战争与和平(上)-第13章

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ant　to　be　left　behind；　and　is　giving　up　the　university　and　his　poor　old　father　to　go　into　the　army；　ma　chère。　And　there　was　a　place　all　ready　for　him　in　the　archives　department；　and　all。　Isn’t　that　friendship　now？”　said　the　count　interrogatively。
“But　they　do　say　that　war　has　been　declared；　you　know；”　said　the　visitor。
“They’ve　been　saying　so　a　long　while；”　said　the　count。　“They’ll　say　so　again　and　again；　and　so　it　will　remain。　There’s　friendship　for　you；　ma　chère！”　he　repeated。　“He’s　going　into　the　hussars。”
The　visitor；　not　knowing　what　to　say；　shook　her　head。
“It’s　not　from　friendship　at　all；”　answered　Nikolay；　flushing　hotly；　and　denying　it　as　though　it　were　some　disgraceful　imputation。　“Not　friendship　at　all；　but　simply　I　feel　drawn　to　the　military　service。”
He　looked　round　at　his　cousin　and　the　young　lady　visitor；　both　looked　at　him　with　a　smile　of　approval。
“Schubert’s　dining　with　us　to…night；　the　colonel　of　the　Pavologradsky　regiment　of　hussars。　He　has　been　here　on　leave；　and　is　taking　him　with　him。　There’s　no　help　for　it；”　said　the　count；　shrugging　his　shoulder　and　speaking　playfully　of　what　evidently　was　a　source　of　much　distress　to　him。
“I’ve　told　you　already；　papa；”　said　his　son；　“that　if　you’re　unwilling　to　let　me　go；　I’ll　stay。　But　I　know　I’m　no　good　for　anything　except　in　the　army。　I’m　not　a　diplomatist；　or　a　government　clerk。　I’m　not　clever　at　disguising　my　feelings；”　he　said；　glancing　repeatedly　with　the　coquetry　of　handsome　youth　at　Sonya　and　the　young　lady。
The　kitten；　her　eyes　riveted　on　him；　seemed　on　the　point　of　breaking　into　frolic；　and　showing　her　cat…like　nature。
“Well；　well；　it’s　all…right！”　said　the　old　count；　“he　always　gets　so　hot。　Bonaparte’s　turned　all　their　heads；　they’re　all　dreaming　of　how　he　rose　from　a　lieutenant　to　be　an　emperor。　Well；　and　so　may　it　turn　out　again；　please　God；”　he　added；　not　noticing　the　visitor’s　sarcastic　smile。
While　their　elders　began　talking　about　Bonaparte；　Julie；　Madame　Karagin’s　daughter；　turned　to　young　Rostov。
“What　a　pity　you　weren’t　at　the　Arharovs’　on　Thursday。　I　was　so　dull　without　you；”　she　said；　giving　him　a　tender　smile。　The　youth；　highly　flattered；　moved　with　a　coquettish　smile　nearer　her；　and　entered　into　a　conversation　apart　with　the　smiling　Julie；　entirely　unaware　that　his　unconscious　smile　had　dealt　a　jealous　stab　to　the　heart　of　Sonya；　who　was　flushing　crimson　and　assuming　a　forced　smile。　In　the　middle　of　his　talk　with　Julie　he　glanced　round　at　her。　Sonya　gave　him　an　intensely　furious　look；　and；　hardly　able　to　restrain　her　tears；　though　there　was　still　a　constrained　smile　on　her　lips；　she　got　up　and　went　out　of　the　room。　All　Nikolay’s　animation　was　gone。　He　waited　for　the　first　break　in　the　conversation；　and；　with　a　face　of　distress；　walked　out　of　the　room　to　look　for　Sonya。
“How　all　the　young　things　wear　their　hearts　on　their　sleeves！”　said　Anna　Mihalovna；　pointing　to　Nikolay’s　retreating　figure。　“Cousinage；　dangereux　voisinage；”　she　added。
“Yes；”　said　the　countess；　when　the　sunshine　that　had　come　into　the　drawing…room　with　the　young　people　had　vanished。　She　was；　as　it　were；　replying　to　a　question　which　no　one　had　put　to　her；　but　which　was　always　in　her　thoughts：　“What　miseries；　what　anxieties　one　has　gone　through　for　the　happiness　one　has　in　them　now！　And　even　now　one　feels　really　more　dread　than　joy　over　them。　One’s　always　in　terror！　At　this　age　particularly　when　there　are　so　many　dangers　both　for　girls　and　boys。”
“Everything　depends　on　bringing　up；”　said　the　visitor。
“Yes；　you　are　right；”　the　countess　went　on。　“So　far　I　have　been；　thank　God；　my　children’s　friend　and　have　enjoyed　their　full　confidence；”　said　the　countess；　repeating　the　error　of　so　many　parents；　who　imagine　their　children　have　no　secrets　from　them。　“I　know　I　shall　always　be　first　in　my　children’s　confidence；　and　that　Nikolay；　if；　with　his　impulsive　character；　he　does　get　into　mischief　（boys　will　be　boys）　it　won’t　be　like　these　Petersburg　young　gentlemen。”
“Yes；　they’re　capital　children；　capital　children；”　assented　the　count；　who　always　solved　all　perplexing　questions　by　deciding　that　everything　was　capital。　“Fancy　now；　his　taking　it　into　his　head　to　be　an　hussar！　But　what　can　one　expect；　ma　chère？”
“What　a　sweet　little　thing　your　younger　girl　is！”　said　the　visitor。　“Full　of　fun　and　mischief！”
“Yes；　that　she　is；”　said　the　count。　“She　takes　after　me！　And　such　a　voice；　though　she’s　my　daughter；　it’s　the　truth　I’m　telling　you；　she’ll　be　a　singer；　another　Salomini。　We’ve　engaged　an　Italian　to　give　her　lessons。”
“Isn’t　it　too　early？　They　say　it　injures　the　voice　to　train　it　at　that　age。”
“Oh；　no！　Too　early！”　said　the　count。　“Why；　our　mothers　used　to　be　married　at　twelve　and　thirteen。”
“Well；　she’s　in　love　with　Boris　already！　What　do　you　say　to　that？”　said　the　countess；　smiling　softly　and　looking　at　Boris’s　mother。　And　apparently　in　reply　to　the　question　that　was　always　in　her　mind；　she　went　on：　“Why；　you　know；　if　I　were　strict　with　her；　if　I　were　to　forbid　her…God　knows　what　they　might　not　be　doing　in　secret”　（the　countess　meant　that　they　might　kiss　each　other）；　“but　as　it　is　I　know　every　word　she　utters。　She’ll　come　to　me　this　evening　and　tell　me　everything　of　herself。　I　spoil　her；　perhaps；　but　I　really　believe　it’s　the　best　way。　I　brought　my　elder　girl　up　more　strictly。”
“Yes；　I　was　brought　up　quite　differently；”　said　the　elder　girl；　the　handsome　young　Countess　Vera；　and　she　smiled。　But　the　smile　did　not　improve　Vera’s　face；　on　the　contrary　her　face　looked　unnatural；　and　therefore　unpleasing。　Vera　was　good…looking；　she　was　not　stupid；　was　clever　at　her　lessons；　and　well　educated；　she　had　a　pleasant　voice；　and　what　she　said　was　true　and　appropriate。　But；　strange　to　say；　every　one—both　the　visitor　and　the　countess—looked　at　her；　as　though　wondering　why　she　had　said　it；　and　conscious　of　a　certain　awkwardness。
“People　are　always　too　clever　with　their　elder　children；　they　try　to　do　something　exceptional　with　them；”　said　the　visitor。
“We　won’t　conceal　our　errors；　ma　chère！　My　dear　countess　was　too　clever　with　Vera；”　said　the　count。　“But　what　of　it？　she　has　turned　out　capitally　all　the　same；”　he　added；　with　a　wink　of　approval　to　Vera。
The　guests　got　up　and　went　away；　promising　to　come　to　dinner。
“What　manners！　Staying　on　and　on！”　said　the　countess；　when　she　had　seen　her　guests　out。


Chapter　10
WHEN　NATASHA　ran　out　of　the　drawing…room　she　only　ran　as　far　as　the　conservatory。　There　she　stopped　listening　to　the　talk　in　the　drawing…room；　and　waiting　for　Boris　to　come　out。　She　was　beginning　to　get　impatient；　and　stamping　her　foot　was　almost　ready　to　cry　at　his　not　coming　at　once；　when　she　heard　the　young　man’s　footsteps　coming　out　discreetly；　not　too　slowly　nor　too　quickly。　Natasha　darted　swiftly　away　and　hid　among　the　tubs　of　shrubs。
Boris　stood　still　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　looked　round　him；　brushed　a　speck　of　dirt　off　the　sleeve　of　his　uniform；　and　going　up　to　the　looking…glass　examined　his　handsome　face。　Natasha；　keeping　quiet；　peeped　out　of　her　hiding…place；　waiting　to　see　what　he　would　do。　He　stood　a　little　while　before　the　glass；　smiled　at　his　reflection；　and　walked　towards　the　other　door。　Natasha　was　on　the　point　of　calling　to　him；　but　she　changed　her　mind。　“Let　him　look　for　me；”　she　said　to　herself。　Boris　had　only　just　gone　out；　when　at　the　other　door　Sonya　came　in；　flushed　and　muttering　something　angrily　through　her　tears。　Natasha　checked　her　first　impulse　to　run　out　to　her；　and　remained　in　her　hiding…place；　as　it　were　under　the　invisible　cap；　looking　on　at　what　was　going　on　in　the　world。　She　began　to　feel　a　peculiar　novel　sort　of　enjoyment　in　it。　Sonya　was　murmuring　something　as　she　looked　towards　the　drawing…room　door。　The　door　opened　and　Nikolay　came　in。
“Sonya！　what　is　the　matter？　how　can　you？”　said　Nikolay；　running　up　to　her。
“Nothing；　nothing；　leave　me　alone！”　Sonya　was　sobbing。
“No；　I　know　what　it　is。”
“Very　well；　you　do；　so　much　the　better　then；　and　you　can　go　back　to　her。”
“So…o…onya！　one　word！　How　can　you　torture　me　and　yourself　for　a　mere　fancy？”　said　Nikolay；　taking　her　hand。　Sonya　did　not　pull　her　hand　away；　an