" I come to ask you what to do, and you call it 'nonsense!'" The countess shrugged her shoulders.

"If it is true that Monsieur Denisov has made you a proposal, tell him he is a fool, that's all!" "No, he's not a fool!" replied Natasha indignantly and seriously.

"Well then, what do you want? You're all in love nowadays.

Well, if you are in love, marry him!" said the countess, with a laugh of annoyance.

" Good luck to you!" "No, Mamma, I'm not in love with him, I suppose I'm not in love with him.