战争与和平(上)-第20章

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Chapter　16
AT　THE　MEN’S　END　of　the　table　the　conversation　was　becoming　more　and　more　lively。　The　colonel　was　asserting　that　the　proclamation　of　the　declaration　of　war　had　already　been　issued　in　Petersburg；　and　that　a　copy；　which　he　had　seen　himself；　had　that　day　been　brought　by　a　courier　to　the　commander…in…chief。
“And　what　evil　spirit　must　make　us　go　to　war　with　Bonaparte？”　said　Shinshin。　“He　has　already　made　Austria　take　a　back　seat。　I　am　afraid　it　may　be　our　turn　this　time。”
The　colonel　was　a　stout；　tall；　and　plethoric　German；　evidently　a　zealous　officer　and　good　patriot。　He　resented　Shinshin’s　words。
“The　reason　why；　my　good　sir；”　he　said；　speaking　with　a　German　accent；　“is　just　that　the　emperor　knows　that。　In　his　proclamation　he　says　that　he　cannot　behold　with　equanimity　the　danger　threatening　Russia；　and　the　security　of　the　empire；　its　dignity；　and　the　sacredness　of　its　alliances。”　He　laid　a　special　emphasis　on　the　word　alliances；　as　though　the　gist　of　the　matter　lay　in　that　word。　And　with　the　unfailing　memory　for　official　matters　that　was　peculiar　to　him；　he　repeated　the　introductory　words　of　the　proclamation　…　“and　the　desire；　which　constitutes　the　Sovereign’s　sole　and　immutable　aim；　to　establish　peace　on　a　secure　foundation；　have　determined　him　to　despatch　now　a　part　of　the　troops　abroad；　and　to　make　dispositions　for　carrying　out　this　new　project。　That　is　the　reason　why；　my　dear　sir；”　he　concluded；　tossing　off　a　glass　of　wine　in　edifying　fashion；　and　looking　towards　the　count　for　encouragement。
“Do　you　know　the　proverb；　‘Erema；　Erema；　you’d　better　stay　at　home　and　mind　your　spindle’？”　said　Shinshin；　frowning　and　smiling。　“That　suits　us　to　a　hair。　Why；　Suvorov　even　was　defeated　hollow；　and　where　are　our　Suvorovs　nowadays？　I　just　ask　you　that；”　he　said；　continually　shifting　from　Russian　to　French　and　back　again。
“We　ought　to　fight　to　the　last　drop　of　our　blood；”　said　the　colonel；　thumping　the　table；　“and　to　die　for　our　emperor；　and　then　all　will　be　well。　And　to　discuss　it　as　little　as　possible；”　he　concluded；　turning　again　to　the　count；　and　drawling　out　the　word　“possible。”　“That’s　how　we　old　hussars　look　at　it；　that’s　all　we　have　to　say。　And　how　do　you　look　at　it；　young　man　and　young　hussar？”　he　added；　addressing　Nikolay；　who；　catching　that　it　was　the　war　they　were　discussing；　had　dropped　his　conversation　with　Julie；　and　was　all　eyes　and　all　ears；　intent　on　the　colonel。
“I　perfectly　agree　with　you；”　answered　Nikolay；　growing　hot　all　over；　twisting　his　plate　round；　and　changing　the　places　of　the　glasses　with　a　face　as　desperate　and　determined　as　though　he　were　exposed　to　great　danger　at　that　actual　moment。　“I　am　convinced　that　the　Russians　must　die　or　conquer；”　he　said。　He　was　himself；　like　the　rest　of　the　party；　conscious　after　the　words　were　uttered　that　he　had　spoken　with　an　enthusiasm　and　fervour　out　of　keeping　with　the　occasion；　and　so　he　was　embarrassed。
“That　was　very　fine；　what　you　just　said；”　Julie　sitting　beside　him　said　breathlessly。　Sonya　trembled　all　over　and　crimsoned　to　her　ears；　and　behind　her　ears；　and　down　her　neck　and　shoulders；　while　Nikolay　was　speaking。　Pierre　listened　to　the　colonel’s　remarks；　and　nodded　his　head　approvingly。
“That’s　capital；”　said　he。
“You’re　a　true　hussar；　young　man；”　the　colonel　shouted；　thumping　on　the　table　again。
“What　are　you　making　such　a　noise　about　over　there？”　Marya　Dmitryevna’s　bass　voice　was　suddenly　heard　asking　across　the　table。　“What　are　you　thumping　the　table　for？”　she　addressed　the　colonel。　“Whom　are　you　so　hot　against？　You　imagine；　I　suppose；　that　the　French　are　before　you？”
“I　speak　the　truth；”　said　the　hussar；　smiling。
“It’s　all　about　the　war；”　the　count　shouted　across　the　table。　“My　son’s　going；　you　see；　Marya　Dmitryevna；　my　son’s　going。”
“And　I’ve　four　sons　in　the　army；　but　I　don’t　grieve。　All’s　in　God’s　hands；　one　may　die　in　one’s　bed；　and　in　battle　God　may　spare；”　Marya　Dmitryevna’s　deep　voice　boomed　back；　speaking　without　the　slightest　effort　from　the　further　end　of　the　table。
“That’s　true。”
And　the　conversation　concentrated　into　two　groups　again；　one　at　the　ladies’　end；　and　one　at　the　men’s。
“You　don’t　dare　to　ask！”　said　her　little　brother　to　Natasha；　“and　you　won’t　ask！”
“I　will　ask；”　answered　Natasha。　Her　face　suddenly　glowed；　expressing　a　desperate　and　mirthful　resolution。　She　rose　in　her　seat；　her　eyes　inviting　Pierre　to　listen；　and　addressed　her　mother。
“Mamma！”　her　childish　contralto　rang　out　over　the　table。
“What　is　it？”　the　countess　asked　in　dismay；　but　seeing　from　her　daughter’s　face　that　it　was　mischief；　she　shook　her　hand　at　her　sternly；　with　a　threatening　and　forbidding　movement　of　her　head。
All　conversation　was　hushed。
“Mamma！　what　pudding　will　there　be？”　Natasha’s　little　voice　rang　out　still　more　resolutely　and　deliberately。
The　countess　tried　to　frown；　but　could　not。　Marya　Dmitryevna　shook　her　fat　finger。
“Cossack！”　she　said　menacingly。
Most　of　the　guests　looked　at　the　parents；　not　knowing　how　they　were　to　take　this　sally。
“I’ll　give　it　to　you；”　said　the　countess。
“Mamma！　what　pudding　will　it　be？”　Natasha　cried；　with　bold　and　saucy　gaiety；　feeling　sure　that　her　prank　would　be　taken　in　the　right　spirit。　Sonya　and　fat　little　Petya　were　hiding　their　giggles。　“You　see　I　did　ask；”　Natasha　whispered　to　her　little　brother　and　Pierre；　at　whom　she　glanced　again。
“Ice…pudding；　only　you　are　not　to　have　any；”　said　Marya　Dmitryevna。　Natasha　saw　there　was　nothing　to　be　afraid　of；　and　so　she　was　not　frightened　at　Marya　Dmitryevna　even。
“Marya　Dmitryevna！　what　sort　of　ice…pudding？　I　don’t　like　ice　cream。”
“Carrot…ices。”
“No；　what　sort；　Marya　Dmitryevna；　what　sort？”　she　almost　shrieked。　“I　want　to　know。”　Marya　Dmitryevna　and　the　countess　burst　out　laughing；　and　all　the　party　followed　their　example。　They　all　laughed；　not　at　Marya　Dmitryevna’s　answer；　but　at　the　irrepressible　boldness　and　smartness　of　the　little　girl；　who　had　the　pluck　and　the　wit　to　tackle　Marya　Dmitryevna　in　this　fashion。
Natasha　only　desisted　when　she　had　been　told　it　was　to　be　pineapple　ice。　Before　the　ices；　champagne　was　passed　round。　Again　the　band　struck　up；　the　count　kissed　the　countess；　and　the　guests　getting　up　from　the　table　congratulated　the　countess；　and　clinked　glasses　across　the　table　with　the　count；　the　children；　and　one　another。　Again　the　waiters　darted　about；　chairs　grated　on　the　floor；　and　in　the　same　order；　but　with　flushed　faces；　the　guests　returned　to　the　drawing…room　and　the　count’s　study。


Chapter　17
THE　CARD…TABLES　were　opened；　parties　were　made　up　for　boston；　and　the　count’s　guests　settled　themselves　in　the　two　drawing…rooms；　the　divan…room；　and　the　library。
The　count；　holding　his　cards　in　a　fan；　with　some　difficulty　kept　himself　from　dropping　into　his　customary　after…dinner　nap；　and　laughed　at　everything。　The　young　people；　at　the　countess’s　suggestion；　gathered　about　the　clavichord　and　the　harp。　Julie　was　first　pressed　by　every　one　to　perform；　and　played　a　piece　with　variations　on　the　harp。　Then　she　joined　the　other　young　ladies　in　begging　Natasha　and　Nikolay；　who　were　noted　for　their　musical　talents；　to　sing　something。　Natasha；　who　was　treated　by　every　one　as　though　she　were　grown…up；　was　visibly　very　proud　of　it；　and　at　the　same　time　made　shy　by　it。
“What　are　we　to　sing？”　she　asked。
“The　‘Spring；’　”　answered　Nikolay。
“Well；　then；　let’s　make　haste。　Boris；　come　here；”　said　Natasha。　“But　where’s　Sonya？”　She　looked　round；　and　seeing　that　her　friend　was　not　in　the　room；　she　ran　off　to　find　her。
After　running　to　Sonya’s　room；　and　not　finding　her　there；　Natasha　ran　to　the　nursery：　Sonya　was　not　there　either。　Natasha　knew　that　she　must　be　on　the　chest　in　the　corridor。　The　chest　in　the　corridor　was　the　scene　of　the　woes　of　the　younger　feminine　generation　of　the　house　of　Rostov。　Yes；　Sonya　was　on　the　chest；　lying　face　downwards；　crushing　her　gossamer　pink　frock　on　their　old　nurse’s　dirty　striped　feather…bed。　Her　face　hidden　in　her　fingers；　she　was　sobbing；　and　her　little　bare　shoulders　were　heaving。　Natasha’s　birthday　face　that　had　been　festive　and　excited　all　day；　changed　at　once；　her　eyes　wore　a　fixed　look；