Marya and Nikolay talk over the day's event as they usually do at bedtime. She shows him a diary in which she chronicles the day-to-day moral development of her children. Nikolay is filled with wonder at his wife, whose untiring, perpetual spiritual efforts enhance his life immeasurably. Marya assures her husband that his views on duty to the state are in exact agreement with her own.
Meantime the Bezuhovs talk in their rooms. Pierre remarks how little significance Nikolay finds in ideas, whereas he himself finds nothing serious except ideas. Natasha asks whether Platon Karataev would agree with his view, and Pierre says no. But he would approve of my home life, he tells her,"for he did so like to see seemliness, happiness, peace in everything."
Nikolinka lies dreaming of Pierre, whose image suddenly becomes that of his father, and the boy is dissolved in the weakness of love."I shall study hard," he tells himself, and become someone great and glorious so that even my father would be proud.
