战争与和平(上)-第153章

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o　washed　and　scented　and　powdered；　she　had　washed　as　carefully　behind　her　ears；　and　like　the　Rostovs’　nurse；　her　old　maid　had　enthusiastically　admired　her　mistress’s　attire；　when　she　came　into　the　drawing…room　in　her　yellow　gown　adorned　with　her　badge　of　a　maid…of…honour。　Madame　Peronsky　praised　the　Rostovs’　costumes；　and　they　praised　her　attire　and　her　taste。　Then；　careful　of　their　coiffures　and　their　dresses；　at　eleven　o’clock　they　settled　themselves　in　the　carriages　and　drove　off。


Chapter　15
NATASHA　had　not　had　a　free　moment　all　that　day；　and　had　not　once　had　time　to　think　of　what　lay　before　her。
In　the　damp；　chill　air；　in　the　closeness　and　half　dark　of　the　swaying　carriage；　she　pictured　to　herself　for　the　first　time　what　was　in　store　for　her　there；　at　the　ball；　in　the　brightly　lighted　halls—music；　flowers；　dancing；　the　Tsar；　all　the　brilliant　young　people　of　Petersburg。　The　prospect　before　her　was　so　splendid　that　she　could　not　even　believe　that　it　would　come　to　pass：　so　incongruous　it　seemed　with　the　chilliness；　darkness；　and　closeness　of　the　carriage。　She　could　only　grasp　all　that　awaited　her　when；　walking　over　the　red　cloth；　she　went　into　the　vestibule；　took　off　her　cloak；　and　walked　beside　Sonya　in　front　of　her　mother　between　the　flowers　up　the　lighted　staircase。　Only　then　she　remembered　how　she　must　behave　at　a　ball；　and　tried　to　assume　the　majestic　manner　that　she　considered　indispensable　for　a　girl　at　a　ball。　But　luckily　she　felt　that　there　was　a　mist　before　her　eyes；　she　could　see　nothing　clearly；　her　pulse　beat　a　hundred　times　a　minute；　and　the　blood　throbbed　at　her　heart。　She　was　unable　to　assume　the　manner　that　would　have　made　her　absurd；　and　moved　on；　thrilling　with　excitement；　and　trying　with　all　her　might　simply　to　conceal　it。　And　it　was　just　in　this　mood　that　she　looked　her　best。　In　front　and　behind　them　walked　guests　dressed　in　similar　ball…dresses　and　conversing　in　similarly　subdued　tones。　The　looking…glasses　on　the　stair…cases　reflected　ladies　in　white；　blue；　and　pink　dresses；　with　diamonds　and　pearls　on　their　bare　arms　and　necks。
Natasha　looked　into　the　looking…glasses　and　could　not　distinguish　herself　from　the　rest。　All　was　mingled　into　one　brilliant　procession。　At　the　entrance　into　the　first　room；　the　regular　hum　of　voices；　footsteps；　greetings；　deafened　Natasha；　the　light　and　brilliance　dazzled　her　still　more。　The　host　and　hostess　who　had　been　already　standing　at　the　door　for　half　an　hour；　saying　exactly　the　same　words　to　every　guest　on　arrival；　Charmé　de　vous　voir；　gave　the　same　greeting　to　the　Rostovs　and　Madame　Peronsky。　The　two　young　girls　in　their　white　dresses；　with　roses　alike　in　their　black　hair；　made　curtsies　just　alike；　but　unconsciously　the　hostess’s　eyes　rested　longer　on　the　slender　figure　of　Natasha。　She　looked　at　her；　and　smiled　at　her　a　smile　that　was　something　more　than　the　smile　of　welcome　she　had　for　all。　Looking　at　her；　the　hostess　was　reminded　perhaps　of　her　golden　days　of　girlhood；　gone　never　to　return；　of　her　own　first　ball。　The　host　too　followed　Natasha　with　his　eyes；　and　asked　the　count　which　of　the　girls　was　his　daughter。
“Charming！”　he　said；　kissing　his　own　finger…tips。
In　the　ballroom；　guests　stood　crowding　about　the　entry　in　expectation　of　the　Tsar。　The　countess　took　up　her　position　in　the　front　row　of　this　crowd。　Natasha　heard　and　felt　that　several　voices　were　asking　who　she　was；　that　many　pairs　of　eyes　were　fixed　on　her。　She　knew　that　she　was　making　a　good　impression　on　those　who　noticed　her；　and　this　observation　calmed　her　somewhat。
“There　are　some　like　ourselves；　and　some　not　as　good；”　she　thought。
Madame　Peronsky　was　pointing　out　to　the　countess　the　most　distinguished　persons　at　the　ball。
“That　is　the　Dutch　ambassador；　do　you　see；　the　grey…haired　man；”　Madame　Peronsky　was　saying；　indicating　an　old　man　with　a　profusion　of　silver…grey　curls；　who　was　surrounded　by　ladies　laughing　at　some　story　he　was　telling。　“And　here　she　comes；　the　queen　of　Petersburg　society；　Countess　Bezuhov；”　she　said；　pointing　to　Ellen　who　had　just　come　in。
“How　lovely！　She’s　quite　equal　to　Marya　Antonovna。　Look　how　attentive　all　the　men　are　to　her；　young　and　old　alike。　She’s　both　lovely　and　clever。…　They　say　Prince　So…and…So　is　wild　about　her。　And　you　see　these　two；　though　they　are　not　good…looking；　they　are　even　more　run　after。”
She　pointed　out　a　lady　who　was　crossing　the　room　accompanied　by　a　very　ugly　daughter。
“That’s　the　heiress　of　a　million；”　said　Madame　Peronsky。　“And；　look；　here　come　her　suitors。…That’s　Countess　Bezuhov’s　brother；　Anatole　Kuragin；”　she　said；　pointing　to　a　handsome　officer　in　the　Horse　Guards；　who　passed　by　them　looking　from　the　height　of　his　lifted　head　over　the　ladies　to　something　beyond　them。　“He　is　handsome；　isn’t　he？　They　say　he　is　to　be　married　to　that　heiress。　And　your　cousin；　Drubetskoy；　is　very　attentive　to　her　too。　They　say　she　has　millions。　Oh；　that’s　the　French　ambassador　himself；”　she　said　in　answer　to　the　countess’s　inquiry　as　to　the　identity　of　Caulaincourt。　“Just　look；　he’s　like　some　monarch。　But　yet　they’re　nice；　the　French　are　very　nice。　No　people　more　charming　in　society。　Ah；　here　she　is！　Yes；　still　lovelier　than　any　one；　our　Marya　Antonovna！　And　how　simply　dressed！　Exquisite！”
“And　that　stout　fellow　in　spectacles　is　a　universal　freemason；”　said　Madame　Peronsky；　indicating　Bezuhov。　“Set　him　beside　his　wife：　he’s　a　motley　fool！”
Swinging　his　stout　frame；　Pierre　slouched　through　the　crowd；　nodding　to　right　and　to　left；　as　casually　and　good…naturedly　as　though　he　were　walking　through　a　crowd　in　a　market。　He　made　his　way　through　the　crowd　unmistakably　looking　for　some　one。
Natasha　looked　with　joy　at　the　familiar　face　of　Pierre；　the　motley　fool；　as　Madame　Peronsky　called　him；　and　knew　that　it　was　they；　and　she　in　particular；　of　whom　Pierre　was　in　search　in　the　crowd。　Pierre　had　promised　her　to　be　at　the　ball　and　to　find　her　partners。　But　before　reaching　them；　Pierre　came　to　a　standstill　beside　a　very　handsome；　dark　man　of　medium　height　in　a　white　uniform；　who　was　standing　in　a　window　talking　to　a　tall　man　wearing　stars　and　a　ribbon。
Natasha　at　once　recognised　the　handsome　young　man　in　the　white　uniform；　it　was　Bolkonsky；　who　seemed　to　her　to　have　grown　much　younger；　happier；　and　better　looking。
“There’s　some　one　else　we　know；　Bolkonsky；　do　you　see；　mamma？”　said　Natasha；　pointing　out　Prince　Andrey。　“Do　you　remember　he　stayed　a　night　at　home；　at　Otradnoe？”
“Oh；　do　you　know　him？”　said　Madame　Peronsky。　“I　can’t　bear　him。　Every　one　is　crazy　over　him。　And　his　conceit！　it’s　beyond　all　bounds！　He　takes　after　his　worthy　papa！　And　he’s　hand　in　glove　now　with　Speransky；　making　out　some　sort　of　plans　for　reform。　Just　look　how　he　behaves　with　ladies！　She’s　speaking　to　him；　and　he　has　turned　his　back　on　her；”　she　said；　pointing　to　him。　“I　would　soon　send　him　about　his　business　if　he　were　to　treat　me　like　those　ladies。”


Chapter　16
THERE　was　a　sudden　stir；　the　crowd　began　talking；　rushed　forward；　then　moved　apart　again；　and　down　the　space　left　open　through　it；　the　Tsar　walked　to　the　strains　of　the　band；　which　struck　up　at　once。　Behind　him　walked　the　host　and　hostess。　The　Tsar　walked　in　rapidly；　bowing　to　right　and　to　left；　as　though　trying　to　hurry　over　the　first　moments　of　greeting。　The　musicians　played　the　polonaise　in　vogue　at　the　time　on　account　of　the　words　set　to　it。　The　words　began：　“Alexander；　Elisaveta；　our　hearts　ye　ravish　quite。”　The　Tsar　went　into　the　drawing…room；　the　crowd　made　a　dash　for　the　door；　several　persons　ran　hurriedly　to　the　door　and　back　with　excited　faces。　The　crowd　made　another　rush　back；　away　from　the　drawing…room　door　at　which　the　Tsar　appeared　in　conversation　with　the　hostess。　A　young　man；　looking　distraught；　pounced　down　on　the　ladies　and　begged　them　to　move　aside。　Several；　with　faces　that　betrayed　a　total　oblivion　of　all　the　rules　of　decorum；　squeezed　forward；　to　the　destruction　of　their　dresses。　The　men　began　approaching　the　ladies；　and　couples　were　formed　for　the　polonaise。
There　was　a　general　movement　of　retreat；　and　the　Tsar；　smiling；　came　out　of　the　drawing…room　door；　leading　out　the　lady　of　the　house；　and　not　keeping　time　to　the　music。　He　was　followed　by　the　ho