BK1CH23
CHAPTERXXIII
Pierrewellknewthislargeroomdividedbycolumnsandanarch，itswallshungroundwithPersiancarpets。Thepartoftheroombehindthecolumns，withahighsilk—curtainedmahoganybedsteadononesideandontheotheranimmensecasecontainingicons，wasbrightlyilluminatedwithredlightlikeaRussianchurchduringeveningservice。Underthegleamingiconsstoodalonginvalidchair，andinthatchaironsnowy—whitesmoothpillows，evidentlyfreshlychanged，Pierresaw—coveredtothewaistbyabrightgreenquilt—thefamiliar，majesticfigureofhisfather，CountBezukhov，withthatgraymaneofhairabovehisbroadforeheadwhichremindedoneofalion，andthedeepcharacteristicallynoblewrinklesofhishandsome，ruddyface。Helayjustundertheicons；hislargethickhandsoutsidethequilt。Intotherighthand，whichwaslyingpalmdownwards，awaxtaperhadbeenthrustbetweenforefingerandthumb，andanoldservant，bendingoverfrombehindthechair，helditinposition。Bythechairstoodthepriests，theirlonghairfallingovertheirmagnificentglitteringvestments，withlightedtapersintheirhands，slowlyandsolemnlyconductingtheservice。Alittlebehindthemstoodthetwoyoungerprincessesholdinghandkerchiefstotheireyes，andjustinfrontofthemtheireldestsister，Catiche，withaviciousanddeterminedlooksteadilyfixedontheicons，asthoughdeclaringtoallthatshecouldnotanswerforherselfshouldsheglanceround。AnnaMikhaylovna，withameek，sorrowful，andall—forgivingexpressiononherface，stoodbythedoornearthestrangelady。PrinceVasiliinfrontofthedoor，neartheinvalidchair，awaxtaperinhislefthand，wasleaninghisleftarmonthecarvedbackofavelvetchairhehadturnedroundforthepurpose，andwascrossinghimselfwithhisrighthand，turninghiseyesupwardeachtimehetouchedhisforehead。HisfaceworeacalmlookofpietyandresignationtothewillofGod。\"Ifyoudonotunderstandthesesentiments，\"heseemedtobesaying，\"somuchtheworseforyou！\"
Behindhimstoodtheaide—de—camp，thedoctors，andthemenservants；
themenandwomenhadseparatedasinchurch。Allweresilentlycrossingthemselves，andthereadingofthechurchservice，thesubduedchantingofdeepbassvoices，andintheintervalssighsandtheshufflingoffeetweretheonlysoundsthatcouldbeheard。AnnaMikhaylovna，withanairofimportancethatshowedthatshefeltshequiteknewwhatshewasabout，wentacrosstheroomtowherePierrewasstandingandgavehimataper。Helititand，distractedbyobservingthosearoundhim，begancrossinghimselfwiththehandthatheldthetaper。