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"Health and happiness to her whose name day we are keeping and to

her children," she said, in her loud, full-toned voice which

drowned all others. "Well, you old sinner," she went on, turning

to the count who was kissing her hand, "you're feeling dull in

Moscow, I daresay? Nowhere to hunt with your dogs? But what is to

be done, old man? Just see how these nestlings are growing up,"

and she pointed to the girls. "You must look for husbands for

them whether you like it or not...."

"Well," said she, "how's my Cossack?" (Marya Dmitrievna always

called Natasha a Cossack) and she stroked the child's arm as she

came up fearless and gay to kiss her hand. "I know she's a scamp

of a girl, but I like her."

She took a pair of pear-shaped ruby earrings from her huge

reticule and, having given them to the rosy Natasha, who beamed

with the pleasure of her saint's-day fete, turned away at once

and addressed herself to Pierre.