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On Helene's name day, a small party of just their own people-as

his wife said-met for supper at Prince Vasili's. All these

friends and relations had been given to understand that the fate

of the young girl would be decided that evening. The visitors

were seated at supper. Princess Kuragina, a portly imposing woman

who had once been handsome, was sitting at the head of the table.

On either side of her sat the more important guests-an old

general and his wife, and Anna Pavlovna Scherer. At the other end

sat the younger and less important guests, and there too sat the

members of the family, and Pierre and Helene, side by side.

Prince Vasili was not having any supper: he went round the table

in a merry mood, sitting down now by one, now by another, of the

guests. To each of them he made some careless and agreeable

remark except to Pierre and Helene, whose presence he seemed not

to notice. He enlivened the whole party.