战争与和平(上)-第233章

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　Rostov　experienced　a　sensation　of　shyness；　even　of　terror；　which　he　could　not　have　explained　to　himself。
On　leaving　Madame　Malvintsev；　Rostov　would　have　gone　back　to　the　dance；　but　the　little　governor’s　wife　laid　her　plump　little　hand　on　his　sleeve；　and　saying　that　she　wanted　to　have　a　few　words　with　him；　led　him　into　the　divan…room；　the　persons　in　that　room　promptly　withdrew　that　they　might　not　be　in　her　way。
“Do　you　know；　mon　cher；”　said　the　governor’s　wife　with　a　serious　expression　on　her　good…natured；　little　face；　“this　is　really　the　match　for　you；　if　you　like；　I　will　try　and　arrange　it。”
“Whom　do　you　mean；　ma　tante？”　asked　Nikolay。
“I　will　make　a　match　for　you　with　the　princess。　Katerina　Petrovna　talks　of　Lili；　but　I　say；　no—the　princess。　Do　you　wish　it？　I　am　sure　your　mamma　will　be　grateful。　Really；　she　is　such　a　splendid　girl；　charming！　And　she　is　by　no　means　so　very　plain。”
“Not　at　all　so；”　said　Nikolay；　as　though　offended　at　the　idea。　“As　for　me；　ma　tante；　as　a　soldier　should；　I　don’t　force　myself　on　any　one；　nor　refuse　anything　that　turns　up；”　said　Rostov；　before　he　had　time　to　consider　what　he　was　saying。
“So　remember　then；　this　is　no　jesting　matter。”
“How　could　it　be！”
“Yes；　yes；”　said　the　governor’s　wife；　as　though　talking　to　herself。　“And　entre　autres；　mon　cher；　you　are　too　assiduous　with　the　other—the　blonde。　One　feels　sorry　for　the　husband；　really…”
“Oh　no；　we　are　quite　friendly；”　said　Nikolay　in　the　simplicity　of　his　heart：　it　had　never　occurred　to　him　that　such　an　agreeable　pastime　for　him　could　be　other　than　agreeable　to　any　one　else。
“What　a　stupid　thing　I　said　to　the　governor’s　wife　though！”　suddenly　came　into　Nikolay’s　mind　at　supper。　“She　really　will　begin　to　arrange　a　match；　and　Sonya？…”
And　on　taking　leave　of　the　governor’s　wife；　as　she　said　to　him　once　more　with　a　smile；　“Well；　remember　then；”　he　drew　her　aside。
“But　there　is　something…To　tell　you　the　truth；　ma　tante…”
“What　is　it；　what　is　it；　my　dear？　Come；　let　us　sit　down　here。”
Nikolay　had　a　sudden　desire；　an　irresistible　impulse　to　talk　of　all　his　most　secret　feelings　（such　as　he　would　never　have　spoken　of　to　his　mother；　to　his　sister；　to　an　intimate　friend）　to　this　woman；　who　was　almost　a　stranger。　Whenever　Nikolay　thought　afterwards　of　this　uncalled…for　outbursts　of　inexplicable　frankness—though　it　had　most　important　consequences　for　him—it　seemed　to　him　（as　it　always　seems　to　people　in　such　cases）　that　it　had　happened　by　chance；　through　a　sudden　fit　of　folly。　But　at　the　same　time　this　outburst　of　frankness；　together　with　other　insignificant　events；　had　consequences　of　immense　importance　to　him　and　to　all　his　family。
“It’s　like　this；　ma　tante。　It　has　long　been　maman’s　wish　to　marry　me　to　an　heiress；　but　the　mere　idea　of　it—marrying　for　money—is　revolting　to　me。”
“Oh　yes；　I　can　understand　that；”　said　the　governor’s　wife。
“But　Princess　Bolkonsky；　that’s　a　different　matter。　In　the　first　place；　I’ll　tell　you　the　truth；　I　like　her　very　much；　I　feel　drawn　to　her；　and　then；　ever　since　I　came　across　her　in　such　a　position；　so　strangely；　it　has　often　struck　me；　that　it　was　fate。　Only　think：　mamma　has　long　been　dreaming　of　it；　but　I　had　never　happened　to　meet　her　before—it　always　so　happened　that　we　didn’t　meet。　And　then　when　my　sister；　Natasha；　was　engaged　to　her　brother；　of　course　it　was　impossible　to　think　of　a　match　between　us　then。　It　seems　it　was　to　happen　that　I　met　her　first　just　when　Natasha’s　engagement　had　been　broken　off；　and　well；　everything　afterwards…So　you　see　how　it　is。　I　have　never　said　all　this　to　any　one；　and　I　never　shall。　I　only　say　it　to　you。”
The　governor’s　wife　pressed　his　elbow　gratefully。
“Do　you　know　Sophie；　my　cousin？　I　love　her；　I　have　promised　to　marry　her；　and　I　am　going　to　marry　her…So　you　see　it’s　no　use　talking　of　such　a　thing；”　Nikolay　concluded　lamely；　flushing　crimson。
“My　dearest　boy；　how　can　you　talk　so？　Why；　Sophie　hasn’t　a　farthing；　and　you　told　me　yourself　that　your　papa’s　affairs　are　terribly　straitened。　And　your　maman？　It　would　kill　her—for　one　thing。　Then　Sophie；　if　she　is　a　girl　of　any　heart；　what　a　life　it　would　be　for　her！　Your　mother　in　despair；　your　position　ruined…No；　my　dear；　Sophie　and　you　ought　to　realise　that。”
Nikolay　did　not　speak。　It　was　comforting　to　him　to　hear　these　arguments。
“All　the　same；　ma　tante；　it　cannot　be；”　he　said；　with　a　sigh；　after　a　brief　silence。　“And　besides　would　the　princess　accept　me？　And　again　she　is　in　mourning；　can　such　a　thing　be　thought　of？”
“Why；　do　you　suppose　I　am　going　to　marry　you　out　of　hand　on　the　spot？　There　are　ways　of　doing　everything；”　said　the　governor’s　wife。
“What　a　match…maker　you　are；　ma　tante…”　said　Nikolay；　kissing　her　plump　little　hand。


Chapter　6
ON　REACHING　MOSCOW；　after　her　meeting　with　Rostov　at　Bogutcharovo；　Princess　Marya　had　found　her　nephew　there　with　his　tutor；　and　a　letter　from　Prince　Andrey；　directing　her　what　route　to　take　to　her　aunt；　Madame　Malvintsev’s　at　Voronezh。　The　arrangements　for　the　journey；　anxiety　about　her　brother；　the　organisation　of　her　life　in　a　new　house；　new　people；　the　education　of　her　nephew—all　of　this　smothered　in　Princess　Marya’s　heart　that　feeling　as　it　were　of　temptation；　which　had　tormented　her　during　her　father’s　illness　and　after　his　death；　especially　since　her　meeting　with　Rostov。
She　was　melancholy。　Now　after　a　month　had　passed　in　quiet；　undisturbed　conditions；　she　felt　more　and　more　deeply　the　loss　of　her　father；　which　was　connected　in　her　heart　with　the　downfall　of　Russia。　She　was　anxious：　the　thought　of　the　dangers　to　which　her　brother—the　one　creature　near　to　her　now　left—was　being　exposed　was　a　continual　torture　to　her。　She　was　worried　too　by　the　education　of　her　nephew；　which　she　was　constantly　feeling　herself　unfitted　to　control。　But　at　the　bottom　of　her　heart　there　was　an　inward　harmony；　that　arose　from　the　sense　that　she　had　conquered　in　herself　those　dreams　and　hopes　of　personal　happiness；　that　had　sprung　up　in　connection　with　Rostov。
When　the　governor’s　wife　called　on　Madame　Malvintsev　the　day　after　her　soirée；　and；　talking　over　her　plans　with　her；　explaining　that　though　under　present　circumstances　a　formal　betrothal　was　of　course　not　to　be　thought　of；　yet　they　might　bring　the　young　people　together；　and　let　them　get　to　know　one　another；　and　having　received　the　aunt’s　approval；　began　to　speak　of　Rostov　in　Princess　Marya’s　presence；　singing　his　praises；　and　describing　how　he　had　blushed　on　hearing　the　princess’s　name；　her　emotion　was　not　one　of　joy；　but　of　pain。　Her　inner　harmony　was　destroyed；　and　desires；　doubts；　self…reproach；　and　hope　sprang　up　again。
In　the　course　of　the　two　days　that　followed　before　Rostov　called；　Princess　Marya　was　continually　considering　what　her　behaviour　ought　to　be　in　regard　to　Rostov。　At　one　time；　she　made　up　her　mind　that　she　would　not　come　down　into　the　drawing…room　when　he　came　to　see　her　aunt；　that　it　was　not　suitable　for　her　in　her　deep　mourning　to　receive　visitors。　Then　she　thought　this　would　be　rude　after　what　he　had　done　for　her。　Then　the　idea　struck　her　that　her　aunt　and　the　governor’s　wife　had　views　of　some　sort　upon　her　and　Rostov；　their　words　and　glances　had　seemed　at　times　to　confirm　this　suspicion。　Then　she　told　herself　that　it　was　only　her　own　depravity　that　could　make　her　think　this　of　them：　could　they　possibly　fail　to　realise　that　in　her　position；　still　wearing　the　heaviest　mourning；　such　match…making　would　be　an　insult　both　to　her　and　to　her　father’s　memory？　On　the　supposition　that　she　would　go　down　to　see　him；　Princess　Marya　imagined　the　words　he　would　say　to　her；　and　she　would　say　to　him；　and　at　one　moment；　those　words　seemed　to　her　undeservedly　frigid；　at　the　next；　they　struck　her　as　carrying　too　much　meaning。　Above　all　she　dreaded　the　embarrassment；　which　she　felt　would　be　sure　to　overcome　her；　and　betray　her；　as　soon　as　she　saw　him。
But　when；　on　Sunday　after　matins；　the　footman　came　into　the　drawing…room　to　announce　that　Count　Rostov　had　called；　the　princess　showed　no　sign　of　embarrassment；　only　a　faint　flush　came　into　her　cheeks；　and　her　eyes　shone　with　a　new；　radiant　light。
“You　have　seen　him；　aunt？”　said　Princess　Marya；　in　a　composed　voice；　not　knowing　herself　how　she　could　be　externally　so　calm　and　natural。
When　Rostov　came　into　the　room；　the　princess　dropped　her　head　for　an　instant；　as　though　to　give　time　for　their　visitor　to　greet　her　aunt；　and　then　at　the　very　moment　when　Nikolay　turned　to　her；　she　raised　her　head　and　met　his　gaze　with　shining　eyes。　With　a　movement　full　of　dignity　and　grace；　she　rose　with　a　joyous　smile；　held　out　her　delicate；　soft　hand　to　him；　and　spoke　in　a　voice　in　which　for　the　first　time　there　was　the　thrill　of　deep；　womanly　chest　notes。　Mademoiselle　Bourienne；　who　was　in　the　drawing…room；　gazed　at　Princess　Marya　with　bewildered　surprise。　The　most　accomplished　coquette　herself；　she　could　not　have　man？uvred　better　on　meeting　a　man　whom　she　wanted　to　attract。
“Either　black　suits　her　wonderfully；　or　she　really　has　grown　better　looking　without　my　noticing　it。　And　above　all；　such　tact　and　grace！”　thought　Mademoiselle　Bourienne。
Had　Princess　Marya　been　capable　of　reflection　at　that　moment；　she　would　have　been　even　more　astonished　than　Mademoiselle　Bourienne　at　the　change　that　had　taken　place　in　her。　From　the　moment　she　set　eyes　on　that　sweet；　loved　face；　some　new　force　of　life　seemed　to　take　possession　of　her；　and　to　drive　her　to　speak　and　act　apart　from　her　own　will。　From　the　time　Rostov　entered　the　room；　her　face　was　transformed。　Just　as　when　a　light　is　kindled　within　a　carved　and　painted　lantern；　the　delicate；　intricate；　artistic　tracery　comes　out　in　unexpected　and　impressive　beauty；　where　all　seemed　coarse；　dark；　and　meaningless　before；　so　was　Princess　Marya’s　face　transformed。　For　the　first　time　all　the　pure；　spiritual；　inner　travail　in　which　she　had　lived　till　then　came　out　in　her　face。　All　her　inner　searchings　of　spirit；　her　self…reproach；　her　sufferings；　her　striving　for　goodness；　her　resignation；　her　love；　her　self…sacrifice—all　this　was　radiant　now　in　those　luminous　eyes；　in　the　delicate　smile；　in　every　feature　of　her　tender　face。
Rostov　saw　all　this　as　clearly　as　though　he　had　known　her　whole　life。　He　felt　that　he　was　in　the　presence　of　a　creature　utterly　different　from　and　better　than　all　those　he　had　met　up　to　that　moment；　and；　above　all；　far　better　than　he　was　himself。
The　conversation　was　of　the　simplest　and　most　insignificant　kind。　They　talked　of　the　war；　unconsciously；　like　every　one　else；　exaggerating　their　sadness　on　that　subject；　they　talked　of　their　last　meeting—and　Nikolay　then　tried　to　turn　the　subject；　they　talked　of　the　kind…hearted　governor’s　wife；　of　Nikolay’s　relations；　and　of　Princess　Marya’s。
Princess　Marya　did　not　talk　of　her　brother；　but　turned　the　conversation；　as　soon　as　her　aunt　mentioned　Prince　Andrey。　It　was　evident　that　of　the　troubles　of　Russia　she　could　speak　artificially；　but　her　brother　was　a　subject　too　near　her　heart；　and　she　neither　would　nor　could　speak　lightly　of　him。　Nikolay　noticed　this；　as　indeed　with　a　keenness　of　observation　not　usual　with　him；　he　noticed　every　shade　of　Princess　Marya’s　character；　and　everything　confirmed　him　in　the　conviction　that　sh