Part IV

Summary

Nikolai Rostov is enjoying himself, as the commander of the Pavlograd regiment in place of Denisov. His soldiers respect him and admire him as their leader. He is delighted with his position and comfortable in his surroundings. Thus, when he receives a letter from home asking him to return back to sort out the financial tangle created by the Count, he is unwilling to go. However, his motherÂ’s persuasive words compel him to visit home. After taking permission from the headquarters, he bids goodbye to his soldiers. He reaches home with apprehension but finds everything same, except his parents who have aged. His mother talks about the CountÂ’s inability to manage their finances and the tenants exploiting his weakness. Rostov takes the matter into his hands and apprehends the erring tenant Mitenka. Beyond this, he is unable to do anything, as he is in the dark about the CountÂ’s financial holdings and dealings.

Unable to retrieve the mess created by his father, Nikolai decides to make the best of his holidays. He joins a hunting expedition along with the Count and Natasha. Thus, equipped with their hounds, they follow their trainer into the forest for a long and exciting hunt. After a long and arduous chase, Danilo manages to catch the wolf and Nikolai helps him trap it. During the course of their hunt, they meet an old acquaintance that they call as ‘Uncle.’ At his invitation, the younger Rostovs accompany him to his home and enjoy his hospitality.

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