" The two girls in their white dresses, each with a rose in her black hair, both curtsied in the same way, but the hostess' eye involuntarily rested longer on the slim Natasha.

She looked at her and gave her alone a special smile in addition to her usual smile as hostess.

Looking at her she may have recalled the golden, irrecoverable days of her own girlhood and her own first ball.

The host also followed Natasha with his eyes and asked the count which was his daughter.

"Charming!" said he, kissing the tips of his fingers.