Collage 718

Nikolenka is an orphan, the nephew of Princess Marya who is his guardian. In this passage, Pierre comments to Princess Marya how much Nikolenka looks like his father. Nikolenka loves Pierre. Nikolenka is a sad character.

"The curly-headed, sickly boy, with his shining eyes, sat in the corner unnoticed by anyone and, only turning his curly head on its thin neck, emerging from a turned-down collar, to the side where Pierre was, occasionally trembled and whispered something to himself, clearly experiencing some new and strong feeling."

I love the detail -- how he inherited his aunt's "luminous" eyes. -- Lola

Lola Baltzell
from page 691-692, volume 2 of original text
collage
made 1/6/12
Pevear/Volokhonsky translation page 1166-1168