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Everybody laughed a great deal. At the head of the table, where

the honored guests sat, everyone seemed to be in high spirits and

under the influence of a variety of exciting sensations. Only

Pierre and Helene sat silently side by side almost at the bottom

of the table, a suppressed smile brightening both their faces, a

smile that had nothing to do with Sergey Kuzmich-a smile of

bashfulness at their own feelings. But much as all the rest

laughed, talked, and joked, much as they enjoyed their Rhine

wine, saute, and ices, and however they avoided looking at the

young couple, and heedless and unobservant as they seemed of

them, one could feel by the occasional glances they gave that the

story about Sergey Kuzmich, the laughter, and the food were all a

pretense, and that the whole attention of that company was

directed to-Pierre and Helene.