"Why not?" asked Natasha in a frightened tone.

"I cannot take him away from his grandfather, and besides..." "How I should have loved him!" said Natasha, immediately guessing his thought; "but I know you wish to avoid any pretext for finding fault with us.

" Sometimes the old count would come up, kiss Prince Andrew, and ask his advice about Petya's education or Nicholas' service.

The old countess sighed as she looked at them; Sonya was always getting frightened lest she should be in the way and tried to find excuses for leaving them alone, even when they did not wish it.