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Formerly in Anna Pavlovna's presence, Pierre had always felt that

what he was saying was out of place, tactless and unsuitable,

that remarks which seemed to him clever while they formed in his

mind became foolish as soon as he uttered them, while on the

contrary Hippolyte's stupidest remarks came out clever and apt.

Now everything Pierre said was charmant. Even if Anna Pavlovna

did not say so, he could see that she wished to and only

refrained out of regard for his modesty.

In the beginning of the winter of 1805-6 Pierre received one of

Anna Pavlovna's usual pink notes with an invitation to which was

added: "You will find the beautiful Helene here, whom it is

always delightful to see."

When he read that sentence, Pierre felt for the first time that

some link which other people recognized had grown up between

himself and Helene, and that thought both alarmed him, as if some

obligation were being imposed on him which he could not fulfill,

and pleased him as an entertaining supposition.