战争与和平(上)-第177章

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　with　more　liveliness　and　unanimity；　they　started　singing　songs；　and　performing　dances；　and　songs　with　dancing；　and　playing　Christmas　games。　The　countess　after　identifying　them；　and　laughing　at　their　costumes；　went　away　to　the　drawing…room。　Count　Ilya　Andreitch　sat　with　a　beaming　smile　in　the　big　hall；　praising　their　performances。　The　young　people　had　disappeared。
Half　an　hour　later　there　appeared　in　the　hall　among　the　other　mummers　an　old　lady　in　a　crinoline—this　was　Nikolay。　Petya　was　a　Turkish　lady；　Dimmler　was　a　clown；　Natasha　a　hussar；　and　Sonya　a　Circassian　with　eyebrows　and　moustaches　smudged　with　burnt　cork。
After　those　of　the　household　who　were　not　dressed　up　had　expressed　condescending　wonder　and　approval；　and　had　failed　to　recognise　them；　the　young　people　began　to　think　their　costumes　so　good　that　they　must　display　them　to　some　one　else。
Nikolay；　who　wanted　to　drive　them　all　in　his　sledge；　as　the　road　was　in　capital　condition；　proposed　to　drive　to　their　so…called　uncle’s；　taking　about　a　dozen　of　the　house…serfs　in　their　mummer…dress　with　them。
“No；　why　should　you　disturb　the　old　fellow？”　said　the　countess。　“Besides　you　wouldn’t　have　room　to　turn　round　there。　If　you　must　go；　let　it　be　to　the　Melyukovs’。”
Madame　Melyukov　was　a　widow　with　a　family　of　children　of　various　ages；　and　a　number　of　tutors　and　governesses　living　in　her　house；　four　versts　from　the　Rostovs’。
“That’s　a　good　idea；　my　love；”　the　old　count　assented；　beginning　to　be　aroused。　“Only　let　me　dress　up　and　I’ll　go　with　you。　I’ll　make　Pashette　open　her　eyes。”
But　the　countess　would　not　agree　to　the　count’s　going；　for　several　days　he　had　had　a　bad　leg。　It　was　decided　that　the　count　must　not　go；　but　that　if　Luisa　Ivanovna　（Madame　Schoss）　would　go　with　them；　the　young　ladies　might　go　to　Madame　Melyukov’s。　Sonya；　usually　so　shy　and　reticent；　was　more　urgent　than　any　in　persuading　Luisa　Ivanovna　not　to　refuse。
Sonya’s　disguise　was　the　best　of　all。　Her　moustaches　and　eyebrows　were　extraordinarily　becoming　to　her。　Every　one　told　her　she　looked　very　pretty；　and　she　was　in　a　mood　of　eager　energy　unlike　her。　Some　inner　voice　told　her　that　now　or　never　her　fate　would　be　sealed；　and　in　her　masculine　attire　she　seemed　quite　another　person。　Luisa　Ivanovna　consented　to　go；　and　half　an　hour　later　four　sledges　with　bells　drove　up　to　the　steps；　their　runners　crunching；　with　a　clanging　sound；　over　the　frozen　snow。
Natasha　was　foremost　in　setting　the　tone　of　holiday　gaiety；　and　that　gaiety；　reflected　from　one　to　another；　grew　wilder　and　wilder；　and　reached　its　climax　when　they　all　went　out　into　the　frost；　and　talking；　and　calling　to　one　another；　laughing　and　shouting；　got　into　the　sledges。
Two　of　the　sledges　were　the　common　household　sledges；　the　third　was　the　old　count’s；　with　a　trotting　horse　from　Orlov’s　famous　stud；　the　fourth；　Nikolay’s　own；　with　his　own　short；　shaggy；　raven　horse　in　the　shafts。　Nikolay；　in　his　old　lady’s　crinoline　and　a　hussar’s　cloak　belted　over　it；　stood　up　in　the　middle　of　the　sledge　picking　up　the　reins。　It　was　so　light　that　he　could　see　the　metal　discs　of　the　harness　shining　in　the　moonlight；　and　the　eyes　of　the　horses　looking　round　in　alarm　at　the　noise　made　by　the　party　under　the　portico　of　the　approach。
Sonya；　Natasha；　Madame　Schoss；　and　two　maids　got　into　Nikolay’s　sledge。　In　the　count’s　sledge　were　Dimmler　with　his　wife　and　Petya；　the　other　mummers　were　seated　in　the　other　two　sledges。
“You　go　ahead；　Zahar！”　shouted　Nikolay　to　his　father’s　coachman；　so　as　to　have　a　chance　of　overtaking　him　on　the　road。
The　count’s　sledge　with　Dimmler　and　the　others　of　his　party　started　forward；　its　runners　creaking　as　though　they　were　frozen　to　the　snow；　and　the　deep…toned　bell　clanging。　The　trace…horses　pressed　close　to　the　shafts　and　sticking　in　the　snow　kicked　it　up；　hard　and　glittering　as　sugar。
Nikolay　followed　the　first　sledge：　behind　him　he　heard　the　noise　and　crunch　of　the　other　two。　At　first　they　drove　at　a　slow　trot　along　the　narrow　road。　As　they　drove　by　the　garden；　the　shadows　of　the　leafless　trees　often　lay　right　across　the　road　and　hid　the　bright　moonlight。　But　as　soon　as　they　were　out　of　their　grounds；　the　snowy　plain；　glittering　like　a　diamond　with　bluish　lights　in　it；　lay　stretched　out　on　all　sides；　all　motionless　and　bathed　in　moonlight。　Now　and　again　a　hole　gave　the　first　sledge　a　jolt；　the　next　was　jolted　in　just　the　same　way；　and　the　next；　and　the　sledges　followed　one　another；　rudely　breaking　the　iron…bound　stillness。
“A　hare’s　track；　a　lot　of　tracks！”　Natasha’s　voice　rang　out　in　the　frost…bound　air。
“How　light　it　is；　Nikolenka；”　said　the　voice　of　Sonya。
Nikolay　looked　round　at　Sonya；　and　bent　down　to　look　at　her　face　closer。　It　was　a　quite　new；　charming　face　with　black　moustaches；　and　eyebrows　that　peeped　up　at　him　from　the　sable　fur—so　close　yet　so　distant—in　the　moonlight。
“That　used　to　be　Sonya；”　thought　Nikolay。　He　looked　closer　at　her　and　smiled。
“What　is　it；　Nikolenka？”
“Nothing；”　he　said；　and　turned　to　his　horses　again。
As　they　came　out　on　the　trodden　highroad；　polished　by　sledge　runners；　and　all　cut　up　by　the　tracks　of　spiked　horseshoes　visible　in　the　snow　in　the　moonlight—the　horses　of　their　own　accord　tugged　at　the　reins　and　quickened　their　pace。　The　left　trace…horse；　arching　his　head；　pulled　in　jerks　at　his　traces。　The　shaft…horse　swayed　to　and　fro；　pricking　up　his　ears　as　though　to　ask：　“Are　we　to　begin　or　is　it　too　soon？”　Zahar’s　sledge　could　be　distinctly　seen；　black　against　the　white　snow；　a　long　way　ahead　now；　and　its　deep…toned　bell　seemed　to　be　getting　further　away。　They　could　hear　shouts　and　laughter　and　talk　from　his　sledge。
“Now　then；　my　darlings！”　shouted　Nikolay；　pulling　a　rein　on　one　side；　and　moving　his　whip　hand。　It　was　only　from　the　wind　seeming　to　blow　more　freely　in　their　faces；　and　from　the　tugging　of　the　pulling　trace…horses；　quickening　their　trot；　that　they　saw　how　fast　the　sledge　was　flying　along。　Nikolay　looked　behind。　The　other　sledges；　with　crunching　runners；　with　shouts；　and　cracking　of　whips；　were　hurrying　after　them。　Their　shaft…horse　was　moving　vigorously　under　the　yoke；　with　no　sign　of　slackening；　and　every　token　of　being　ready　to　go　faster　and　faster　if　required。
Nikolay　overtook　the　first　sledge。　They　drove　down　a　hill　and　into　a　wide；　trodden　road　by　a　meadow　near　a　river。
“Where　are　we？”　Nikolay　wondered。　“Possibly　Kosoy　Meadow；　I　suppose。　But　no；　this　is　something　new　I　never　saw　before。　This　is　not　the　Kosoy　Meadow　nor　Demkin　hill。　It’s　something—there’s　no　knowing　what。　It’s　something　new　and　fairy…like。　Well；　come　what　may！”　And　shouting　to　his　horses；　he　began　to　drive　by　the　first　sledge。　Zahar　pulled　up　his　horses　and　turned　his　face；　which　was　white　with　hoar…frost　to　the　eyebrows。
Nikolay　let　his　horses　go；　Zahar；　stretching　his　hands　forward；　urged　his　on。　“Come；　hold　on；　master；”　said　he。
The　sledges　dashed　along　side　by　side；　even　more　swiftly；　and　the　horses’　hoofs　flew　up　and　down　more　and　more　quickly。　Nikolay　began　to　get　ahead。　Zahar；　still　keeping　his　hands　stretched　forward；　raised　one　hand　with　the　reins。
“Nonsense；　master；”　he　shouted。　Nikolay　put　his　three　horses　into　a　gallop　and　outstripped　Zahar。　The　horses　scattered　the　fine　dry　snow　in　their　faces；　close　by　they　heard　the　ringing　of　the　bells　and　the　horses’　legs　moving　rapidly　out　of　step；　and　they　saw　the　shadows　of　the　sledge　behind。　From　different　sides　came　the　crunch　of　runners　over　the　snow；　and　the　shrieks　of　girls。　Stopping　his　horses　again；　Nikolay　looked　round　him。　All　around　him　lay　still　the　same　enchanted　plain；　bathed　in　moon…light；　with　stars　scattered　over　its　surface。
“Zahar’s　shouting　that　I’m　to　turn　to　the　left；　but　why　to　the　left？”　thought　Nikolay。　“Are　we　really　going　to　the　Melyukovs’；　is　this　really　Melyukovka？　God　knows　where　we　are　going；　and　God　knows　what　is　going　to　become　of　us—and　very　strange　and　nice　it　is　what　is　happening　to　us。”　He　looked　round　in　the　sledge。
“Look；　his　moustache　and　his　eyelashes　are　all　white；”　said　one　of　the　strange；　pretty；　unfamiliar　figures　sitting　by　him；　with　fine　moustaches　and　eyebrows。
“I　believe　that　was　Natasha；”　thought　Nikolay；　“and　that　was　Madame　Sch