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"No, on my true word of honor," said Natasha, crossing herself,

"I won't tell anyone!" and she ran off at once to Sonya.

"Nikolenka... wounded... a letter," she announced in gleeful

triumph.

"Nicholas!" was all Sonya said, instantly turning white.

Natasha, seeing the impression the news of her brother's wound

produced on Sonya, felt for the first time the sorrowful side of

the news.

She rushed to Sonya, hugged her, and began to cry.

"A little wound, but he has been made an officer; he is well now,

he wrote himself," said she through her tears.

"There now! It's true that all you women are crybabies," remarked

Petya, pacing the room with large, resolute strides. "Now I'm

very glad, very glad indeed, that my brother has distinguished

himself so. You are all blubberers and understand nothing."

Natasha smiled through her tears.

"You haven't read the letter?" asked Sonya.

"No, but she said that it was all over and that he's now an

officer."