The handsome Anatole was smilingly talking to a partner on his arm and looked at Natasha as one looks at a wall.

Boris passed them twice and each time turned away.

Berg and his wife, who were not dancing, came up to them.

This family gathering seemed humiliating to Natasha--as if there were nowhere else for the family to talk but here at the ball.

She did not listen to or look at Vera, who was telling her something about her own green dress.