战争与和平(上)-第219章

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ith　Denisov。　Ilyin　tried　to　imitate　Rostov　in　everything　and　adored　him；　as　a　girl　might　have　done。
The　officer　with　the　double　moustaches；　Zdrzhinsky；　in　a　very　high…flown　manner；　described　the　dike　at　Saltanov　as　the　Russian　Thermopylae；　and　the　heroic　deed　of　General　Raevsky　on　that　dike　as　worthy　of　antiquity。　Zdrzhinsky　told　then　how　Raevsky　had　thrust　his　two　sons　forward　on　the　dike　under　a　terrific　fire；　and　had　charged　at　their　side。　Rostov　listened　to　the　tale；　and　said　nothing　betokening　sympathy　with　Zdrzhinsky’s　enthusiasm。　He　looked；　indeed；　as　though　ashamed　of　what　he　was　told；　but　not　intending　to　gainsay　it。　After　Austerlitz　and　the　campaign　of　1807；　Rostov　knew　from　his　own　experience　that　men　always　lie　when　they　describe　deeds　of　battle；　as　he　did　himself　indeed。　He　had　had　too　sufficient　experience　to　know　that　everything　in　battle　happens　utterly　differently　from　our　imagination　and　description　of　it。　And　so　he　did　not　like　Zdrzhinsky’s　story；　and　did　not；　indeed；　like　Zdrzhinsky　himself；　who　had；　besides　his　unprepossessing　moustaches；　a　habit　of　bending　right　over　into　the　face　of　the　person　he　was　speaking　to。　He　was　in　their　way　in　the　cramped　little　shanty。　Rostov　looked　at　him　without　speaking。　“In　the　first　place；　on　the　dike　they　were　charging　there　must　have　been　such　a　crowd　and　confusion　that；　if　Raevsky　really　thrust　his　sons　forward；　it　would　have　had　no　effect　except　on　the　dozen　men　closest　to　him；”　thought　Rostov；　“the　rest　could　not　have　even　seen　who　were　with　Raevsky　on　the　dike。　And　those　who　did　see　it　were　not　likely　to　be　greatly　affected　by　it；　for　what　thought　had　they　to　spare　for　Raevsky’s　tender；　parental　feelings；　when　they　had　their　own　skins　to　think　of　saving？　And　besides　the　fate　of　the　country　did　not　depend　on　whether　that　dike　was　taken　or　not；　as　we　are　told　the　fate　of　Greece　did　depend　on　Thermopylae。　And　then　what　was　the　object　of　such　a　sacrifice？　Why　do　your　own　children　a　mischief　in　war？　I　wouldn’t　put　Petya；　my　brother；　in　a　place　of　danger；　no；　even　Ilyin　here；　who’s　nothing　to　me　but　a　good…natured　lad；　I　would　do　my　best　to　keep　safe　and　sheltered；”　Rostov　mused；　as　he　listened　to　Zdrzhinsky。　But　he　did　not　give　utterance　to　his　thoughts；　he　had　experience　of　that　too。　He　knew　that　this　tale　redounded　to　the　glory　of　our　arms；　and　therefore　one　must　appear　not　to　doubt　its　truth：　and　he　acted　accordingly。
“I　can’t　stand　this；　though；”　said　Ilyin；　noticing　that　Rostov　did　not　care　for　Zdrzhinsky’s　story；　“stockings　and　shirt；　and　all—I’m　wet　through。　I’m　going　to　look　for　shelter。　I　fancy　the　rain’s　not　so　heavy。”　Ilyin　ran　out　and　Zdrzhinsky　rode　away。
Five　minutes　later　Ilyin　came　splashing　through　the　mud　to　the　shanty。
“Hurrah！　Rostov；　make　haste　and　come　along。　I　have　found　an　inn；　two　hundred　paces　or　so　from　here；　a　lot　of　our　fellows　are　there　already。　We　can　get　dry　anyway；　and　Marya　Hendrihovna’s　there。”
Marya　Hendrihovna　was　the　wife　of　the　regimental　doctor；　a　pretty　young　German　woman；　whom　he　had　married　in　Poland。　Either　from　lack　of　means　or　disinclination　to　part　from　his　young　wife　in　the　early　days　of　their　marriage；　the　doctor　had　brought　her　with　him　in　the　regiment；　and　his　jealousy　was　a　favourite　subject　for　the　jibes　of　the　hussars。
Rostov　flung　on　a　cape；　shouted　to　Lavrushka　to　follow　them　with　their　things；　and　went　off　with　Ilyin；　slipping　in　the　mud；　and　splashing　through　the　pools　in　the　drizzling　rain　and　the　darkness；　which　was　rent　at　intervals　by　distant　lightning。
“Rostov；　where　are　you？”
“Here。　What　a　flash！”　they　called　to　one　another　as　they　went。


Chapter　13
IN　THE　INN；　before　which　was　standing　the　doctor’s　covered　cart；　there　were　already　some　half…dozen　officers。　Marya　Hendrihovna；　a　plump；　flaxen…headed　little　German　in　a　dressing…jacket　and　nightcap；　was　sitting　on　a　board　bench　in　the　foremost　corner。　Her　husband；　the　doctor；　lay　asleep　behind　her。　Rostov　and　Ilyin　entered　the　room；　welcomed　with　merry　shouts　and　laughter。
“I　say！　You　are　having　a　jolly　time　here！”　said　Rostov；　laughing。
“And　what　are　you　yawning　over？”
“Pretty　figures　you　look！　There’s　a　perfect　waterfall　from　them！　Don’t　swamp　our　drawing…room。”
“Mind　you　don’t　spatter　Marya　Hendrihovna’s　dress；”　chimed　in　voices。
Rostov　and　Ilyin　made　haste　to　look　for　a　retreat　where；　without　offence　to　the　modesty　of　Marya　Hendrihovna；　they　might　change　their　wet　clothes。　They　went　behind　a　partition　wall　to　change；　but　in　the　little　recess　were　three　officers；　who　completely　filled　it　up。　They　were　sitting　playing　cards　by　the　light　of　a　single　candle　on　an　empty　box；　and　nothing　would　induce　them　to　budge　from　their　places。　Marya　Hendrihovna　lent　them　her　petticoat　to　be　hung　by　way　of　a　curtain；　and　screened　by　it；　Rostov　and　Ilyin　took　off　their　wet　things　and　put　on　dry　clothes；　with　the　aid　of　Lavrushka；　who　had　brought　their　packages。
They　made　up　a　fire　in　the　broken…down　stove。　They　got　hold　of　a　board；　propped　it　on　two　saddles；　and　covered　it　with　a　horse…cloth；　then　brought　out　a　little　samovar；　a　case　of　wine；　and　half　a　bottle　of　rum。　All　crowded　round　Marya　Hendrihovna；　begging　her　to　preside。　One　offered　her　a　clean　handkerchief；　to　wipe　her　charming　hands；　another　put　his　tunic　under　her　little　feet；　to　keep　them　from　the　damp　floor；　a　third　hung　a　cape　over　the　window；　to　screen　her　from　the　draught；　while　a　fourth　brushed　the　flies　off　her　husband’s　face；　to　prevent　their　waking　him。
“Let　him　alone；”　said　Marya　Hendrihovna；　with　a　timid　and　happy　smile；　“he　will　sleep　well　anyhow　after　being　up　all　night。”
“Oh　no；　Marya　Hendrihovna；”　answered　the　officer；　“one　must　look　after　the　doctor　well！　Anything　may　happen；　and　he　will　be　kind　to　me；　I　dare　say；　when　he　has　to　cut　off　my　leg　or　my　arm。”
There　were　only　three　glasses；　the　water　was　so　dirty　that　there　was　no　telling　whether　the　tea　were　strong　or　weak；　and　the　samovar　would　only　hold　water　enough　for　six　glasses。　But　that　made　it　all　the　more　fun　to　take　turns　in　order　of　seniority　to　receive　a　glass　from　the　plump；　short…nailed；　and　not　over　clean　fingers　of　Marya　Hendrihovna。　All　the　officers　seemed　indeed　to　be　genuinely　in　love　for　that　evening　with　Marya　Hendrihovna。　Even　the　officers　who　had　been　playing　cards　behind　the　screen　soon　threw　up　their　game；　and　gathered　round　the　samovar；　catching　the　general　mood；　and　joining　in　the　homage　paid　to　Marya　Hendrihovna。　The　latter；　seeing　herself　surrounded　by　these　splendid　and　devoted　young　men；　beamed　with　delight；　which　she　sought　in　vain　to　conceal；　though　she　was　unmistakably　alarmed　at　every　movement　made　by　her　husband；　who　was　slumbering　behind　her。　There　was　only　one　spoon；　sugar　there　was　in　plenty；　but　it　took　so　long　for　all　to　stir　their　glasses；　that　it　was　settled　that　Marya　Hendrihovna　must　stir　the　sugar　for　each　in　turn。　Rostov　took　his　glass　of　tea；　and　adding　rum　to　it；　begged　Marya　Hendrihovna　to　stir　it　for　him。
“But　you　take　it　without　sugar？”　she　said；　smiling　all　the　while；　as　though　whatever　she　said　or　the　others　said　had　a　quite　different　and　very　amusing　meaning。
“I　don’t　care　about　sugar；　all　I　want　is　for　you　to　stir　it　with　your　little　hand。”
Marya　Hendrihovna　began　looking　for　the　spoon；　which　some　one　had　pounced　upon。
“Use　your　little　finger；　Marya　Hendrihovna；”　said　Rostov；　“it　will　be　all　the　sweeter。”
“It’s　hot；”　said　Marya　Hendrihovna；　blushing　with　pleasure。
Ilyin　took　the　bucket　of　water；　and　pouring　a　few　drops　of　rum　in　it；　went　up　to　Marya　Hendrihovna；　begging　her　to　stir　it　with　her　finger。
“This　is　my　cup；”　he　said。　“Only　dip　your　finger　in　and　I’ll　drink　it　all　up。”
When　the　samovar　was　empty；　Rostov　took　up　the　cards　and　proposed　a　game　of　“Kings”　with　Marya　Hendrihovna。　They　tossed　to　decide　which　was　to　have　the　lady　for　a　partner。　Rostov　proposed　as　a　rule　of　the　game　that　the　one　who　was　“king”　should　have　the　right　to　kiss　Marya　Hendrihovna’s　hand；　and　the　one　who　was　left　knave　should　have　to　fetch　another　samovar　for　the　doctor；　when　he　waked。
“Well；　but　what　if　Marya　Hendrihovna　is　king？”　asked　Ilyin。
“She　is　our　queen　already！　And　her　commands　are　law。”
The　game　was　just　beginning