Natasha came running to her mother, quite excited.

"Mamma!... Mamma!... He has made me..." "Made what?" "Made, made me an offer, Mamma! Mamma!" she exclaimed.

The countess did not believe her ears.

Denisov had proposed.

To whom? To this chit of a girl, Natasha, who not so long ago was playing with dolls and who was still having lessons.