The eldest princess and Prince Vasili, recovering themselves, followed her.

A few minutes later the eldest sister came out with a pale hard face, again biting her underlip.

At sight of Pierre her expression showed an irrepressible hatred.
"Yes, now you may be glad!" said she; "this is what you have been waiting for." And bursting into tears she hid her face in her handkerchief and rushed from the room.
Prince Vasili came next.

He staggered to the sofa on which Pierre was sitting and dropped onto it, covering his face with his hand.

Pierre noticed that he was pale and that his jaw quivered and shook as if in an ague.
"Ah, my friend!" said he, taking Pierre by the elbow; and there was in his voice a sincerity and weakness Pierre had never observed in it before.