And he is so clever and so good!" said Natasha.

"Don't you cry, Sonya, dear love, darling Sonya!" and she kissed her and laughed.

"Vera's spiteful; never mind her! And all will come right and she won't say anything to Mamma.
Nicholas will tell her himself, and he doesn't care at all for Julie." Natasha kissed her on the hair.
Sonya sat up.

The little kitten brightened, its eyes shone, and it seemed ready to lift its tail, jump down on its soft paws, and begin playing with the ball of worsted as a kitten should.
"Do you think so ?...

Really?
Truly ?" she said, quickly smoothing her frock and hair.
"Really, truly!" answered Natasha, pushing in a crisp lock that had strayed from under her friend's plaits.
Both laughed.
"Well, let's go and sing 'The Brook.'" "Come along!" "Do you know, that fat Pierre who sat opposite me is so funny!" said Natasha, stopping suddenly.