Chapter 12
Nikolai's parents write to tell him of Natasha's illness and how she has broken her engagement with Andrew. They urge him to return as quickly as he can. He promises that he will, without actually making any efforts to do so. He also writes to Sonya, and tells her that he will return and marry her as soon as he can, but he cannot currently leave the army with honour. While he's there, he enjoys his time on campaign. He's now experienced enough to have his own flunky, Ilyin, who gazes at him with adoration, as he did to Dolokhov back in 1806, and he also knows enough to be able to pick holes in other men's war stories. He is especially unimpressed by Zdrhinski, who has a handlebar moustache and likes to tell tales of the General Raevski's exploits, which Nikolai suspects to be highly exaggerated.
I kind-of like General Raevski, because his last name is almost the same as mine. Nikolai is disparaging about the fact that General Raevski is said to have lead his own sons in the battle because, firstly, it wasn't an important enough battle to risk his son's lives (in Nikolai's opinion), secondly, they wouldn't have been able to see Raevski properly, or care that much about his paternal feelings at that particular time, and, thirdly, he would definitely not have left Petya or Ilyin into that sort of danger. He doesn't say anything out loud because he knows that that isn't done. Ilyin interrupts the conversation instead, by riding off to find shelter. He finds a nearby tavern, full of Russian soldier's, and the regiment's doctor's young German wife, Mary Hendrickhovna. She has a very jealous husband who likes to keep her close, so early in their marriage. Anyway, Ilya and Nikolai set off for the tavern.
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