战争与和平(上)-第2章
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皊uch charming children？ And you really seem to appreciate them less than any one； and so you don’t deserve them。”
And she smiled her ecstatic smile。
“What would you have？ Lavater would have said that I have not the bump of paternity；” said the prince。
“Don’t keep on joking。 I wanted to talk to you seriously。 Do you know I’m not pleased with your youngest son。 Between ourselves” （her face took its mournful expression）； “people have been talking about him to her majesty and commiserating you…”
The prince did not answer； but looking at him significantly； she waited in silence for his answer。 Prince Vassily frowned。
“What would you have me do？” he said at last。 “You know I have done everything for their education a father could do； and they have both turned out des imbéciles。 Ippolit is at least a quiet fool； while Anatole’s a fool that won’t keep quiet； that’s the only difference；” he said； with a smile； more unnatural and more animated than usual； bringing out with peculiar prominence something surprisingly brutal and unpleasant in the lines about his mouth。
“Why are children born to men like you？ If you weren’t a father； I could find no fault with you；” said Anna Pavlovna； raising her eyes pensively。
“I am your faithful slave and to you alone I can confess。 My children are the bane of my existence。 It’s the cross I have to bear； that’s how I explain it to myself。 What would you have？” … He broke off with a gesture expressing his resignation to a cruel fate。 Anna Pavlovna pondered a moment。
“Have you never thought of marrying your prodigal son Anatole？ People say；” she said； “that old maids have a mania for matchmaking。 I have never been conscious of this failing before； but I have a little person in my mind； who is very unhappy with her father； a relation of ours； the young Princess Bolkonsky。”
Prince Vassily made no reply； but with the rapidity of reflection and memory characteristic of worldly people； he signified by a motion of the head that he had taken in and was considering what she said。
“No； do you know that that boy is costing me forty thousand roubles a year？” he said； evidently unable to restrain the gloomy current of his thoughts。 He paused。 “What will it be in five years if this goes on？ These are the advantages of being a father。… Is she rich； your young princess？”
“Her father is very rich and miserly。 He lives in the country。 You know that notorious Prince Bolkonsky； retired under the late emperor； and nicknamed the ‘Prussian King。’ He’s a very clever man； but eccentric and tedious。 The poor little thing is as unhappy as possible。 Her brother it is who has lately been married to Liza Meinen； an adjutant of Kutuzov’s。 He’ll be here this evening。”
“Listen； dear Annette；” said the prince； suddenly taking his companion’s hand； and for some reason bending it downwards。 “Arrange this matter for me and I am your faithful slave for ever and ever。 She’s of good family and well off。 That’s all I want。”
And with the freedom； familiarity； and grace that distinguished him； he took the maid…of…honour’s hand； kissed it； and as he kissed it waved her hand； while he stretched forward in his low chair and gazed away into the distance。
“Wait；” said Anna Pavlovna； considering。 “I’ll talk to Lise （the wife of young Bolkonsky） this very evening； and perhaps it can be arranged。 I’ll try my prentice hand as an old maid in your family。”
Chapter 2
ANNA PAVLOVNA’S DRAWING…ROOM gradually began to fill。 The people of the highest distinction in Petersburg were there； people very different in ages and characters； but alike in the set in which they moved。 The daughter of Prince Vassily； the beauty； Ellen； came to fetch her father and go with him to the ambassador’s fête。 She was wearing a ball…dress with an imperial badge on it。 The young Princess Bolkonsky was there； celebrated as the most seductive woman in Petersburg。 She had been married the previous winter； and was not now going out into the great world on account of her interesting condition； but was still to be seen at small parties。 Prince Ippolit； the son of Prince Vassily； came too with Mortemart； whom he introduced。 The Abbé Morio was there too； and many others。
“Have you not yet seen； or not been introduced to ma tante？” Anna Pavlovna said to her guests as they arrived； and very seriously she led them up to a little old lady wearing tall bows； who had sailed in out of the next room as soon as the guests began to arrive。 Anna Pavlovna mentioned their names； deliberately turning her eyes from the guest to ma tante； and then withdrew。 All the guests performed the ceremony of greeting the aunt； who was unknown； uninteresting and unnecessary to every one。 Anna Pavlovna with mournful； solemn sympathy； followed these greetings； silently approving them。 Ma tante said to each person the same words about his health； her own health； and the health of her majesty； who was； thank God； better to…day。 Every one； though from politeness showing no undue haste； moved away from the old lady with a sense of relief at a tiresome duty accomplished； and did not approach her again all the evening。 The young Princess Bolkonsky had come with her work in a gold…embroidered velvet bag。 Her pretty little upper lip； faintly darkened with down； was very short over her teeth； but was all the more charming when it was lifted； and still more charming when it was at times drawn down to meet the lower lip。 As is always the case with perfectly charming women； her defect — the shortness of the lip and the half…opened mouth — seemed her peculiar； her characteristic beauty。 Every one took delight in watching the pretty creature full of life and gaiety； so soon to be a mother； and so lightly bearing her burden。 Old men and bored； depressed young men gazing at her felt as though they were becoming like her； by being with her and talking a little while to her。 Any man who spoke to her； and at every word saw her bright little smile and shining white teeth； gleaming continually； imagined that he was being particularly successful this evening。 And this each thought in turn。
The little princess； moving with a slight swing； walked with rapid little steps round the table with her work…bag in her hand； and gaily arranging the folds of her gown； sat down on a sofa near the silver samovar； it seemed as though everything she did was a festival for herself and all around her。
“I have brought my work；” she said； displaying her reticule； and addressing the company generally。 “Mind； Annette； don’t play me a nasty trick；” she turned to the lady of the house； “you wrote to me that it was quite a little gathering。 See how I am got up。”
And she flung her arms open to show her elegant grey dress； trimmed with lace and girt a little below the bosom with a broad sash。
“Never mind； Lise； you will always be prettier than any one else；” answered Anna Pavlovna。
“You know my husband is deserting me；” she went on in just the same voice； addressing a general； “he is going to get himself killed。 Tell me what this nasty war is for；” she said to Prince Vassily； and without waiting for an answer she turned to Prince Vassily’s daughter； the beautiful Ellen。
“How delightful this little princess is！” said Prince Vassily in an undertone to Anna Pavlovna。
Soon after the little princess； there walked in a massively built； stout young man in spectacles； with a cropped head； light breeches in the mode of the day； with a high lace ruffle and a ginger…coloured coat。 This stout young man was the illegitimate son of a celebrated dandy of the days of Catherine； Count Bezuhov； who was now dying at Moscow。 He had not yet entered any branch of the service； he had only just returned from abroad； where he had been educated； and this was his first appearance in society。 Anna Pavlovna greeted him with a nod reserved for persons of the very lowest hierarchy in her drawing…room。 But； in spite of this greeting； Anna Pavlovna’s countenance showed signs on seeing Pierre of uneasiness and alarm； such as is shown at the sight of something too big and out of place。 Though Pierre certainly was somewhat bigger than any of the other men in the room； this expression could only have re
