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He half rose, meaning to go round, but the aunt handed him the

snuffbox, passing it across Helene's back. Helene stooped forward

to make room, and looked round with a smile. She was, as always

at evening parties, wearing a dress such as was then fashionable,

cut very low at front and back. Her bust, which had always seemed

like marble to Pierre, was so close to him that his shortsighted

eyes could not but perceive the living charm of her neck and

shoulders, so near to his lips that he need only have bent his

head a little to have touched them. He was conscious of the

warmth of her body, the scent of perfume, and the creaking of her

corset as she moved. He did not see her marble beauty forming a

complete whole with her dress, but all the charm of her body only

covered by her garments. And having once seen this he could not

help being aware of it, just as we cannot renew an illusion we

have once seen through.