Nicholas, having as usual exhausted two pairs of horses, without visiting all the places he meant to go to and where he had been invited, returned home just before dinner.

As soon as he entered he noticed and felt the tension of the amorous air in the house, and also noticed a curious embarrassment among some of those present.

Sonya, Dolokhov, and the old countess were especially disturbed, and to a lesser degree Natasha.

Nicholas understood that something must have happened between Sonya and Dolokhov before dinner, and with the kindly sensitiveness natural to him was very gentle and wary with them both at dinner.

On that same evening there was to be one of the balls that Iogel (the dancing master) gave for his pupils during the holidays.