战争与和平(上)-第21章

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a　fixed　look；　then　her　broad　neck　quivered；　and　the　corners　of　her　lips　drooped。
“Sonya！　what　is　it？　…　what’s　the　matter　with　you？　Oo…oo…oo！　…”　and　Natasha；　letting　her　big　mouth　drop　open　and　becoming　quite　ugly；　wailed　like　a　baby；　not　knowing　why；　simply　because　Sonya　was　crying。　Sonya　tried　to　lift　up　her　head；　tried　to　answer；　but　could　not；　and　buried　her　face　more　than　ever。　Natasha　cried；　sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　blue　feather…bed　and　hugging　her　friend。　Making　an　effort；　Sonya　got　up；　began　to　dry　her　tears　and　to　talk。
“Nikolinka’s　going　away　in　a　week；　his　…　paper　…　has　come　…　he　told　me　himself。　…　But　still　I　shouldn’t　cry　…”　（she　showed　a　sheet　of　paper　she　was　holding　in　her　hand；　on　it　were　verses　written　by　Nikolay）。　“I　shouldn’t　have　cried；　but　you　can’t　…　no　one　can　understand　…　what　a　soul　he　has。”
And　again　she　fell　to　weeping　at　the　thought　of　how　noble　his　soul　was。
“It’s　all　right　for　you　…　I’m　not　envious　…　I　love　you　and　Boris　too；”　she　said；　controlling　herself　a　little；　“he’s　so　nice　…　there　are　no　difficulties　in　your　way。　But　Nikolay’s　my　cousin　…　the　metropolitan　chief　priest　himself　…　has　to　…　or　else　it’s　impossible。　And　so；　if　mamma’s　told”　（Sonya　looked　on　the　countess　and　addressed　her　as　a　mother）；　“she’ll　say　that　I’m　spoiling　Nikolay’s　career；　that　I　have　no　heart；　that　I’m　ungrateful；　though　really　…　in　God’s　name”　（she　made　the　sign　of　the　cross）　“I　love　her　so；　and　all　of　you；　only　Vera　…　Why　is　it？　What　have　I　done　to　her？　I　am　so　grateful　to　you　that　I　would　be　glad　to　sacrifice　everything　for　you；　but　I　have　nothing。　…”
Sonya　could　say　no　more；　and　again　she　buried　her　head　in　her　hands　and　the　feather…bed。　Natasha　tried　to　comfort　her；　but　her　face　showed　that　she　grasped　all　the　gravity　of　her　friend’s　trouble。
“Sonya！”　she　said　all　at　once；　as　though　she　had　guessed　the　real　cause　of　her　cousin’s　misery；　“of　course　Vera’s　been　talking　to　you　since　dinner？　Yes？”
“Yes；　these　verses　Nikolay　wrote　himself；　and　I　copied　some　others；　and　she　found　them　on　my　table；　and　said　she　should　show　them　to　mamma；　and　she　said　too　that　I　was　ungrateful；　and　that　mamma　would　never　allow　him　to　marry　me；　but　that　he　would　marry　Julie。　You　see　how　he　has　been　with　her　all　day　…　Natasha！　why　is　it？”
And　again　she　sobbed　more　bitterly　than　ever。　Natasha　lifted　her　up；　hugged　her；　and；　smiling　through　her　tears；　began　comforting　her。
“Sonya；　don’t　you　believe　her；　darling；　don’t　believe　her。　Do　you　remember　how　we　talked　with　Nikolay；　all　three　of　us　together；　in　the　divan…room；　do　you　remember；　after　supper？　Why；　we　settled　how　it　should　all　be。　I　don’t　quite　remember　now；　but　do　you　remember；　it　was　all　right　and　all　possible。　Why；　uncle　Shinshin’s　brother　is　married　to　his　first　cousin；　and　we’re　only　second　cousins；　you　know。　And　Boris　said　that　it’s　quite　easily　arranged。　You　know　I　told　him　all　about　it。　He’s　so　clever　and　so　good；”　said　Natasha。　…　“Don’t　cry；　Sonya；　darling；　sweet　one；　precious；　Sonya；”　and　she　kissed　her；　laughing。　“Vera　is　spiteful；　never　mind　her！　and　it　will　all　come　right　and　she　won’t　tell　mamma。　Nikolinka　will　tell　her　himself；　and　he’s　never　thought　of　Julie。”
And　she　kissed　her　on　the　head。　Sonya　got　up；　and　the　kitten　revived；　its　eyes　sparkled；　and　it　was　ready；　it　seemed；　to　wag　its　tail；　spring　on　its　soft　paws　and　begin　to　play　with　a　ball；　in　its　own　natural；　kittenish　way。
“Do　you　think　so？　Really？　Truly？”　she　said　rapidly；　smoothing　her　frock　and　her　hair。
“Really；　truly；”　answered　Natasha；　putting　back　a　stray　coil　of　rough　hair　on　her　friend’s　head；　and　they　both　laughed。　“Well；　come　along　and　sing　the　‘Spring。’　”
“Let’s　go；　then。”
“And　do　you　know　that　fat　Pierre；　who　was　sitting　opposite　me；　he’s　so　funny！”　Natasha　said　suddenly；　stopping。　“I　am　enjoying　myself　so；”　and　Natasha　ran　along　the　corridor。
Brushing　off　the　feather　fluff　from　her　frock；　and　thrusting　the　verses　into　her　bodice　next　her　little　throat　and　prominent　breast…bones；　Sonya　ran　with　flushed　face　and　light；　happy　steps；　following　Natasha　along　the　corridor　to　the　divan…room。　At　the　request　of　their　guests　the　young　people　sang　the　quartette　the　“Spring；”　with　which　every　one　was　delighted；　then　Nikolay　sang　a　song　he　had　lately　learnt。
“How　sweet　in　the　moon’s　kindly　ray；
In　fancy　to　thyself　to　say；
That　earth　holds　still　one　dear　to　thee！
Whose　thoughts；　whose　dreams　are　all　of　thee！
That　her　fair　fingers　as　of　old
Stray　still　upon　the　harp　of　gold；
Making　sweet；　passionate　harmony；
That　to　her　side　doth　summon　thee！
To…morrow　and　thy　bliss　is　near！
Alas！　all’s　past！　she　is　not　here！”
And　he　had　hardly　sung　the　last　words　when　the　young　people　were　getting　ready　to　dance　in　the　big　hall；　and　the　musicians　began　stamping　with　their　feet　and　coughing　in　the　orchestra。
Pierre　was　sitting　in　the　drawing…room；　where　Shinshin　had　started　a　conversation　with　him　on　the　political　situation；　as　a　subject　likely　to　be　of　interest　to　any　one　who　had　just　come　home　from　abroad；　though　it　did　not　in　fact　interest　Pierre。　Several　other　persons　joined　in　the　conversation。　When　the　orchestra　struck　up；　Natasha　walked　into　the　drawing…room；　and　going　straight　up　to　Pierre；　laughing　and　blushing；　she　said；　“Mamma　told　me　to　ask　you　to　dance。”
“I’m　afraid　of　muddling　the　figures；”　said　Pierre；　“but　if　you　will　be　my　teacher　…”　and　he　gave　his　fat　hand　to　the　slim　little　girl；　putting　his　arm　low　down　to　reach　her　level。
While　the　couples　were　placing　themselves　and　the　musicians　were　tuning　up；　Pierre　sat　down　with　his　little　partner。　Natasha　was　perfectly　happy；　she　was　dancing　with　a　grown…up　person；　with　a　man　who　had　just　come　from　abroad。　She　was　sitting　in　view　of　every　one　and　talking　to　him　like　a　grown…up　person。　She　had　in　her　hand　a　fan；　which　some　lady　had　given　her　to　hold；　and　taking　the　most　modish　pose　（God　knows　where　and　when　she　had　learnt　it）；　fanning　herself　and　smiling　all　over　her　face；　she　talked　to　her　partner。
“What　a　girl！　Just　look　at　her；　look　at　her！”　said　the　old　countess；　crossing　the　big　hall　and　pointing　to　Natasha。　Natasha　coloured　and　laughed。
“Why；　what　do　you　mean；　mamma？　Why　should　you　laugh？　Is　there　anything　strange　about　it？”
In　the　middle　of　the　third　écossaise　there　was　a　clatter　of　chairs　in　the　drawing…room；　where　the　count　and　Marya　Dmitryevna　were　playing；　and　the　greater　number　of　the　more　honoured　guests　and　elderly　people　stretching　themselves　after　sitting　so　long；　put　their　pocket…books　and　purses　in　their　pockets　and　came　out　to　the　door　of　the　big　hall。　In　front　of　all　came　Marya　Dmitryevna　and　the　count；　both　with　radiant　faces。　The　count　gave　his　arm；　curved　into　a　hoop；　to　Marya　Dmitryevna　with　playfully　exaggerated　ceremony；　like　a　ballet…dancer。　He　drew　himself　up；　and　his　face　beamed　with　a　peculiar；　jauntily…knowing　smile；　and　as　soon　as　they　had　finished　dancing　the　last　figure　of　the　écossaise；　he　clapped　his　hands　to　the　orchestra；　and　shouted　to　the　first　violin：　“Semyon！　do　you　know　‘Daniel　Cooper’？”
That　was　the　count’s　favourite　dance　that　he　had　danced　in　his　youth。　（Daniel　Cooper　was　the　name　of　a　figure　of　the　anglaise。）
“Look　at　papa！”　Natasha　shouted　to　all　the　room　（entirely　forgetting　that　she　was　dancing　with　a　grown…up　partner）；　and　ducking　down　till　her　curly　head　almost　touched　her　knees；　she　went　off　into　her　ringing　laugh　that　filled　the　hall。　Every　one　in　the　hall　was；　in　fact；　looking　with　a　smile　of　delight　at　the　gleeful　old　gentleman。　Standing　beside　his　majestic　partner；　Marya　Dmitryevna；　who　was　taller　than　he　was；　he　curved　his　arms；　swaying　them　in　time　to　the　music；　moved　his　shoulders；　twirled　with　his　legs；　lightly　tapping　with　his　heels；　and　with　a　broadening　grin　on　his　round　face；　prepared　the　spectators　for　what　was　to　come。　As　soon　as　the　orchestra　played　the　gay；　irresistible　air　of　Daniel　Cooper；　somewhat　like　a　livelier　Russian　trepak；　all　the　doorways　of　the　big　hall　were　suddenly　filled　with　the　smiling　faces　of　the　house…serfs—men　on　one　side；　and　women　on　the　other—come　to　look　at　their　master　making　merry。
“Our　little　father！　An　eagle　he　is！”　the　old　nur