战争与和平(上)-第2章

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And　with　the　freedom；　familiarity；　and　grace　that　distinguished　him；　he　took　the　maid…of…honour’s　hand；　kissed　it；　and　as　he　kissed　it　waved　her　hand；　while　he　stretched　forward　in　his　low　chair　and　gazed　away　into　the　distance。
“Wait；”　said　Anna　Pavlovna；　considering。　“I’ll　talk　to　Lise　（the　wife　of　young　Bolkonsky）　this　very　evening；　and　perhaps　it　can　be　arranged。　I’ll　try　my　prentice　hand　as　an　old　maid　in　your　family。”


Chapter　2
ANNA　PAVLOVNA’S　DRAWING…ROOM　gradually　began　to　fill。　The　people　of　the　highest　distinction　in　Petersburg　were　there；　people　very　different　in　ages　and　characters；　but　alike　in　the　set　in　which　they　moved。　The　daughter　of　Prince　Vassily；　the　beauty；　Ellen；　came　to　fetch　her　father　and　go　with　him　to　the　ambassador’s　fête。　She　was　wearing　a　ball…dress　with　an　imperial　badge　on　it。　The　young　Princess　Bolkonsky　was　there；　celebrated　as　the　most　seductive　woman　in　Petersburg。　She　had　been　married　the　previous　winter；　and　was　not　now　going　out　into　the　great　world　on　account　of　her　interesting　condition；　but　was　still　to　be　seen　at　small　parties。　Prince　Ippolit；　the　son　of　Prince　Vassily；　came　too　with　Mortemart；　whom　he　introduced。　The　Abbé　Morio　was　there　too；　and　many　others。
“Have　you　not　yet　seen；　or　not　been　introduced　to　ma　tante？”　Anna　Pavlovna　said　to　her　guests　as　they　arrived；　and　very　seriously　she　led　them　up　to　a　little　old　lady　wearing　tall　bows；　who　had　sailed　in　out　of　the　next　room　as　soon　as　the　guests　began　to　arrive。　Anna　Pavlovna　mentioned　their　names；　deliberately　turning　her　eyes　from　the　guest　to　ma　tante；　and　then　withdrew。　All　the　guests　performed　the　ceremony　of　greeting　the　aunt；　who　was　unknown；　uninteresting　and　unnecessary　to　every　one。　Anna　Pavlovna　with　mournful；　solemn　sympathy；　followed　these　greetings；　silently　approving　them。　Ma　tante　said　to　each　person　the　same　words　about　his　health；　her　own　health；　and　the　health　of　her　majesty；　who　was；　thank　God；　better　to…day。　Every　one；　though　from　politeness　showing　no　undue　haste；　moved　away　from　the　old　lady　with　a　sense　of　relief　at　a　tiresome　duty　accomplished；　and　did　not　approach　her　again　all　the　evening。　The　young　Princess　Bolkonsky　had　come　with　her　work　in　a　gold…embroidered　velvet　bag。　Her　pretty　little　upper　lip；　faintly　darkened　with　down；　was　very　short　over　her　teeth；　but　was　all　the　more　charming　when　it　was　lifted；　and　still　more　charming　when　it　was　at　times　drawn　down　to　meet　the　lower　lip。　As　is　always　the　case　with　perfectly　charming　women；　her　defect　—　the　shortness　of　the　lip　and　the　half…opened　mouth　—　seemed　her　peculiar；　her　characteristic　beauty。　Every　one　took　delight　in　watching　the　pretty　creature　full　of　life　and　gaiety；　so　soon　to　be　a　mother；　and　so　lightly　bearing　her　burden。　Old　men　and　bored；　depressed　young　men　gazing　at　her　felt　as　though　they　were　becoming　like　her；　by　being　with　her　and　talking　a　little　while　to　her。　Any　man　who　spoke　to　her；　and　at　every　word　saw　her　bright　little　smile　and　shining　white　teeth；　gleaming　continually；　imagined　that　he　was　being　particularly　successful　this　evening。　And　this　each　thought　in　turn。
The　little　princess；　moving　with　a　slight　swing；　walked　with　rapid　little　steps　round　the　table　with　her　work…bag　in　her　hand；　and　gaily　arranging　the　folds　of　her　gown；　sat　down　on　a　sofa　near　the　silver　samovar；　it　seemed　as　though　everything　she　did　was　a　festival　for　herself　and　all　around　her。
“I　have　brought　my　work；”　she　said；　displaying　her　reticule；　and　addressing　the　company　generally。　“Mind；　Annette；　don’t　play　me　a　nasty　trick；”　she　turned　to　the　lady　of　the　house；　“you　wrote　to　me　that　it　was　quite　a　little　gathering。　See　how　I　am　got　up。”
And　she　flung　her　arms　open　to　show　her　elegant　grey　dress；　trimmed　with　lace　and　girt　a　little　below　the　bosom　with　a　broad　sash。
“Never　mind；　Lise；　you　will　always　be　prettier　than　any　one　else；”　answered　Anna　Pavlovna。
“You　know　my　husband　is　deserting　me；”　she　went　on　in　just　the　same　voice；　addressing　a　general；　“he　is　going　to　get　himself　killed。　Tell　me　what　this　nasty　war　is　for；”　she　said　to　Prince　Vassily；　and　without　waiting　for　an　answer　she　turned　to　Prince　Vassily’s　daughter；　the　beautiful　Ellen。
“How　delightful　this　little　princess　is！”　said　Prince　Vassily　in　an　undertone　to　Anna　Pavlovna。
Soon　after　the　little　princess；　there　walked　in　a　massively　built；　stout　young　man　in　spectacles；　with　a　cropped　head；　light　breeches　in　the　mode　of　the　day；　with　a　high　lace　ruffle　and　a　ginger…coloured　coat。　This　stout　young　man　was　the　illegitimate　son　of　a　celebrated　dandy　of　the　days　of　Catherine；　Count　Bezuhov；　who　was　now　dying　at　Moscow。　He　had　not　yet　entered　any　branch　of　the　service；　he　had　only　just　returned　from　abroad；　where　he　had　been　educated；　and　this　was　his　first　appearance　in　society。　Anna　Pavlovna　greeted　him　with　a　nod　reserved　for　persons　of　the　very　lowest　hierarchy　in　her　drawing…room。　But；　in　spite　of　this　greeting；　Anna　Pavlovna’s　countenance　showed　signs　on　seeing　Pierre　of　uneasiness　and　alarm；　such　as　is　shown　at　the　sight　of　something　too　big　and　out　of　place。　Though　Pierre　certainly　was　somewhat　bigger　than　any　of　the　other　men　in　the　room；　this　expression　could　only　have　reference　to　the　clever；　though　shy；　observant　and　natural　look　that　distinguished　him　from　every　one　else　in　the　drawing…room。
“It　is　very　kind　of　you；　M。　Pierre；　to　have　come　to　see　a　poor　invalid；”　Anna　Pavlovna　said　to　him；　exchanging　anxious　glances　with　her　aunt；　to　whom　she　was　conducting　him。
Pierre　murmured　something　unintelligible；　and　continued　searching　for　something　with　his　eyes。　He　smiled　gleefully　and　delightedly；　bowing　to　the　little　princess　as　though　she　were　an　intimate　friend；　and　went　up　to　the　aunt。　Anna　Pavlovna’s　alarm　was　not　without　grounds；　for　Pierre　walked　away　from　the　aunt　without　waiting　to　the　end　of　her　remarks　about　her　majesty’s　health。　Anna　Pavlovna　stopped　him　in　dismay　with　the　words：　“You　don’t　know　Abbé　Morio？　He’s　a　very　interesting　man；”　she　said。
“Yes；　I　have　heard　of　his　scheme　for　perpetual　peace；　and　it’s　very　interesting；　but　hardly　possible　…”
“You　think　so？”　said　Anna　Pavlovna　in　order　to　say　something　and　to　get　away　again　to　her　duties　as　hostess；　but　Pierre　committed　the　opposite　incivility。　Just　now　he　had　walked　off　without　listening　to　the　lady　who　was　addressing　him；　now　he　detained　by　his　talk　a　lady　who　wanted　to　get　away　from　him。　With　head　bent　and　legs　planted　wide　apart；　he　began　explaining　to　Anna　Pavlovna　why　he　considered　the　abbé’s　scheme　chimerical。
“We　will　talk　of　it　later；”　said　Anna　Pavlovna；　smiling。
And　getting　rid　of　this　unmannerly　young　man　she　returned　to　her　duties；　keeping　her　eyes　and　ears　open；　ready　to　fly　to　the　assistance　at　any　point　where　the　conversation　was　flagging。　Just　as　the　foreman　of　a　spinning…mill　settles　the　work…people　in　their　places；　walks　up　and　down　the　works；　and　noting　any　stoppage　or　unusual　creaking　or　too　loud　a　whir　in　the　spindles；　goes　up　hurriedly；　slackens　the　machinery　and　sets　it　going　properly；　so　Anna　Pavlovna；　walking　about　her　drawing…room；　went　up　to　any　circle　that　was　pausing　or　too　loud　in　conversation　and　by　a　single　word　or　change　of　position　set　the　conversational　machine　going　again　in　its　regular；　decorous　way。　But　in　the　midst　of　these　cares　a　special　anxiety　on　Pierre’s　account　could　still　be　discerned　in　her。　She　kept　an　anxious　watch　on　him　as　he　went　up　to　listen　to　what　was　being　said　near　Mortemart；　and　walked　away　to　another　group　where　the　abbé　was　talking。　Pierre　had　been　educated　abroad；　and　this　party　at　Anna　Pavlovna’s　was　the　first　at　which　he　had　been　present　in　Russia。　He　knew　all　the　intellectual　lights　of　Petersburg　gathered　together　here；　and　his　eyes　strayed　about　like　a　child’s　in　a　toy…shop。　He　was　afraid　at　every　moment　of　missing　some　intellectual　conversation　which　he　might　have　heard。　Gazing　at　the　self…confident　and　refined　expressions　of　the　personages　assembled　here；　he　was　continually　expecting　something　exceptionally　clever。　At　last　he　moved　up　to　Abbé　Morio。　The　conversation　seemed　interesting；　and　he　stood　still　waiting　for　an　opportunity　of　expressing　his　own　ideas；　as　young　people　are　fond　of　doing。


Chapter　3
ANNA　PAVLOVNA’S　soirée　was　in　full　swing。　The　spindles　kept　up　their　regular　hum　on　all　sides　without　pause。　Except　the　aunt；　beside　whom　was　sitting　no　one　but　an　elderly　lady　with　a　thin；　careworn　face；　who　seemed　rather　out　of　her　element　in　this　brilliant　society；　the　company　was　broken　up　into　three　groups。　In　one　of　these；　the　more　masculine；　the　centre　was　the　abbé；　in　the　other；　the　group　of　young　people；　the　chief　attractions　were　the　beautiful　Princess　Ellen；　Prince　Vassily’s　daughter；　and　the　little　Princess　Bolkonsky；　with　her　rosy　prettiness；　too　plump　for　her　years。　In　the　third　group　were　Mortemart　and　Anna　Pavlovna。
The　vicomte　was　a　pretty　young　gentleman　with　soft　features　and　manners；　who　obviously　regarded　himself　as　a　celebrity；　but　with　good　breeding　modestly　allowed　the　company　the　benefit　of　his　society。　Anna　Pavlovna　unmistakably　regarded　him　as　the　chief　entertainment　she　was　giving　her　guests。　As　a　clever　ma？tre　d’h？tel　serves　as　something　superlatively　good　the　piece　of　beef　which　no　one　would　have　cared　to　eat　seeing　it　in　the　dirty　kitchen；　Anna　Pavlovna　that　evening　served　up　to　her　guests　—　first；　the　vicomte　and　then　the　abbé；　as　something　superlatively　subtle。　In　Mortemart’s　group　the　talk　turned　at　once　on　the　execution　of　the　duc　d’Enghien。　The　vicomte　said　that　the　duc　d’Enghien　had　been　lost　by　his　own　magnanimity　and　that　there　were　special　reasons　for　Bonaparte’s　bitterness　against　him。
“Ah；　come！　Tell　us　about　that；　vicomte；”　said　Anna　Pavlovna　gleefully；　feeling　that　the　phrase　had　a　peculiarly　Louis　Quinze　note　about　it：　“Contez…nous　cela；　vicomte。”
The　vicomte　bowed　and　smiled　courteously　in　token　of　his　readiness　to　obey。　Anna　Pavlovna　made　a　circle　round　the　vicomte　and　invited　every　one　to　hear　his　story。
“The　vicomte　was　personally　acquainted　with　his　highness；”　Anna　Pavlovna　whispered　to　one。　“The　vicomte　tells　a　story　perfectly；”　she　said　to　another。　“How　one　sees　the　man　of　quality；”　she　said　to　a　third；　and　the　vicomte　was　presented　to　the　company　in　the　most　elegant　and　advantageous　light；　like　the　roast…beef　on　the　hot　dish　garnished　with　green　parsley。
The　vicomte　was　about　to　begin　his　narrative；　and　he　smiled　subtly。
“Come　over　here；　chère　Hélène；”　said　Anna　Pavlovna　to　the　young　beauty　who　was　sitting　a　little　way　off；　the　centre　of　another　group。
Princess　Ellen　smiled。　She　got　up　with　the　same　unchanging　smile　of　the　acknowledged　beauty　with　which　she　had　entered　the　drawing…room。　Her　white　ball…dress　adorned　with　ivy　and　moss　rustled　lightly；　her　white　shoulders；　glossy　hair；　and　diamonds　glittered；　as　she　passed　between　the　men　who　moved　apart　to　make　way　for　her。　Not　looking　directly　at　any　one；　but　smiling　at　every　one；　as　it　were　courteously　allowing　to　all　the　right　to　admire　the　beauty　of　her　figure；　her　full　shoulders；　her　bosom　and　back；　which　were　extremely　exposed　in　the　mode　of　the　day；　she　moved　up　to　Anna　Pavlovna；　seeming　to　bring　with　her　the　brilliance　of　the　ballroom。　Ellen　wa