"And what is she so pleased about?" thought Nicholas, looking at his sister.

" Why isn't she dull and ashamed?" Natasha took the first note, her throat swelled, her chest rose, her eyes became serious.

At that moment she was oblivious of her surroundings, and from her smiling lips flowed sounds which anyone may produce at the same intervals and hold for the same time, but which leave you cold a thousand times and the thousand and first time thrill you and make you weep.