War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy [850]
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*235Of course, it’s a brilliant match, but happiness, my dear…
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†236Marriages are made in heaven.
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‡237Aline…go and see what they’re doing.
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*238There are people coming to see us, my prince…His excellency Prince Kuragin and his son, I’ve heard?
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*239They’ve come, Marie.
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†240Well, and are you staying as you are, dear princess?…They’ll come to announce that these gentlemen are in the drawing room; we’ll have to go down, and you’re not doing the least bit to dress!
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*241No, Marie, this decidedly doesn’t suit you. I like you better in your little gray everyday dress. No, for pity’s sake, do it for me.
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†242Come, dear princess…one more little effort.
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‡243No, leave me alone.
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§244At least change your hairstyle…I told you…Marya has one of those faces which this sort of hairstyle does not suit at all. Not at all, not at all. Change it, for pity’s sake.
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#245Leave me alone, leave me alone, all this is perfectly the same to me.
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*246You’ll change, won’t you?
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*247Showed him the door? Oh! She’s a pearl among women, Princess!
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†248Lady’s companion…She’s a sweet little thing.
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*249The poor girl. She’s devilishly ugly.
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*250What delicacy!
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†251No, no, no. When your father writes me that you are behaving well, I will give you my hand to kiss. Not before.
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*252No, Princess, I am lost forever in your heart.
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†253Why? I love you more than ever…and I shall try to do everything in my power for your happiness.
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‡254But you despise me, you who are so pure, you will never understand this fit of passion. Ah, only my poor mother…
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§255I understand everything.
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#256Ah, my good one, my good one…My son’s fate is in your hands. Decide, my good, my dear, my sweet Marie, whom I have always loved like my own daughter.
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*257My dear, I shall tell you that this is a moment I shall never, never forget; but, my good one, will you not give us a little hope of touching so good, so generous a heart? Say that perhaps…The future is so large. Say: perhaps.
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*258You’re a sharp one, my child.
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*259It’s done!
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*260Little children, go lie down to sleep! [Transliterated French.]
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*261But don’t hurt my little horse.
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*262And finally Prsch…Prsch…and so on, like all Polish names.
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*263Quiet, wicked tongue.
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†264Ah, my dear general, I’m involved in rice and cutlets, involve yourself in matters of war.
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*265As the enemy’s left wing lies on the wood-covered hills, and the right extends along Kobelnitz and Sokolnitz behind the ponds that are there, while we, on the contrary, far outflank his left wing with our right, it is advantageous for us to attack that wing of the enemy, especially if we have taken the villages of Sokolnitz and Kobelnitz, which will enable us both to fall upon the enemy’s flank and to pursue him across the plain between Schlapanitz and the Thuerassa forest, avoiding the defiles of Schlapanitz and Bellowitz, which are covered by the enemy’s front. To this end it is necessary…the first column marches…the second column marches…the third column marches…
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*266My dear…the old man’s in a foul humor.
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†267Go and see, my dear, if the third division has passed the village. Tell him to stop and wait for my orders.
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‡268And ask him if the riflemen are posted…What they’re doing, what they’re doing!
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*269By my faith, Sire, we will do that what which will be within our possibility, Sire!
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*270To the devil with these Russians!…
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*271Fine men!
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†272The ammunition for the guns in position is exhausted, Sire!
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