战争与和平(上)-第178章

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moustaches　and　eyebrows。
“I　believe　that　was　Natasha；”　thought　Nikolay；　“and　that　was　Madame　Schoss；　but　perhaps　it’s　not　so；　and　that　Circassian　with　the　moustaches　I　don’t　know；　but　I　love　her。”
“Aren’t　you　cold？”　he　asked　them。　They　laughed　and　did　not　answer。　Dimmler　from　the　sledge　behind　shouted；　probably　something　funny；　but　they　could　not　make　out　what　he　said。
“Yes；　yes；”　voices　answered；　laughing。
But　now　came　a　sort　of　enchanted　forest　with　shifting；　black　shadows；　and　the　glitter　of　diamonds；　and　a　flight　of　marble　steps；　and　silver　roofs　of　enchanted　buildings；　and　the　shrill　whine　of　some　beasts。　“And　if　it　really　is　Melyukovka；　then　it’s　stranger　than　ever　that　after　driving；　God　knows　where；　we　should　come　to　Melyukovka；”　thought　Nikolay。
It　certainly　was　Melyukovka；　and　footmen　and　maid…servants　were　running　out　with　lights　and　beaming　faces。
“Who　is　it？”　was　asked　from　the　entrance。
“The　mummers　from　the　count’s；　I　can　see　by　the　horses；”　answered　voices。


Chapter　11
PELAGEA　DANILOVNA　MELYUKOV；　a　broad…shouldered；　energetic　woman　in　spectacles　and　a　loose　house　dress；　was　sitting　in　her　drawing…room；　surrounded　by　her　daughters；　and　doing　her　utmost　to　keep　them　amused。　They　were　quietly　occupied　in　dropping　melted　wax　into　water　and　watching　the　shadows　of　the　shapes　it　assumed；　when　they　heard　the　noise　of　steps　in　the　vestibule；　and　the　voices　of　people　arriving。
The　hussars；　fine　ladies；　witches；　clowns；　and　bears；　coughing　and　rubbing　the　hoar…frost　off　their　faces；　came　into　the　hall；　where　they　were　hurriedly　lighting　candles。　The　clown—Dimmler—and　the　old　lady—Nikolay—opened　the　dance。　Surrounded　by　the　shrieking　children；　the　mummers　hid　their　faces；　and　disguising　their　voices；　bowed　to　their　hostess　and　dispersed　about　the　room。
“Oh；　there’s　no　recognising　them。　And　Natasha！　See　what　she　looks　like！　Really；　she　reminds　me　of　some　one。　How　good　Edward　Karlitch　is！　I　didn’t　know　him。　And　how　he　dances！　Oh；　my　goodness；　and　here’s　a　Circassian　too；　upon　my　word；　how　it　suits　Sonyushka！　And　who’s　this？　Well；　you　have　brought　us　some　fun！　Take　away　the　tables；　Nikita　Vanya。　And　we　were　sitting　so　quiet　and　dull！”
“Ha—ha—he！…The　hussar；　the　hussar！　Just　like　a　boy；　and　the　legs！…I　can’t　look　at　him；…”　voices　cried。
Natasha；　the　favourite　of　the　young　Melyukovs；　disappeared　with　them　into　rooms　at　the　back　of　the　house；　and　burnt　cork　and　various　dressing…gowns　and　masculine　garments　were　sent　for　and　taken　from　the　footman　by　bare；　girlish　arms　through　the　crack　of　the　half…open　door。　In　ten　minutes　all　the　younger　members　of　the　Melyukov　family　reappeared　in　fancy　dresses　too。
Pelagea　Danilovna；　busily　giving　orders　for　clearing　the　room　for　the　guests　and　preparing　for　their　entertainment；　walked　about　among　the　mummers　in　her　spectacles；　with　a　suppressed　smile；　looking　close　at　them　and　not　recognising　any　one。　She　not　only　failed　to　recognise　the　Rostovs　and　Dimmler；　but　did　not　even　know　her　own　daughters；　or　identify　the　masculine　dressing…gowns　and　uniforms　in　which　they　were　disguised。
“And　who　is　this？”　she　kept　saying；　addressing　her　governess　and　gazing　into　the　face　of　her　own　daughter　disguised　as　a　Tatar　of　Kazan。　“One　of　the　Rostovs；　I　fancy。　And　you；　my　hussar；　what　regiment　are　you　in；　pray？”　she　asked　Natasha。　“Give　the　Turk　a　preserved　fruit；”　she　said　to　the　footman　carrying　round　refreshments；　“that’s　not　forbidden　by　his　law。”
Sometimes；　looking　at　the　strange　and　ludicrous　capers　cut　by　the　dancers；　who；　having　made　up　their　minds　once　for　all　that　no　one　recognised　them；　were　quite　free　from　shyness；　Pelagea　Danilovna　hid　her　face　in　her　handkerchief；　and　all　her　portly　person　shook　with　irrepressible；　good…natured；　elderly　laughter。
“My　Sashinette；　my　Sashinette！”　she　said。
After　Russian　dances　and　songs　in　chorus；　Pelagea　Danilovna　made　all　the　party；　servants　and　gentry　alike；　join　in　one　large　circle。　They　brought　in　a　string；　a　ring；　and　a　silver　rouble；　and　began　playing　games。
An　hour　later　all　the　fancy　dresses　were　crumpled　and　untidy。　The　corked　moustaches　and　eyebrows　were　wearing　off　the　heated；　perspiring；　and　merry　faces。　Pelagea　Danilovna　began　to　recognise　the　mummers。　She　was　enthusiastic　over　the　cleverness　of　the　dresses　and　the　way　they　suited　them；　especially　the　young　ladies；　and　thanked　them　all　for　giving　them　such　good　fun。　The　guests　were　invited　into　the　drawing…room　for　supper；　while　the　servants　were　regaled　in　the　hall。
“Oh；　trying　one’s　fate　in　the　bath…house；　that’s　awful！”　was　said　at　the　supper…table　by　an　old　maiden　lady　who　lived　with　the　Melyukovs。
“Why　so？”　asked　the　eldest　daughter　of　the　Melyukovs。
“Well；　you　won’t　go　and　try。　It　needs　courage…”
“I’ll　go；”　said　Sonya。
“Tell　us　what　happened　to　the　young　lady；”　said　the　second　girl。
“Well；　it　was　like　this；”　said　the　old　maid。　“The　young　lady　went　out；　she　took　a　cock；　two　knives　and　forks；　and　everything　proper；　and　sat　down。　She　sat　a　little　while；　and　all　of　a　sudden　she　hears　some　one　coming—a　sledge　with　bells　driving　up。　She　hears　him　coming。　He　walks　in；　precisely　in　the　shape　of　a　man；　like　an　officer；　and　sat　down　beside　her　at　the　place　laid　for　him。”
“Ah！　ah！…”　screamed　Natasha；　rolling　her　eyes　with　horror。
“But　what　did　he　do？　Did　he　talk　like　a　man？”
“Yes；　like　a　man。　Everything　as　it　should　be；　and　began　to　try　and　win　her　over；　and　she　should　have　kept　him　in　talk　till　the　cock　crew；　but　she　got　frightened；—simply　took　fright；　and　hid　her　face　in　her　hands。　And　he　caught　her　up。　Luckily　the　maids　ran　in　that　minute…”
“Come；　why　are　you　scaring　them？”　said　Pelagea　Danilovna。
“Why；　mamma；　you　tried　your　fate　yourself…”　said　her　daughter。
“And　how　do　they　try　fate　in　a　granary？”　asked　Sonya。
“Why；　at　a　time　like　this　they　go　to　the　granary　and　listen。　And　according　to　what　you　hear；—if　there’s　a　knocking　and　a　tapping；　it’s　bad；　but　if　there’s　a　sound　of　sifting　corn；　it　is　good。　But　sometimes　it　happens…”
“Mamma；　tell　us　what　happened　to　you　in　the　granary？”
Pelagea　Danilovna　smiled。
“Why；　I　have　forgotten…”　she　said。　“I　know　none　of　you　will　go。”
“No；　I’ll　go。　Pelagea　Danilovna；　do　let　me；　and　I’ll　go；”　said　Sonya。
“Oh；　well；　if　you’re　not　afraid。”
“Luisa　Ivanovna；　may　I？”　asked　Sonya。
Whether　they　were　playing　at　the　ring　and　string　game；　or　the　rouble　game；　or　talking　as　now；　Nikolay　did　not　leave　Sonya’s　side；　and　looked　at　her　with　quite　new　eyes。　It　seemed　to　him　as　though　to…day；　for　the　first　time；　he　had；　thanks　to　that　corked　moustache；　seen　her　fully　as　she　was。　Sonya　certainly　was　that　evening　gay；　lively；　and　pretty；　as　Natasha　had　never　seen　her　before。
“So；　this　is　what　she　is；　and　what　a　fool　I　have　been！”　he　kept　thinking；　looking　at　her　sparkling　eyes；　at　the　happy；　ecstatic　smile　dimpling　her　cheeks　under　the　moustache。　He　had　never　seen　that　smile　before。
“I’m　not　afraid　of　anything；”　said　Sonya。　“May　I　go　at　once？”　She　got　up。　They　told　Sonya　where　the　granary　was；　how　she　was　to　stand　quite　silent　and　listen；　and　they　gave　her　a　cloak。　She　threw　it　over　her　head　and　glanced　at　Nikolay。
“How　exquisite　that　girl　is！”　he　thought。　“And　what　have　I　been　thinking　about　all　this　time？”
Sonya　went　out　into　the　corridor　to　go　to　the　granary。　Nikolay　hastily　went　out　to　the　front　porch；　saying　he　was　too　hot。　It　certainly　was　stuffy　indoors　from　the　crowd　of　people。
Outside　there　was　the　same　still　frost；　the　same　moonlight；　only　even　brighter　than　before。　The　light　was　so　bright；　and　there　were　so　many　stars　sparkling　in　the　snow；　that　the　sky　did　not　attract　the　eye；　and　the　real　stars　were　hardly　noticeable。　The　sky　was　all　blackness　and　dreariness；　the　earth　all　brightness。
“I’m　a　fool；　a　fool！　What　have　I　been　waiting　for　all　this　time？”　thought　Nikolay；　and　running　out　into　the　porch　he　went　round　the　corner　of　the　house　along　the　path　leading　to　the　back　door。　He　knew　Sonya　would　come　that　way。　Half…way　there　was　a　pile　of　logs　of　wood；　seven　feet　long。　It　was　covered　with　snow　and　cast　a　shadow。　Across　it　and　on　one　side　of　it　there　fell　on　the　snow　and　the　path　a　network　of　shadows　from　the　bare　ol