Nikolai Rostov, his sister Vera, Marya Lvovna Karagina's daughter Julie, and Sonya, the count's fifteen-year-old niece, which, I think, makes her Nikolai's and Nataly's cousin. She is a little cutie-pants.
Nikolai has decided to leave university and join the military, just like darling Bory. He'll be in the archives department (he also has nepotism armour). The count doesn't believe a war will really happen, even though it's just been announced. Nikolai insists that the army is his rightful place, while making eyes at his fifteen-year-old cousin. Julie decides to flirt with him instead and Sonya goes off in a huff. Nicholas notices and goes after her. Darling Bory's mother, Anna, notices, and comments that "cousinhood is a dangerous neighbourhood". She's not wrong. In genetics, we call them cosanguinous matings if they're closer than 3rd cousins, and they're not a great idea.
Countess Rostov is absolutely positive that all her daughters share everything with her, and that Sonya will tell her immediately if anything happens with Nikolai. Even if it does, he won't be as bad as those "Petersburg young men," (suddenly, a bear).
The count decides that everything is splendid, and boasts about Nataly's singing ability. Of course she's not too young to have singing lessons; their mothers were married at twelve or thirteen, don't you know? I mean, the countess waited until she was at least twenty until she started on her twelve children (maybe). The countess thinks that Nataly is in love with Darling Bory, but, since the Countess is such a permissive mother, she is sure to hear everything, and Nataly and Bory won't be sneaking around making out in dark corners.
Countess Vera - the eldest Rostov daughter, who is only four years older than Nataly (presumably, the eldest were all boys) was raised more strictly. Vera agrees when her mother says this, in a way that makes everyone uncomfortable. This party is still not as good as the one with the bear.
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