissed Anna Pávlovna (the Petersburg hostess)’s hand, and screwing (the twisted fastening pin) up his eyes scanned (to look over closely) the whole company.

“You are off to the war, Prince?” said Anna Pávlovna.

“General Kutúzov (Michael Kutúzov, the old one-eyed commander in chief),” said Bolkónski, speaking French and stressing the last syllable (a single sound of a word) of the general’s name like a Frenchman, “has been pleased (made glad) to take me as an aide-de-camp (a general's personal officer — French)....”

“And Lise (the little princess, Prince Andrew's wife), your wife?”

“She will go to the country.”

“Are you not ashamed (feeling shame) to deprive (to take away from) us of your charming (delightfully attractive) wife?”

“André (Andrew — French form),” said his wife, addressing her husband in the same coquettish (flirting; playfully teasing) manner in which she spoke to other men, “the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) has been telling us such a tale (a story) about Mademoiselle George (a famous actress of Paris) and Buonaparte (Bonaparte — the scornful Italian spelling)!”

Prince Andrew screwed (the twisted fastening pin) up his eyes and turned away. Pierre, who from the moment Prince Andrew entered the room had watched him with glad, affectionate (full of warm love) eyes, now came up and took his arm. Before he looked round Prince Andrew frowned (to draw the brows in displeasure) again, expressing his annoyance (irritation) with whoever (any person who) was touching (touching: concerning — the old sense here) his arm, but when he saw Pierre’s beaming (a great timber; a ray of light; to smile brightly) face he gave him an unexpectedly (without warning) kind and pleasant (pleasing) smile.

“There now!... So you, too, are in the great world?” said he to Pierre.

“I knew you would be here,” replied Pierre. “I will come to supper (the evening meal) with you. May I?” he added in a low voice so as not to disturb (to break the quiet of) the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) who was continuing his story.

“No, impossible!” said Prince Andrew, laughing and pressing Pierre’s hand to show that there was no need to ask the question. He wished to say something more, but at that moment Prince Vasíli (Prince Vasíli Kurágin, the smooth court intriguer) and his daughter got up to go and the two young men rose to let them pass.

“You must excuse me, dear Vicomte (a French noble rank below count),” said Prince Vasíli to the Frenchman, holding him down by the sleeve (the arm of a garment) in a friendly way to prevent his rising. “This unfortunate (without luck) fete (a festival) at the ambassador (a state's chief envoy)’s deprives (to take away from) me of a pleasure, and obliges (to compel; bind by duty) me to interrupt (to break in upon) you. I am very sorry to leave your enchanting (delightful as magic) party,” said he, turning to Anna Pávlovna.

His daughter, Princess Hélène (Countess Hélène, Pierre's beautiful, cold wife), passed between the chairs, lightly (with light touch) holding up the folds (to bend over on itself) of her dress, and the smile shone (to give light) still more radiantly (with shining brightness) on her beautiful face. Pierre gazed (a long steady look) at her with rapturous (full of delighted joy), almost frightened (afraid), eyes as she passed him.

“Very lovely,” said Prince Andrew.

“Very,” said Pierre.

In passing Prince Vasíli seized (to grab; take hold) Pierre’s hand and said to Anna Pávlovna: “Educate this bear for me! He has been staying with me a whole month and this is the first time I have seen him in society. Nothing is so necessary for a young man as the society of clever (quick of mind) women.”

Anna Pávlovna smiled and promised to take Pierre in hand. She knew his father to be a connection of Prince Vasíli’s. The elderly (getting old) lady who had been sitting with the old aunt (a parent's sister) rose hurriedly (in a rush) and overtook (to catch up with) Prince Vasíli in the anteroom (a waiting room). All the affectation (a put-on manner; pretense) of interest (interest: the spectacle that draws a crowd — the old sense here) she had assumed had left her kindly (kind; gently) and tear-worn (worn with weeping) face and it now expressed only anxiety (gnawing worry) and fear.

“How about my son Borís (Borís Drubetskóy, the ambitious young officer), Prince?” said she, hurrying (to move with haste) after him into the anteroom (a waiting room). “I can’t remain any longer in Petersburg. Tell me what news I may take back to my poor boy.”

Although Prince Vasíli listened reluctantly (unwillingly) and not very politely (with good manners) to the elderly (getting old) lady, even betraying (to give up to an enemy; to be false to) some impatience (restless eagerness), she gave him an ingratiating (seeking favor with charm) and appealing smile, and took his hand that he might not go away.

“What would it cost you to say a word to the Emperor, and then he would be transferred to the Guards at once?” said she.

“Believe me, Princess, I am ready to do all I can,” answered Prince Vasíli, “but it is difficult for me to ask the Emperor. I should advise (to counsel) you to appeal to Rumyántsev (the chancellor who favored peace with France) through Prince Golítsyn (a princely Russian family). That would be the best way.”

The elderly (getting old) lady was a Princess Drubetskáya (Princess Anna Mikháylovna Drubetskáya, Borís' scheming mother), belonging (to be one's own; to be part of) to one of the best families in Russia, but she was poor, and having long been out of society had lost her former influential (with power to sway) connections. She had now come to Petersburg to procure (to obtain) an appointment (a naming to office; a set meeting) in the Guards for her only son. It was, in fact, solely (only) to meet Prince Vasíli that she had obtained (to get) an invitation (a bidding to come) to Anna Pávlovna’s reception (a receiving; a formal welcome) and had sat listening to the vicomte (a French noble rank below count)’s story. Prince Vasíli’s words frightened (afraid) her, an embittered (made bitter) look clouded (a sky mass of vapor; to darken with sadness) her once handsome (fine-looking) face, but only for a moment; then she smiled again and clutched (to grip hard) Prince Vasíli’s arm more tightly (with a tight hold).

“Listen to me, Prince,” said she. “I have never yet asked you for anything and I never will again, nor have I ever reminded (to bring back to mind) you of my father’s friendship (the bond of friends) for you; but now I entreat (to beg earnestly) you for God’s sake (for the good of) to do this for my son—and I shall always regard (to look upon; respect) you as a benefactor (one who does another good),” she added hurriedly (in a rush). “No, don’t be angry, but promise! I have asked Golítsyn and he has refused. Be the kindhearted (kind at heart) man you always were,” she said, trying to smile though tears (a drop of weeping; to rip) were in her eyes.

“Papa, we shall be late,” said Princess Hélène, turning her beautiful head and looking over her classically (in the ancient Greek style) molded (soft rich earth; to shape) shoulder as she stood waiting by the door.

Influence in society, however, is a capital which has to be economized (to spend sparingly) if it is to last. Prince Vasíli knew this, and having once realized that if he asked on behalf (in another's name) of all who begged (to ask humbly) of him, he would soon be unable to ask for himself, he became chary (cautious; sparing) of using (use: habit; custom — the old sense here) his influence. But in Princess Drubetskáya’s case he felt, after her second appeal, something like qualms (a stab of conscience) of conscience (the inner voice of right). She had reminded (to bring back to mind) him of what was quite true; he had been indebted (owing a debt) to her father for the first steps in his career. Moreover (besides), he could see by her manners that she was one of those women—mostly mothers—who, having once made up their minds, will not rest until they have gained their end, and are prepared if necessary to go on insisting (to press firmly) day after day and hour after hour, and even to make scenes. This last consideration (careful thought; regard) moved him.

“My dear Anna (a woman's name — Anna Pávlovna Schérer and others) Mikháylovna (a patronymic — daughter of Michael),” said he with his usual familiarity (easy closeness) and weariness (tiredness) of tone (a sound's quality; a manner), “it is almost impossible for me to do what you ask; but to prove my devotion (deep loyal love) to you and how I respect your father’s memory, I will do the impossible—your son shall be transferred to the Guards. Here is my hand on it. Are you satisfied (content)?”

“My dear benefactor (one who does another good)! This is what I expected from you—I knew your kindness (kind goodness)!” He turned to go.

“Wait—just a word! When he has been transferred to the Guards...” she faltered (to speak with faltering breaks). “You are on good terms with Michael (a man's name — Kutúzov's given name and others) Ilariónovich (Kutúzov's patronymic — son of Ilarión) Kutúzov ... recommend Borís to him as adjutant (an officer's staff assistant)! Then I shall be at rest, and then...”

Prince Vasíli smiled.

“No, I won’t promise that. You don’t know how Kutúzov is pestered (to annoy again and again) since his appointment (a naming to office; a set meeting) as Commander in Chief. He told me himself that all the Moscow ladies have conspired (to plot together) to give him all their sons as adjutants (an officer's staff assistant).”

“No, but do promise! I won’t let you go! My dear benefactor (one who does another good)...”

“Papa,” said his beautiful daughter in the same tone (a sound's quality; a manner) as before, “we shall be late.”

“Well, au revoir! Good-by (good-by)! You hear her?”

“Then tomorrow you will speak to the Emperor?”

“Certainly; but about Kutúzov, I don’t promise.”

“Do promise, do promise, Vasíli!” cried Anna Mikháylovna as he went, with the smile of a coquettish (flirting; playfully teasing) girl, which at one time probably came naturally (by nature; of course) to her, but was now very ill-suited (badly suited) to her careworn (worn by worry) face.

Apparently she had forgotten her age and by force of habit (a settled way of acting) employed (to use; to give work) all the old feminine (of women) arts. But as soon as the prince had gone her face resumed (to take up again) its former cold, artificial (made by man; not natural) expression. She returned to the group where the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) was still talking, and again pretended (to make believe) to listen, while waiting till it would be time to leave. Her task was accomplished (to carry through).