战争与和平(上)-第210章

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nd　during　his　stay　in　Moscow　devoted　himself　exclusively　to　Natasha；　for　whom　he　had　always　had　the　warmest　brotherly　affection；　almost　approaching　adoration。
The　count；　with　his　characteristic　carelessness；　had　by　the　28th　made　no　preparations　for　leaving；　and　the　waggons　that　were　to　come　from　their　Moscow　and　Ryazan　estate　to　remove　all　their　property　out　of　the　house　only　arrived　on　the　30th。
From　the　28th　to　the　31st；　Moscow　was　all　bustle　and　movement。　Every　day　thousands　of　wounded　from　the　field　of　Borodino　were　brought　in　at　the　Dorogomilov　gate　and　conveyed　across　Moscow；　and　thousands　of　vehicles；　full　of　residents　and　their　belongings；　were　driving　out　at　the　gates　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　city。　In　spite　of　Rastoptchin’s　placards—either　arising　independently　of　them；　or　perhaps　in　consequence　of　them—the　strangest　and　most　contradictory　rumours　were　circulating　about　the　town。　Some　said　that　every　one　was　forbidden　to　leave　the　city；　others　asserted　that　all　the　holy　pictures　had　been　taken　from　the　churches；　and　every　one　was　to　be　driven　out　of　Moscow　by　force。　Some　said　there　had　been　another　battle　after　Borodino；　in　which　the　French　had　been　utterly　defeated；　others　declared　that　the　whole　Russian　army　had　been　annihilated。　Some　talked　of　the　Moscow　militia；　which　was　to　advance；　preceded　by　priests；　to　Three　Hills；　others　whispered　that　Father　Augustin　had　been　forbidden　to　leave；　that　traitors　had　been　caught；　that　the　peasants　were　in　revolt；　and　were　plundering　those　who　left　the　town；　and　so　on。　But　all　this　was　only　talk：　in　reality　even　though　the　council　at　Fili；　at　which　it　was　decided　to　abandon　Moscow；　had　not　yet　taken　place；　all—those　who　were　leaving　and　those　who　were　staying—felt　that　Moscow　would　be　surrendered；　though　they　did　not　say　so　freely；　and　felt　that　they　must　make　all　haste　to　escape；　and　to　save　their　property。　There　was　a　feeling　that　there　must　come　a　general　crash　and　change；　yet　till　the　1st　of　September　everything　went　on　unchanged。　Like　a　criminal　being　led　to　the　gallows；　who　knows　in　a　minute　he　must　die；　and　yet　stares　about；　and　puts　straight　the　cap　awry　on　his　head；　Moscow　instinctively　went　on　with　the　daily　routine　of　life；　though　aware　that　the　hour　of　ruin　was　approaching；　when　all　the　customary　conditions　of　life　would　be　at　an　end。
During　the　three　days　preceding　the　occupation　of　Moscow；　the　whole　Rostov　family　was　busily　engaged　in　various　practical　ways。　The　head　of　the　family；　Count　Ilya　Andreitch；　was　continually　driving　about　the　town；　picking　up　all　the　rumours　that　were　in　circulation；　and　while　at　home；　gave　superficial　and　hasty　directions　for　the　preparations　for　departure。
The　countess　superintended　the　sorting　out　of　things　to　be　packed；　she　was　out　of　humour　with　every　one；　and　was　in　continual　pursuit　of　Petya；　who　was　as　continually　escaping　from　her；　and　exciting　her　jealousy　by　spending　all　his　time　with　Natasha。　Sonya　was　the　only　person　who　really　undertook　the　practical　business　of　getting　things　packed。　But　Sonya　had　been　particularly　silent　and　melancholy　of　late。　She　had　been　present　when　Nikolay’s　letter　mentioning　Princess　Marya　had　elicited　the　most　delighted　deductions　from　the　countess；　who　saw　in　Nikolay’s　meeting　with　Princess　Marya　the　direct　intervention　of　Providence。
“I　was　never　really　happy；”　said　the　countess；　“when　Bolkonsky　was　engaged　to　Natasha；　but　I　had　always　longed　for　Nikolay　to　marry　the　princess；　and　I　have　always　had　a　presentiment　about　it。　And　what　a　good　thing　it　would　be！”
Sonya　felt　that　this　was　true；　that　the　only　possibility　of　retrieving　the　Rostovs’　position　was　by　Nikolay’s　marriage　to　an　heiress；　and　that　the　princess　would　be　an　excellent　match　for　him。　But　this　reflection　was　very　bitter　for　her。　In　spite；　or　perhaps　in　consequence；　of　her　sadness；　she　undertook　the　difficult　task　of　seeing　after　the　sorting　and　packing　of　the　household　goods；　and　for　whole　days　together　she　was　busily　employed。　The　count　and　countess　referred　to　her　when　they　had　any　orders　to　give。　Petya　and　Natasha；　on　the　contrary；　did　nothing　to　help　their　parents；　but　were　generally　in　every　one’s　way；　and　were　only　a　hindrance。　And　all　day　long　the　house　resounded　with　their　flying　footsteps　and　shouts　and　shrieks　of　causeless　mirth。　They　laughed　and　were　gay；　not　in　the　least　because　there　was　reason　for　laughter。　But　they　were　gay　and　glad　at　heart；　and　so　everything　that　happened　was　reason　enough　for　gaiety　and　laughter　in　them。　Petya　was　in　high　spirits　because　he　had　left　home　a　boy；　and　come　back　（so　every　one　told　him）　a　fine　young　man；　because　he　was　at　home；　because　he　had　left　Byely　Tserkov；　where　there　seemed　no　hope　of　being　soon　on　active　service；　and　come　to　Moscow　where　there　would　be　fighting　in　a　few　days；　and　above　all；　because　Natasha；　whose　lead　he　always　followed；　was　in　high　spirits。　Natasha　was　gay；　because　she　had　too　long　been　sad；　and　now　nothing　reminded　her　of　the　cause　of　her　sadness；　and　she　was　quite　strong　again。　She　was　gay　too；　because　she　needed　some　one　to　adore　her　（the　adoration　of　others　was　like　the　grease　on　the　wheels；　without　which　her　mechanism　never　worked　quite　smoothly）；　and　Petya　did　adore　her。　And　above　all；　they　were　both　gay；　because　there　was　war　at　the　very　gates　of　Moscow；　because　there　would　be　fighting　at　the　barriers；　because　arms　were　being　given　out；　and　everybody　was　rushing　about；　and　altogether　something　extraordinary　was　happening；　which　is　always　inspiriting；　especially　for　the　young。


Chapter　13
ON　SATURDAY；　the　31st　of　August；　the　whole　household　of　the　Rostovs　seemed　turned　upside　down。　All　the　doors　stood　wide　open；　all　the　furniture　had　been　moved　about　or　carried　out；　looking…glasses　and　pictures　had　been　taken　down。　The　rooms　were　littered　up　with　boxes；　with　hay　and　packing　paper　and　cord。　Peasants　and　house…serfs　were　tramping　about　the　parquet　floors　carrying　out　the　baggage。　The　courtyard　was　crowded　with　peasants’　carts；　some　piled　high　with　goods　and　corded　up；　others　still　standing　empty。
The　voices　and　steps　of　the　immense　multitude　of　servants　and　of　peasants；　who　had　come　with　the　carts；　resounded　through　the　courtyard　and　the　house。　The　count　had　been　out　since　early　morning。　The　countess　had　a　headache　from　the　noise　and　bustle；　and　was　lying　down　in　the　new　divan…room　with　compresses　steeped　in　vinegar　on　her　head。　Petya　was　not　at　home；　he　had　gone　off　to　see　a　comrade；　with　whom　he　was　planning　to　get　transferred　from　the　militia　to　a　regiment　at　the　front。　Sonya　was　in　the　great　hall；　superintending　the　packing　of　the　china　and　glass。　Natasha　was　sitting　on　the　floor　in　her　dismantled　room　among　heaps　of　dresses；　ribbons；　and　scarfs。　She　sat　gazing　immovably　at　the　floor；　holding　in　her　hands　an　old　ball…dress；　the　very　dress；　now　out　of　fashion；　in　which　she　had　been　to　her　first　Petersburg　ball。
Natasha　was　ashamed　of　doing　nothing　when　every　one　in　the　house　was　so　busy；　and　several　times　that　morning　she　had　tried　to　set　to　work；　but　her　soul　was　not　in　it；　and　she　was　utterly　unable　to　do　anything　unless　all　her　heart　and　soul　were　in　it。　She　stood　over　Sonya　while　she　packed　the　china；　and　tried　to　help；　but　soon　threw　it　up；　and　went　to　her　room　to　pack　her　own　things。　At　first　she　had　found　it　amusing　to　give　away　her　dresses　and　ribbons　to　the　maids；　but　afterwards　when　it　came　to　packing　what　was　left；　it　seemed　a　wearisome　task。
“Dunyasha；　you’ll　pack　it　all；　dear？　Yes？　yes？”
And　when　Dunyasha　readily　undertook　to　do　it　all　for　her；　Natasha　sat　down　on　the　floor　with　the　old　ball…dress　in　her　hands；　and　fell　to　dreaming　on　subjects　far　removed　from　what　should　have　been　occupying　her　mind　then。　From　the　reverie　she　had　fallen　into；　Natasha　was　aroused　by　the　talk　of　the　maids　in　the　next　room　and　their　hurried　footsteps　from　their　room　to　the　backstairs。　Natasha　got　up　and　looked　out　of　the　window。　A　huge　train　of　carts　full　of　wounded　men　had　stopped　in　the　street。
The　maids；　the　footmen；　the　housekeeper；　the　old　nurse；　the　cooks；　the　coachmen；　the　grooms；　and　the　scullion…boys　were　all　at　the　gates；　staring　at　the　wounded　men。
Natasha　flung　a　white　pocket…handkerchief　over　her　hair；　and　holding　the　corners　in　both　hands；　went　out　into　the　street。
The　old　housekeeper；　Mavra　Kuzminishna；　had　left　the　crowd　standing　at　the　gate；　and　gone　up　to　a　cart　with　a　tilt　of　bast…mats　thrown　over　it。　She　was　talking　to　a　pale　young　officer　who　was　lying　in　this　cart。　Natasha　took　a　few　steps　forward　and　stood　still　timidly；　holding　her　kerchief　on　and　listening　to　what　the　housekeeper　was　saying。
“So　you　have　no　one　then　in　Moscow？”　Mavra　Kuzminishna　was　saying。　“You’d　be　more　comfortable　in　some　apartment。…　In　our　house　even。　The　masters　are　all　leaving。”
“I　don’t　know　if　it　would　be　allowed；”　said　the　officer　in　a　feeble　voice。　“There’s　our　chief　officer　…　ask　him；”　and　he　pointed　to　a　stout　major　who　had　turned　back　and　was　walking　along　the　row　of　carts　down　the　street。
Natasha　glanced　with　frightened　eyes　into　the　face　of　the　wounded　officer；　and　at　once　went　to　meet　the　major。
“May　the　wounded　men　stay　in　our　house？”　she　asked。
The　major　with　a　smile　put　his　hand　to　his　cap。
“What　is　your　pleasure；　ma’mselle？”　he　said；　screwing　up　his　eyes　and　smiling。
Natasha　quietly　repeated　her　question；　and　her　face　and　her　whole　manner；　though　she　still　kept　hold　of　the　corners　of　the　pocket…handkerchief；　was　so　serious；　that　the　major　left　off　smiling；　and　after　a　moment’s　pondering—as　though　asking　himself　how　far　it　were　possible—he　gave　her　an　affirmative　answer。
“Oh　yes；　why　not；　they　may；”　he　said。
Natasha　gave　a　slight　nod；　and　went　back　with　rapid　steps　to　Mavra　Kuzminishna；　who　was　still　talking　with　commiserating　sympathy　to　the　young　officer。
“They　may；　he　said　they　might！”　whispered　Natasha。
The　officer　in　the　covered　cart　turned　into　the　Rostovs’　courtyard；　and　dozens　of　carts　of　wounded　men　began　at　the　invitation　of　the　inhabitants　to　drive　up　to　the　entries　of　the　houses　in　Povarsky　Street。　Natasha　was　evidently　delighted　at　having　to　do　with　new　people　in　conditions　quite　outside　the　ordinary　routine　of　life。　She　joined　Mavra　Kuzminishna　in　trying　to　get　as　many　as　possible　driven　into　their　yard。
“We　must　ask　your　papa　though；”　said　Mavra　Kuzminishna。
“Nonsense；　nonsense。　What　does　it　matter？　For　one　day；　we’ll　move　into　the　drawing…room。　We　can　give　them　all　our　half　of　the　house。”
“What　an　idea！　what　next？　The　lodge；　may　be；　the　men’s　room；　and　old　nurse’s　room；　and　you　must　ask　leave　for　that。”
“Well；　I　will　ask。”
Natasha　ran　indoors；　and　went　on　tiptoe　to　the　half…open　door　of　the　divan…room；　where　there　was　a　strong　smell　of　vinegar　and　Hoffmann’s　drops。
“Are　you　asleep；　mamma？”
“Oh；　what　chance　is　there　of　sleep！”　said　the　countess；　who　had　just　dropped　into　a　doze。
“Mamma；　darling！”　said　Natasha；　kneeling　before　her　mother　and　leaning　her　face　against　her　mother’s。　“I　am　sorry；　forgive　me；　I’ll　never　do　it　again；　I　waked　you。　Mavra　Kuzminishna　sent　me；　they　have　brought　some　wounded　men　in；　officers；　will　you　allow　it？　They　have　nowhere　to　go；　I　know　you　will　allow　it；　…”　she　said　rapidly；　not　taking　breath。
“Officers？　Who　have　been　br