She knew this for certain, though she hardly heard his voice through the closed doors.

Pale and agitated, Natasha ran into the drawing room.

"Mamma! Bolkonski has come!" she said.

" Mamma, it is awful, it is unbearable! I don't want... to be tormented? What am I to do?..." Before the countess could answer, Prince Andrew entered the room with an agitated and serious face.