Natasha holds the receiver to her ear and waits. She hears the noise of footsteps. Some one has begun to sing.
Then again the same voice, extremely agitated:
“Natasha, do you hear? Your mother wants to speak to you herself.”
Natasha trembles with fright. Good God, what shall she tell her mother! She inquires:
“What? Is she coming herself to the telephone?” she asks.
“Yes, yes. Your mother is here now.”
XLV
The voice of Sofia Alexandrovna, terribly agitated, is heard:
“Natasha, is that you? For God’s sake, what has happened?”
Natasha replies: