Original Text(~250 words)
CHAPTER XII When they all drove back from Pelagéya Danílovna’s, Natásha, who always saw and noticed everything, arranged that she and Madame Schoss should go back in the sleigh with Dimmler, and Sónya with Nicholas and the maids. On the way back Nicholas drove at a steady pace instead of racing and kept peering by that fantastic all-transforming light into Sónya’s face and searching beneath the eyebrows and mustache for his former and his present Sónya from whom he had resolved never to be parted again. He looked and recognizing in her both the old and the new Sónya, and being reminded by the smell of burnt cork of the sensation of her kiss, inhaled the frosty air with a full breast and, looking at the ground flying beneath him and at the sparkling sky, felt himself again in fairyland. “Sónya, is it well with thee?” he asked from time to time. “Yes!” she replied. “And with thee?” When halfway home Nicholas handed the reins to the coachman and ran for a moment to Natásha’s sleigh and stood on its wing. “Natásha!” he whispered in French, “do you know I have made up my mind about Sónya?” “Have you told her?” asked Natásha, suddenly beaming all over with joy. “Oh, how strange you are with that mustache and those eyebrows!... Natásha—are you glad?” “I am so glad, so glad! I was beginning to be vexed with you. I did not tell you, but you have been treating her badly. What...
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Summary
Nicholas finally commits to Sonya during their sleigh ride home from the costume party, and the night becomes magical for everyone. He confides in his sister Natasha, who bursts with joy—not just because he's happy, but because she's been worried about how he was treating Sonya. Natasha reveals she even fought with their mother over defending Sonya's character. This moment shows how real family support works: Natasha was 'ashamed to be happy while Sonya was not,' demonstrating that true happiness is shared, not selfish. Back home, the girls engage in a fortune-telling ritual with mirrors and candles, hoping to see their future husbands. When Natasha sees nothing, she becomes frightened and begs Sonya to try. Sonya, caught between not wanting to disappoint her friends and not actually seeing anything, makes up a vision of Prince Andrew looking cheerful. This small lie reveals how we sometimes bend truth to protect people we love, even when it might not be wise. The chapter captures that intoxicating feeling when everything seems possible—love is declared, futures seem bright, and even superstitions feel meaningful. But it also hints at the complexity beneath the surface: Sonya's white lie about the vision and Natasha's underlying anxiety about Andrew suggest that this magical night might be masking deeper uncertainties about what's really coming.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Fortune-telling with mirrors
A Russian folk ritual where young women would sit between mirrors with candles, hoping to see visions of their future husbands. This was especially popular during winter holidays and reflected deep cultural beliefs about fate and destiny.
Modern Usage:
We still seek glimpses of our future through horoscopes, tarot cards, or even asking friends to predict our love lives.
Sleigh courtship
In Russian aristocratic society, sleigh rides provided rare opportunities for young couples to be somewhat alone together while still being chaperoned. The intimacy of shared warmth and the magical winter setting made these moments especially romantic.
Modern Usage:
Like modern car dates or long walks - moments when couples can talk privately while still being in public spaces.
Family loyalty vs. romantic love
The tension between supporting family members and pursuing personal romantic interests. Natasha shows how true family support means wanting everyone to be happy, not just protecting family interests.
Modern Usage:
When we have to choose between backing our sibling's relationship choices or staying neutral to keep family peace.
White lies of protection
Small deceptions told to spare someone's feelings or avoid disappointment. Sonya invents a vision she didn't really see to make Natasha feel better about the fortune-telling ritual.
Modern Usage:
Like telling a friend their date went well when you suspect it didn't, or saying you're busy instead of admitting you don't want to go out.
Shared happiness principle
The idea that true joy can only be complete when the people you care about are also happy. Natasha couldn't fully enjoy her own romantic prospects while Sonya was suffering.
Modern Usage:
When we can't celebrate our own good news because our best friend is going through a breakup or job loss.
Magical thinking
The belief that rituals, superstitions, or special moments can actually influence future outcomes. The characters treat the fortune-telling seriously, as if it could really reveal their fates.
Modern Usage:
Like wearing lucky socks to job interviews, making wishes at 11:11, or believing certain signs predict relationship success.
Characters in This Chapter
Nicholas
Romantic lead making commitment
Finally declares his intention to marry Sonya during the sleigh ride, transforming from indecisive to committed. His joy becomes infectious, affecting the whole family dynamic.
Modern Equivalent:
The guy who finally decides to propose after years of 'we'll see'
Sonya
Love interest accepting commitment
Receives Nicholas's declaration but also shows her caring nature by lying about the fortune-telling vision to protect Natasha's feelings. She's caught between honesty and kindness.
Modern Equivalent:
The girlfriend who always puts others' feelings before complete honesty
Natasha
Supportive sister and anxious lover
Bursts with joy at Nicholas's news and reveals she's been defending Sonya to their mother. But she's also anxious about her own future with Prince Andrew, needing reassurance through superstition.
Modern Equivalent:
The sister who fights for your relationship but secretly worries about her own
Madame Schoss
Chaperone and superstition enabler
Serves as the adult supervision during the fortune-telling ritual, showing how even authority figures can participate in magical thinking when it comes to love and fate.
Modern Equivalent:
The mom who reads horoscopes with her daughters and takes them semi-seriously
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when people lie to spare our feelings versus when they're being genuinely supportive.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone's reassurance feels too quick or easy—ask yourself if they might be protecting you from something you actually need to know.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Sónya, is it well with thee?"
Context: Nicholas keeps asking this during their sleigh ride as he commits to their relationship
This repetitive question shows his need for constant reassurance that she's truly happy with his decision. It reveals both his genuine care for her feelings and his own nervousness about this major commitment.
In Today's Words:
Are you really okay with this? Are we good?
"I was beginning to be vexed with you. I did not tell you, but you have been treating her badly."
Context: Natasha tells Nicholas she's been upset about how he's treated Sonya
This shows Natasha's moral courage - she was willing to confront her beloved brother about his behavior. It reveals her loyalty to Sonya and her understanding that love requires treating people well consistently.
In Today's Words:
I was getting really mad at you. You've been treating her like crap.
"I was ashamed to be happy while Sonya was not."
Context: Explaining why she couldn't fully enjoy her own romantic happiness
This reveals Natasha's empathetic nature and the principle that true happiness is shared. She understands that celebrating your own good fortune while someone you love suffers is hollow and wrong.
In Today's Words:
I felt guilty being happy when she was miserable.
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Protective Deception - When Love Makes Us Lie
We lie to people we love, believing we're protecting them from pain, when we're often just avoiding our own discomfort with their disappointment.
Thematic Threads
Family Loyalty
In This Chapter
Natasha defended Sonya against their mother and feels ashamed to be happy while Sonya suffers
Development
Deepening from earlier social obligations to genuine emotional investment
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you find yourself fighting family members who criticize someone you care about.
Shared Happiness
In This Chapter
Natasha cannot fully enjoy her own joy while Sonya is unhappy, showing how real love connects our emotional states
Development
Building on themes of interconnected lives and mutual responsibility
In Your Life:
You experience this when your good news feels hollow because someone close to you is struggling.
Truth vs Kindness
In This Chapter
Sonya lies about seeing Prince Andrew in the mirror to avoid disappointing her friends
Development
Introduced here as a new complexity in relationships
In Your Life:
You face this dilemma when someone asks for reassurance you can't honestly give.
Future Anxiety
In This Chapter
Despite the magical night, fortune-telling reveals underlying fears about what's coming
Development
Continuing the theme of uncertainty beneath surface happiness
In Your Life:
You might notice this when good times feel fragile and you search for signs of what's ahead.
Commitment
In This Chapter
Nicholas finally commits to Sonya, transforming their relationship from uncertainty to promise
Development
Resolution of earlier romantic tension and social pressure
In Your Life:
You recognize this moment when you stop hesitating and fully commit to a person or path.
Modern Adaptation
When Hope Needs Protection
Following Andrew's story...
Andrew's been volunteering at the community center, helping his neighbor Marcus prepare for his GED test. Tonight, Marcus's girlfriend Sarah asks Andrew privately if Marcus is really ready for next week's exam. Andrew knows Marcus is struggling with the math section and probably isn't prepared, but seeing Sarah's hopeful face—how she's been working extra shifts to pay for the test fee, how she talks about their future once Marcus gets his diploma—Andrew finds himself saying 'Yeah, he's doing great. Really coming along.' Sarah lights up with relief. Later, Andrew's sister calls to check on him. When she asks how he's doing with his own life direction, Andrew almost tells her about his latest existential crisis, but hearing the worry in her voice, he says 'Things are good, really finding my path.' Both conversations leave him feeling hollow, wondering why he keeps protecting people from truths they might actually need to hear.
The Road
The road Sonya walked in 1810, Andrew walks today. The pattern is identical: we lie to protect the people we love from disappointment, but often we're really protecting ourselves from their pain.
The Map
This chapter provides a navigation tool for recognizing protective deception. Andrew can learn to pause before reassuring someone and ask: am I helping them or just avoiding discomfort?
Amplification
Before reading this, Andrew might have continued these well-meaning lies without recognizing the pattern. Now he can NAME protective deception, PREDICT how it postpones rather than prevents pain, and NAVIGATE toward difficult honesty delivered with compassion.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Sonya lie about seeing Prince Andrew in the mirror during the fortune-telling ritual?
analysis • surface - 2
What does Natasha's statement about being 'ashamed to be happy while Sonya was not' reveal about how she views relationships and loyalty?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about times when people have told you 'white lies' to spare your feelings. How did you feel when you discovered the truth?
application • medium - 4
When is it better to deliver difficult truth with compassion rather than protect someone with a comfortable lie?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about the difference between protecting someone and protecting yourself from their reaction?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Truth vs. Kindness Decision Map
Think of a current situation where you're tempted to bend the truth to spare someone's feelings. Write down the situation, then map out two paths: one where you tell a protective lie, and one where you deliver the truth with compassion. For each path, trace the likely consequences 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months later.
Consider:
- •Are you protecting them from pain they can't handle, or protecting yourself from their reaction?
- •Will this deception serve them long-term or just postpone inevitable disappointment?
- •How would you want to be treated if the roles were reversed?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone's 'protective lie' to you caused more harm than the truth would have. What did that experience teach you about honesty in relationships?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 145: When Love Meets Money
In the next chapter, you'll discover financial pressure can turn family love into family warfare, and learn good intentions sometimes require painful sacrifices. These insights reveal timeless patterns that resonate in our own lives and relationships.