He wished to say something more, but at that moment Prince Vasili and his daughter got up to go and the two young men rose to let them pass. This unfortunate fete at the ambassador's deprives me of a pleasure, and obliges me to interrupt you. His daughter, Princess Helene, passed between the chairs, lightly holding up the folds of her dress, and the smile shone still more radiantly on her beautiful face. Pierre gazed at her with rapturous, almost frightened, eyes as she passed him. He has been staying with me a whole month and this is the first time I have seen him in society.
Nothing is so necessary for a young man as the society of clever women.
Anna Pavlovna smiled and promised to take Pierre in hand. She knew his father to be a connection of Prince Vasili's. The elderly lady who had been sitting with the old aunt rose hurriedly and overtook Prince Vasili in the anteroom. All the affectation of interest she had assumed had left her kindly and tearworn face and it now expressed only anxiety and fear. I can't remain any longer in Petersburg.