Book 6, Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

CHAPTER 22

Natasha talks to her mother about how much she loves Andrew. Andrew talks to Pierre about how he wants to marry Natasha. Pierre and Andrew contrast each other in that Andrew is now very happy and caught up in new love while Pierre is gloomy and depressed, living with Helene. Their characters have switched quite dramatically.

Important Quotes

Natasha: "Only I feel afraid in his presence. I am always afraid when I'm with him. What does that mean? Does it mean that it's the real thing? Yes? Mamma, are you asleep?"

[Pierre]: "He tried equally to avoid thinking about his wife, and about Natasha and Prince Andrew; and again everything seemed to him insignificant in comparison with eternity; again the question: for what? presented itself; and he forced himself to work day and night at masonic labors, hoping to drive away the evil spirit that threatened him."

Andrew: "The whole world is now for me divided into two halves: one half is she, and there all is joy, hope, light: the other half is everything where she is not, and there is all gloom and darkness...."
"Darkness and gloom," reiterated Pierre: "yes, yes, I understand that."

CHAPTER 23

Andrew goes to ask his father about marrying Natasha. His father is against it, saying that she's not wealthy enough, too young, and not ready to be the stepmother to his son. He suggests to postpone the marriage for a year to see if Andrew will change his mind. So, when Andrew proposes (and instantly regrets it), he tells her that the wedding won't be for another year. Natasha is devastated, but agrees. Andrew cleary drives her mad because she was so upset when he didn't visit when he was away at his father's. She keeps telling herself that she loves him, but fears him.

Important Quotes

[Natasha]: "That morning she had returned to her favorite mood—love of, and delight in, herself. "How charming that Natasha is!" she said again, speaking as some third, collective, male person. "Pretty, a good voice, young, and in nobody's way if only they leave her in peace."

Andrew (about Natasha):  "there was no longer the former poetic and mystic charm of desire, but there was pity for her feminine and childish weakness, fear at her devotion and trustfulness, and an oppressive yet joyful sense of the duty that now bound him to her forever."

Andrew: "In a year you will learn to know yourself...."
"A whole year!" Natasha repeated suddenly, only now realizing that the marriage was to be postponed for a year. "But why a year? Why a year?..."

CHAPTER 24

Andrew insists that the engagement remain open, letting Natasha choose if she wanted to be with him for a year. He and Natasha do not act as lovers, but as strangers, still. He tells her to look up to Pierre while he is gone for a year. Natasha still doesn't know how to act around him and, when he leaves, is slightly depressed. Soon, she becomes herself again, though.

Important Quotes

"left alone, still remained silent. They rarely spoke of their future life. Prince Andrew was afraid and ashamed to speak of it. Natasha shared this as she did all his feelings, which she constantly divined. "

Natasha:  "She asked herself in perplexity: "What does he look for in me? He is trying to discover something by looking at me! What if what he seeks in me is not there?"

Andrew:  "I am going away and heaven knows what may happen. You may cease to... all right, I know I am not to say that. Only this, then: whatever may happen to you when I am not here..."

CHAPTER 25

Mary writes to her friend, Julie, about everything that's been going on. She tells Julie about the rumors or Natasha and Andrew and that she wishes that Andrew wouldn't marry Natasha because she's not right for him. She says that Natasha won't be able to please him and that she cannot replace Lise. She also mentions how she understands why Andrew's first wife died since she was too much of an angel to be a mother.

Important Quotes

Mary: "Oh, my friend! Religion, and religion alone, can—I will not say comfort us—but save us from despair. Religion alone can explain to us what without its help man cannot comprehend"

Mary: "I, with my petty understanding, begin to see clearly why she had to die, and in what way that death was but an expression of the infinite goodness of the Creator, whose every action, though generally incomprehensible to us, is but a manifestation of His infinite love for His creatures. Perhaps, I often think, she was too angelically innocent to have the strength to perform all a mother's duties."

CHAPTER 26

Andrew writes to Mary telling her that the rumors of him and Natasha are true and that he still loves her. Meanwhile, Mary has to deal with her increasingly irritable father who claims that he wants to marry the Frenchwoman, Bourienne, and he is still against Natasha marrying his son. Mary comes to the conclusion that she wants to go on a pilgrimage to be more like the pilgrims that she talks to. She wants to be like them, but is afraid to leave little Nicholas and her father.

Important Quotes

"Not only do we know this ourselves, but Christ, the Son of God, came down to earth and told us that this life is but for a moment and is a probation; yet we cling to it and think to find happiness in it. "How is it that no one realizes this?" thought Princess Mary."

Mary: "She wept quietly, and felt that she was a sinner who loved her father and little nephew more than God."