On either side of her sat the more important guests--an old general and his wife, and Anna Pavlovna Scherer.

At the other end sat the younger and less important guests, and there too sat the members of the family, and Pierre and Helene, side by side.

Prince Vasili was not having any supper: he went round the table in a merry mood, sitting down now by one, now by another, of the guests.

To each of them he made some careless and agreeable remark except to Pierre and Helene, whose presence he seemed not to notice.

He enlivened the whole party.