战争与和平(上)-第189章

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hose　scrutinising；　inquisitive　eyes；　with　which　he　used　so　often　to　look　at　me；　and　then　I　would　make　him　laugh；　as　he　used　to　laugh　then；　and　his　eyes—how　I　see　those　eyes！”　thought　Natasha。　“And　what　does　it　matter　to　me　about　his　father　and　sister；　I　love　no　one　but　him；　him；　him；　with　that　face　and　those　eyes；　with　his　smile；　manly；　and　yet　childlike。…　No；　better　not　think　of　him；　not　think；　forget；　utterly　forget　him　for　the　time。　I　can’t　bear　this　suspense；　I　shall　sob　in　a　minute；”　and　she　turned　away　from　the　looking…glass；　making　an　effort　not　to　weep。　“And　how　can　Sonya　love　Nikolenka　so　quietly；　so　calmly；　and　wait　so　long　and　so　patiently！”　she　wondered；　looking　at　Sonya；　who　came　in；　dressed　for　the　theatre　with　a　fan　in　her　hand。　“No；　she’s　utterly　different。　I　can’t。”
Natasha　at　that　moment　felt　so　softened　and　moved　that　to　love　and　know　that　she　was　loved　was　not　enough　for　her：　she　wanted　now；　now　at　once　to　embrace　the　man　she　loved；　and　to　speak　and　hear　from　him　the　words　of　love；　of　which　her　heart　was　full。　When　she　was　in　the　carriage　sitting　beside　her　father　and　pensively　watching　the　lights　of　the　street　lamps　flitting　by　the　frozen　window；　she　felt　even　sadder　and　more　in　love；　and　forgot　with　whom　and　where　she　was　going。　The　Rostovs’　carriage　fell　into　the　line　of　carriages；　and　drove　up　to　the　theatre；　its　wheels　crunching　slowly　over　the　snow。　Natasha　and　Sonya　skipped　hurriedly　out　holding　up　their　dresses；　the　count　stepped　out　supported　by　the　footmen；　and　all　three　walked　to　the　corridor　for　the　boxes　in　the　stream　of　ladies　and　gentlemen　going　in　and　people　selling　programmes。　They　could　hear　the　music　already　through　the　closed　doors。
“Natasha；　your　hair　…”　whispered　Sonya。　The　box…opener　deferentially　and　hurriedly　slipped　before　the　ladies　and　opened　the　door　of　the　box。　The　music　became　more　distinctly　audible　at　the　door；　and　they　saw　the　brightly　lighted　rows　of　boxes；　with　the　bare　arms　and　shoulders　of　the　ladies；　and　the　stalls　below；　noisy；　and　gay　with　uniforms。　A　lady　entering　the　next　box　looked　round　at　Natasha　with　an　envious；　feminine　glance。　The　curtain　had　not　yet　risen　and　they　were　playing　the　overture。　Natasha　smoothing　down　her　skirt　went　in　with　Sonya　and　sat　down　looking　round　at　the　brightly　lighted　tiers　of　boxes　facing　them。　The　sensation　she　had　not　experienced　for　a　long　while—that　hundreds　of　eyes　were　looking　at　her　bare　arms　and　neck—suddenly　came　upon　her　both　pleasantly　and　unpleasantly；　calling　up　a　whole　swarm　of　memories；　desires；　and　emotions　connected　with　that　sensation。
The　two　strikingly　pretty　girls；　Natasha　and　Sonya；　with　Count　Ilya　Andreitch；　who　had　not　been　seen　for　a　long　while　in　Moscow；　attracted　general　attention。　Moreover；　every　one　had　heard　vaguely　of　Natasha’s　engagement　to　Prince　Andrey；　knew　that　the　Rostovs　had　been　living　in　the　country　ever　since；　and　looked　with　curiosity　at　the　girl　who　was　to　make　one　of　the　best　matches　in　Russia。
Natasha　had；　so　every　one　told　her；　grown　prettier　in　the　country；　and　that　evening；　owing　to　her　excited　condition；　she　was　particularly　pretty。　She　made　a　striking　impression　of　fulness　of　life　and　beauty；　together　with　indifference　to　everything　around　her。　Her　black　eyes　gazed　at　the　crowd；　seeking　out　no　one；　while　her　slender　arm；　bare　to　above　the　elbow；　leaned　on　the　velvet　edge　of　the　box；　and　her　hand；　holding　the　programme；　clasped　and　unclasped　in　time　to　the　music　with　obvious　unconsciousness。
“Look；　there’s　Alenina；”　said　Sonya；　“with　her　mother；　isn’t　it？”
“Heavens；　Mihail　Kirillitch　is　really　stouter　than　ever；”　said　the　old　count。
“Look！　our　Anna　Mihalovna　in　such　a　cap！”
“The　Karagins；　Julie；　and　Boris　with　them。　One　can　see　at　once　they　are　engaged。”
“Drubetskoy　has　made　his　offer！　To　be　sure；　I　heard　so　to…day；”　said　Shinshin；　coming　into　the　Rostovs’　box。
Natasha　looked　in　the　direction　her　father　was　looking　in　and　saw　Julie　with　diamonds　on　her　thick；　red　neck　（Natasha　knew　it　was　powdered）；　sitting　with　a　blissful　face　beside　her　mother。
Behind　them　could　be　seen　the　handsome；　well…brushed　head　of　Boris；　with　a　smile　inclining　his　ear　towards　Julie’s　mouth。　He　looked　from　under　his　brows　at　the　Rostovs；　and　said　something；　smiling；　to　his　betrothed。
“They　are　talking　about　us；　about　me　and　himself！”　thought　Natasha。　“And　he　is；　most　likely；　soothing　his　fiancée’s　jealousy　of　me；　they　needn’t　worry　themselves！　If　only　they　knew　how　little　they　matter　to　me；　any　one　of　them。”
Behind　the　engaged　couple　sat　Anna　Mihalovna　in　a　green　cap；　with　a　face　happy；　in　honour　of　the　festive　occasion；　and　devoutly　resigned　to　the　will　of　God。　Their　box　was　full　of　that　atmosphere　of　an　engaged　couple—which　Natasha　knew　so　well　and　liked　so　much。　She　turned　away；　and　suddenly　all　that　had　been　humiliating　in　her　morning　visit　came　back　to　her　mind。
“What　right　has　he　not　to　want　to　receive　me　into　his　family？　Ah；　better　not　think　about　it；　not　think　till　he　comes　back！”　she　said　to　herself；　and　began　to　look　about　at　the　faces；　known　and　unknown；　in　the　stalls。
In　the　front　of　the　stalls；　in　the　very　centre；　leaning　back　against　the　rail　stood　Dolohov；　in　a　Persian　dress；　with　his　huge　shock　of　curly　hair　combed　upwards。　He　stood　in　the　most　conspicuous　place　in　the　theatre；　well　aware　that　he　was　attracting　the　attention　of　the　whole　audience；　and　as　much　at　his　ease　as　though　he　had　been　alone　in　his　room。　The　most　brilliant　young　men　in　Moscow　were　all　thronging　about　him；　and　he　was　obviously　the　leading　figure　among　them。
Count　Ilya　Andreitch；　laughing；　nudged　the　blushing　Sonya；　pointing　out　her　former　admirer。
“Did　you　recognise　him？”　he　asked。　“And　where　has　he　dropped　from？”　said　he；　turning　to　Shinshin。　“I　thought　he　had　disappeared　somewhere？”
“He　did　disappear；”　answered　Shinshin。　“He　was　in　the　Caucasus；　and　he　ran　away　from　there；　and　they　say　he　has　been　acting　as　minister　to　some　reigning　prince　in　Persia；　and　there　killed　the　Shah’s　brother。　Well；　all　the　Moscow　ladies　are　wild　about　him！　‘Dolohov　the　Persian；’　that’s　what　does　it！　Nowadays　there’s　nothing　can　be　done　without　Dolohov；　they　do　homage　to　him；　invite　you　to　meet　him；　as　if　he　were　a　sturgeon；”　said　Shinshin。　“Dolohov　and　Anatole　Kuragin　have　taken　all　the　ladies’　hearts　by　storm。”
A　tall；　handsome　woman　with　a　mass　of　hair　and　very　naked；　plump；　white　arms　and　shoulders；　and　a　double　row　of　big　pearls　round　her　throat；　walked　into　the　next　box；　and　was　a　long　while　settling　into　her　place　and　rustling　her　thick　silk　gown。
Natasha　unconsciously　examined　that　neck　and　the　shoulders；　the　pearls；　the　coiffure　of　this　lady；　and　admired　the　beauty　of　the　shoulders　and　the　pearls。　While　Natasha　was　scrutinising　her　a　second　time；　the　lady　looked　round；　and　meeting　the　eyes　of　Count　Ilya　Andreitch；　she　nodded　and　smiled　to　him。　It　was　the　Countess　Bezuhov；　Pierre’s　wife。　The　count；　who　knew　every　one　in　society；　bent　over　and　entered　into　conversation　with　her。
“Have　you　been　here　long？”　he　began。　“I’m　coming；　I’m　coming　to　kiss　your　hand。　I　have　come　to　town　on　business　and　brought　my　girls　with　me。　They　say　Semyonovna’s　acting　is　superb；”　the　count　went　on。　“Count　Pyotr　Kirillovitch　never　forgot　us。　Is　he　here？”
“Yes；　he　meant　to　come；”　said　Ellen；　looking　intently　at　Natasha。
Count　Ilya　Andreitch　sat　down　again　in　his　place。
“Handsome；　isn’t　she？”　he　whispered　to　Natasha。
“Exquisite！”　said　Natasha。　“One　might　well　fall　in　love　with　her！”
At　that　moment　they　heard　the　last　chords　of　the　overture；　and　the　tapping　of　the　conductor’s　stick。　Late　comers　hurried　to　their　seats　in　the　stalls；　and　the　curtain　rose。
As　soon　as　the　curtain　rose；　a　hush　fell　on　the　boxes　and　stalls；　and　all　the　men；　old　and　young；　in　their　frock　coats　or　uniforms；　all　the　women　with　precious　stones　on　their　bare　flesh　concentrated　all　their　attention　with　eager　curiosity　on　the　stage。　Natasha　too　began　to　look　at　it。


Chapter　9
THE　STAGE　consisted　of　a　boarded　floor　in　the　middle；　with　painted　cardboard　representing　trees　at　the　sides；　and　linen　stretched　over　the　boards　at　the　back。　In　the　middle　of　the　stage　there　were　sitting　maidens　in