Intotheinsignificant，trifling，andartificialinterestsunitingthatsocietyhadenteredthesimplefeelingoftheattractionofahealthyandhandsomeyoungmanandwomanforoneanother。Andthishumanfeelingdominatedeverythingelseandsoaredabovealltheiraffectedchatter。Jestsfellflat，newswasnotinteresting，andtheanimationwasevidentlyforced。Notonlytheguestsbuteventhefootmenwaitingattableseemedtofeelthis，andtheyforgottheirdutiesastheylookedatthebeautifulHelenewithherradiantfaceandatthered，broad，andhappythoughuneasyfaceofPierre。Itseemedasiftheverylightofthecandleswasfocusedonthosetwohappyfacesalone。
Pierrefeltthathethecenterofitall，andthisbothpleasedandembarrassedhim。Hewaslikeamanentirelyabsorbedinsomeoccupation。Hedidnotsee，hear，orunderstandanythingclearly。Onlynowandthendetachedideasandimpressionsfromtheworldofrealityshotunexpectedlythroughhismind。
\"Soitisallfinished！\"hethought。\"Andhowhasitallhappened？
Howquickly！NowIknowthatnotbecauseofheralone，norofmyselfalone，butbecauseofeveryone，itmustinevitablycomeabout。Theyareallexpectingit，theyaresosurethatitwillhappenthatI
cannot，Icannot，disappointthem。Buthowwillitbe？Idonotknow，butitwillcertainlyhappen！\"thoughtPierre，glancingatthosedazzlingshouldersclosetohiseyes。