This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ...X. "Does it ever happen with you," Natasha said to her brother, after they had seated themselves in the sofa-room, "that it seems to you that there will be nothing, nothing, and that everything which is good has been? And don't you feel, not exactly lonesome, but sad?" ' I should say it does," he said. "I have had it happen that every one else would be in a happy and cheerful frame of mind, while it would occur to me that it was all dreadfully tiresome, and that it was time for all to die. One day, while in the regiment, I did not go to the esplanade where the music was playing--and I suddenly felt so lonely--" "Oh, I know that. I know, I know," Natasha interrupted him. "When I was very small, it used to happen to me, too. Do you remember, once I was punished for the cherries, and you were all dancing, while I was sitting in the class-room and sobbing; I shall never forget it: I felt so sad, and I was so sorry for everybody, and for myself, and for everybody, for everybody. And, above all, I had done no wrong," said Natasha. "Do you remember?" "I do," said Nikolay. "I remember that I came to you afterward, and wanted to console you, and, do you know?--I was ashamed to do it. We were awfully funny. I then had a wooden doll, and I wanted to give it to you. Do you remember it?" "And do you remember," said Natasha, with a thoughtful smile, "how a long, long time ago, when we were tiny children, our uncle called us into his cabinet, in the old house, and it was dark in there, --and we went there, and there stood--" "A negro," Nikolay finished the sentence, with a smile of joy. "Of course I remember it. I do not know to the present moment whether it really was a negro, or whether we dreamt of it, or we were told..."