| "Attendez," said Anna Pavlovna, reflecting, "I'll speak to Lise, young Bolkonski's wife, this very evening, and perhaps the thing can be arranged. | - Attendez [Подождите], - сказала Анна Павловна, соображая. - Я нынче же поговорю Lise (la femme du jeune Болконский). [с Лизой (женой молодого Болконского).] И, может быть, это уладится. |
| It shall be on your family's behalf that I'll start my apprenticeship as old maid." | Ce sera dans votre famille, que je ferai mon apprentissage de vieille fille. [Я в вашем семействе начну обучаться ремеслу старой девки.] |
| CHAPTER II | II |
| Anna Pavlovna's drawing room was gradually filling. | Гостиная Анны Павловны начала понемногу наполняться. |
| The highest Petersburg society was assembled there: people differing widely in age and character but alike in the social circle to which they belonged. Prince Vasili's daughter, the beautiful Helene, came to take her father to the ambassador's entertainment; she wore a ball dress and her badge as maid of honor. | Приехала высшая знать Петербурга, люди самые разнородные по возрастам и характерам, но одинаковые по обществу, в каком все жили; приехала дочь князя Василия, красавица Элен, заехавшая за отцом, чтобы с ним вместе ехать на праздник посланника. Она была в шифре и бальном платье. |
| The youthful little Princess Bolkonskaya, known as la femme la plus seduisante de Petersbourg, * was also there. She had been married during the previous winter, and being pregnant did not go to any large gatherings, but only to small receptions. | Приехала и известная, как la femme la plus s?duisante de P?tersbourg [самая обворожительная женщина в Петербурге,], молодая, маленькая княгиня Болконская, прошлую зиму вышедшая замуж и теперь не выезжавшая в большой свет по причине своей беременности, но ездившая еще на небольшие вечера. |
| Prince Vasili's son, Hippolyte, had come with Mortemart, whom he introduced. The Abbe Morio and many others had also come. | Приехал князь Ипполит, сын князя Василия, с Мортемаром, которого он представил; приехал и аббат Морио и многие другие. |
| * The most fascinating woman in Petersburg. To each new arrival Anna Pavlovna said, "You have not yet seen my aunt," or "You do not know my aunt?" and very gravely conducted him or her to a little old lady, wearing large bows of ribbon in her cap, who had come sailing in from another room as soon as the guests began to arrive; and slowly turning her eyes from the visitor to her aunt, Anna Pavlovna mentioned each one's name and then left them. |
