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He walked shyly and awkwardly over the parquet floor of the

reception room, not knowing what to do with his hands; he was

more accustomed to walk over a plowed field under fire, as he had

done at the head of the Kursk regiment at Schon Grabern-and he

would have found that easier. The committeemen met him at the

first door and, expressing their delight at seeing such a highly

honored guest, took possession of him as it were, without waiting

for his reply, surrounded him, and led him to the drawing room.

It was at first impossible to enter the drawing room door for the

crowd of members and guests jostling one another and trying to

get a good look at Bagration over each other's shoulders, as if

he were some rare animal. Count Ilya Rostov, laughing and

repeating the words, "Make way, dear boy! Make way, make way!"

pushed through the crowd more energetically than anyone, led the

guests into the drawing room, and seated them on the center sofa.