War and Peace Volume 2 Book 4 Chapter 16

In which the Rostóv family experiences a mixture of tender and troubling moments, as Nicholas confesses a heavy loss that his father must bear with quiet resignation, while Natásha wrestles with the earnest and awkward proposal of friendship from Vasíli Denísov. The household is steeped in emotions ranging from regret and sorrow to the gentle bonds of affection, all set against the subtle rhythms of everyday life in Moscow.