War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide

While the Name-Day celebration (in honor of "Natasha") continues at the Rostov estate in Moscow, the children of the household make an appearance.A door burst open to the Drawing Room (a room near the front of an estate where guests are entertained), and Natasha Rostov, 13, leads the way. She appears to be a natural leader and radiates confidence. She is followed by her brother Nikolai as well as Boris and Sonya (15). Sonya is Count Rostov's niece. Pulling up the rear (and noticeably younger) is little Petya Rostov. Natasha is warmly welcomed by her father and tolerated by her mother. She is her father's special "pet." There was a general feeling that kids should be kept in more private quarters and away from the guests.The host, Ilya Rostov, is a warm man and is happy to see the children. With the kids entering the domain of the adults, each has a different level of comfort. Boris and Nikolai are the same age, about 15 (but the ages lack consistency in the novel), and grew up together