战争与和平(上)-第131章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


“Why　is　it　other　people　see　things　and　I　never　see　anything？”　she　said。　“Come；　you　sit　down；　Sonya；　to…day　you　really　must。　Only　look　for　me　…　I　feel　so　full　of　dread　to…day！”
Sonya　sat　down　to　the　looking…glass；　got　the　correct　position；　and　began　looking。
“You　will　see；　Sonya　Alexandrovna　will　be　sure　to　see　something；”　whispered　Dunyasha；　“you　always　laugh。”
Sonya　heard　these　words；　and　heard　Natasha　say　in　a　whisper：　“Yes；　I　know　she’ll　see　something；　she　saw　something　last　year　too。”　For　three　minutes　all　were　mute。
“Sure　to！”　whispered　Natasha；　and　did　not　finish。…　All　at　once　Sonya　drew　back　from　the　glass　she　was　holding　and　put　her　hand　over　her　eyes。　“O　Natasha！”　she　said。　“Seen　something？　Seen　something？　What　did　you　see？”　cried　Natasha；　supporting　the　looking…glass。　Sonya　had　seen　nothing。　She　was　just　meaning　to　blink　and　to　get　up；　when　she　heard　Natasha’s　voice　say：　“Sure　to！”　…　She　did　not　want　to　deceive　either　Dunyasha　or　Natasha；　and　was　weary　of　sitting　there。　She　did　not　know　herself　how　and　why　that　exclamation　had　broken　from　her　as　she　covered　her　eyes。
“Did　you　see　him？”　asked　Natasha；　clutching　her　by　the　hand。
“Yes。　Wait　a　bit。…　I　…　did　see　him；”　Sonya　could　not　help　saying；　not　yet　sure　whether　by　him　Natasha　meant　Nikolay　or　Andrey。　“Why　not　say　I　saw　something？　Other　people　see　things！　And　who　can　tell　whether　I　have　or　have　not？”　flashed　through　Sonya’s　mind。
“Yes；　I　saw　him；”　she　said。
“How　was　it？　How？　Standing　or　lying　down？”
“No；　I　saw　…　At　first　there　was　nothing；　then　I　saw　him　lying　down。”
“Andrey　lying　down？　Is　he　ill？”　Natasha　asked；　fixing　eyes　of　terror　on　her　friend。
“No；　on　the　contrary—on　the　contrary；　his　face　was　cheerful；　and　he　turned　to　me”；　and　at　the　moment　she　was　saying　this；　it　seemed　to　herself　that　she　really　had　seen　what　she　described。
“Well；　and　then；　Sonya？　…”
“Then　I　could　make　out　more；　something　blue　and　red。…”
“Sonya；　when　will　he　come　back？　When　shall　I　see　him？　My　God！　I　feel　so　frightened　for　him；　and　for　me；　and　frightened　for　everything　…”　cried　Natasha；　and　answering　not　a　word　to　Sonya’s　attempts　to　comfort　her；　she　got　into　bed；　and　long　after　the　candle　had　been　put　out　she　lay　with　wide…open　eyes　motionless　on　the　bed；　staring　into　the　frosty　moonlight　through　the　frozen　window…panes。


Chapter　13
SOON　AFTER　THE　CHRISTMAS　FêTES　were　over；　Nikolay　spoke　to　his　mother　of　his　love　for　Sonya；　and　his　immovable　resolution　to　marry　her。　The　countess　had　long　before　observed　what　was　passing　between　Sonya　and　Nikolay；　and　was　expecting　this　announcement。　She　listened　to　his　words　without　comment；　and　then　told　her　son　that　he　could　marry　whom　he　chose；　but　that　neither　she　nor　his　father　would　give　their　blessing　to　such　a　marriage。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life　Nikolay　felt　that　his　mother　was　displeased　with　him；　that　in　spite　of　all　her　love　for　him　she　would　not　give　way　to　him。　Coldly；　without　looking　at　her　son；　she　sent　for　her　husband；　and　when　he　came　in；　the　countess　would　have　briefly　and　coldly；　in　Nikolay’s　presence；　told　him　her　son’s　intention；　but　she　could　not　control　herself；　burst　into　tears　of　anger；　and　went　out　of　the　room。　The　old　count　began　irresolutely　persuading　and　entreating　Nikolay　to　give　up　his　intention。　Nikolay　replied　he　could　not　be　false　to　his　word；　and　his　father；　sighing　and　visibly　embarrassed；　quickly　cut　short　the　conversation　and　went　in　to　the　countess。　In　all　difficulties　with　his　son；　the　old　count　could　never　lose　his　sense　of　guiltiness　to　him　for　having　wasted　their　fortunes；　and　so　he　could　not　feel　angry　with　his　son　for　refusing　to　marry　an　heiress　and　choosing　the　portionless　Sonya。　He　only　felt　more　keenly　that　if　their　fortune　had　not　been　squandered；　no　better　wife　could　have　been　desired　for　Nikolay　than　Sonya；　and　that　he；　with　his　Mitenka　and　his　invincible　bad　habits；　was　alone　to　blame　for　their　fortune　having　been　squandered。　The　father　and　mother　did　not　speak　of　the　subject　again　with　their　son；　but　a　few　days　later　the　countess　sent　for　Sonya　to　her　room；　and　with　a　cruelty　that　surprised　them　both；　the　countess　upbraided　her　niece　for　alluring　her　son　and　for　ingratitude。　Sonya；　with　downcast　eyes；　listened　in　silence　to　the　countess’s　cruel　words；　and　did　not　understand　what　was　expected　of　her。　She　was　ready　to　sacrifice　everything　for　her　benefactors。　The　idea　of　self…sacrifice　was　her　favourite　idea。　But　in　this　case　she　could　not　see　whom　and　what　she　ought　to　sacrifice。　She　could　not　help　loving　the　countess　and　all　the　Rostov　family；　but　neither　could　she　help　loving　Nikolay　and　knowing　that　his　happiness　depended　on　that　love。　She　was　silent　and　dejected；　she　made　no　reply。　Nikolay　could　not；　so　he　fancied；　endure　this　position　any　longer；　and　he　went　in　to　his　mother　to　have　it　out　with　her。　Nikolay　first　besought　his　mother　to　forgive　him　and　Sonya　and　to　agree　to　their　marriage；　then　threatened　his　mother　that　if　Sonya　were　persecuted　he　would　at　once　marry　her　in　secret。　The　countess；　with　a　coldness　her　son　had　never　seen　before；　replied　that　he　was　of　full　age；　that　Prince　Andrey　was　marrying　without　his　father’s　consent；　and　that　he　could　do　the　same；　but　that　she　would　never　receive　that　intriguing　creature　as　her　daughter。
Stung　to　fury　by　the　words　“intriguing　creature；”　Nikolay；　raising　his　voice；　told　his　mother　that　he　had　never　expected　her　to　try　and　force　him　to　tell　his　feelings；　and　that　since　it　was　so；　then　for　the　last　time　he　…　But　he　had　not　time　to　utter　the　fatal　word；　which　his　mother　seemed；　from　her　expression；　to　be　awaiting　in　terror；　and　which　would；　perhaps；　have　remained　a　cruel　memory　between　them　for　ever。　He　had　not　time　to　finish；　because　Natasha；　who　had　been　listening　at　the　door；　ran　into　the　room　with　a　pale　and　set　face。
“Nikolenka；　you　are　talking　nonsense；　hush；　hush；　hush！　I　tell　you　hush！”　…　she　almost　screamed　to　overpower　his　voice。
“Mamma；　darling；　it’s　not　at　all　so　…　my　sweet；　poor　darling；”　she　said；　turning　to　her　mother；　who　gazed　in　terror　at　her　son；　feeling　herself　on　the　edge　of　an　abyss；　but　in　the　obstinacy　and　heat　of　the　conflict　unwilling　and　unable　to　give　in。　“Nikolenka；　I’ll　explain　to　you；　you　go　away—listen；　mamma；　darling；”　she　said　to　her　mother。
Her　words　were　incoherent；　but　they　attained　the　effect　at　which　she　was　aiming。
The　countess；　with　a　deep　sob；　hid　her　face　on　her　daughter’s　bosom；　while　Nikolay　got　up；　clutched　at　his　head；　and　went　out　of　the　room。
Natasha　set　to　work　to　bring　about　a　reconciliation；　and　succeeded　so　far　that　Nikolay　received　a　promise　from　his　mother　that　Sonya　should　not　be　worried；　and　himself　made　a　promise　that　he　would　take　no　step　without　his　parents’　knowledge。
Firmly　resolved　to　settle　things　in　his　regiment；　to　retire；　come　home；　and　marry　Sonya；　Nikolay　at　the　beginning　of　January　went　back　to　his　regiment；　sad　and　serious　at　being　on　bad　terms　with　his　parents；　but；　as　it　seemed　to　him；　passionately　in　love。
After　Nikolay’s　departure；　it　was　more　depressing　than　ever　in　the　Rostovs’　house。　The　countess　fell　ill　from　the　emotional　strains　she　had　passed　through。
Sonya　was　depressed　at　parting　from　Nikolay；　and　still　more　at　the　hostile　tone　the　countess　could　not　help　adopting　towards　her。　The　count　was　more　worried　than　ever　by　the　difficulties　of　his　position；　which　called　for　some　decisive　action。　It　was　necessary　to　sell　the　Moscow　house　and　the　estate　near　Moscow；　and　to　do　so　it　was　necessary　to　go　to　Moscow。　But　the　countess’s　illness　forced　them　to　put　off　going　from　day　to　day。　Natasha；　who　had　at　first　borne　the　separation　from　her　betrothed　so　easily　and　even　cheerfully；　grew　now　more　impatient　and　overstrung　every　day。　The　thought　that　her　best　time；　that　might　have　been　spent　in　loving　him；　was　being　wasted　like　this　for　no　object；　continually　fretted　her。　Prince　Andrey’s　letters　generally　angered　her。　It　mortified　her　to　think　that　while　she　was　simply　living　in　the　thought　of　him；　he　was　living　a　real　life；　seeing　new　places　and　new　people　who　were　interesting　to　him。　The　more　interesting　his　letters　were；　the　more　they　vexed　her。　Her　letters　to　him；　far　from　giving　her　comfort；　were　looked　upon　by　her　as　a　wearisome　and　artificial　duty。　She　could　not　write；　because　she　could　not　attain　to　expressing　truly　in　a　letter　a　thousandth　part　of　what　she　habitually　expressed　in　voice　and　smile　and　eyes。　She　wrote　him　formal　letters；　all　on　one　pattern。　She　did　not　attach　the　smallest　importance　to　them　herself；　and　the　countess　corrected　the　mistakes　in　spelling　in　the　rough　copy　of　them。　The　countess’s　health　still　did　not　mend；　but　the　visit　to　Moscow　could　be　deferred　no　longer。　The　trousseau　had　to　be　got；　the　house　had　to　be　sold；　and　Prince　Andrey　was　to　arrive　first　in　Moscow；　where　his　father　was　spending　the　winter；　and　Natasha　believed　that　he　had　already　arrived　there。　The　countess　was　left　in　the　country；　and　towards　the　end　of　January　the　count　took　Sonya　and　Natasha　with　him　to　Moscow。


Part　Eight
Chapter　1
AFTER　PRINCE　ANDREY’S　ENGAGEMENT　to　Natasha；　Pierre　suddenly；　for　no　apparent　reason；　felt　it　impossible　to　go　on　living　in　the　same　way　as　before。　Firm　as　his　belief　was　in　the　truths　revealed　to　him　by　his　benefactor；　the　old　freemason；　and　happy　as　he　had　been　at　first　in　the　task　of　perfecting　his　inner　spiritual　self；　to　which　he　had　devoted　himself　with　such　ardour；　yet　after　Prince　Andrey’s　engagement　to　Natasha；　and　the　death　of　Osip　Alexyevitch；　the　news　of　which　reached　him　almost　simultaneously；　the　whole　zest　of　his　religious　life　seemed　to　have　suddenly　vanished。　Nothing　but　the　skeleton　of　life　remained：　his　house　with　his　brilliant　wife；　now　basking　in　the　favours　of　a　very　grand　personage　indeed；　the　society　of　all　Petersburg；　and　his　service　at　court　with　its　tedious　formalities。　And　that　life　suddenly　filled　Pierre　with　unexpected　loathing。　He　gave　up　keeping　his　diary；　avoided　the　society　of　brother…masons；　took　to　visiting　the　club　again　and　to　drinking　a　great　deal；　associated　once　more　with　gay　bachelor　companions；　and　began　to　lead　a　life　so　dissipated　that　Countess　Elena　Vassilyevna　thought　it　necessary　to　make　severe　observations　to　him　on　the　subject。　Pierre　felt　that　she　was　right；　and　to　avoid　compromising　his　wife　he　went　away　to　Moscow。
In　Moscow；　as　soon　as　he　entered　his　huge　house　with　the　faded　and　fading　princesses；　his　cousins；　and　the　immense　retinue　of　servants；　as　soon　as；　driving　through　the　town；　he　saw　the　Iversky　chapel　with　the　lights　of　innumerable　candles　before　the　golden　setting　of　the　Madonna；　the　square　of　the　Kremlin　with　its　untrodden　snow；　the　sledge…drivers；　and　the　hovels　of　Sivtsev　Vrazhok；　saw　the　old　Moscow　gentlemen　quietly　going　on　with　their　daily　round；　without　hurry　or　desire　of　change；　saw　the　old　Moscow　ladies；　the　Moscow　balls；　and　the　English　Club—he　felt　himself　at　home；　in　a　quiet　haven　of　rest。　In　Moscow　he　felt　comfortable；　warm；　at　home；　and　snugly　dirty；　as　in　an　old　dressing…gown。
All　Moscow　society；　from　the　old　ladies　to　the　children；　welcomed　Pierre　back　like　a　long…expected　guest；　whose　place　was　always　ready　for　him；　and　had　never　been　filled　up。　For　the　Moscow　world；　Pierre　wa