按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
that one subject； and still had not time to do all that seemed to her necessary。
There were in those days； just as now； arguments and discussions on the rights of women； on the relations of husband and wife； and on freedom and rights in marriage； though they were not then； as now； called questions。 But these questions had no interest for Natasha； in fact she had absolutely no comprehension of them。
Those questions； then as now； existed only for those persons who see in marriage only the satisfaction the married receive from one another； that is； only the first beginnings of marriage and not all its significance； which lies in the family。
Such discussions and the questions of to…day； like the question how to get the utmost possible gratification out of one’s dinner； then； as now； did not exist for persons for whom the object of dinner is nourishment； and the object of wedlock is the family。
If the end of dinner is the nourishment of the body； the man who eats two dinners obtains possibly a greater amount of pleasure； but he does not attain the object of it； since two dinners cannot be digested by the stomach。
If the end of marriage is the family； the person who prefers to have several wives and several husbands may possibly derive a great deal of satisfaction therefrom； but will not in any case have a family。 If the end of dinner is nourishment and the end of marriage is the family； the whole question is only solved by not eating more than the stomach can digest and not having more husbands or wives than as many as are needed for the family； that is； one wife and one husband。 Natasha needed a husband。 A husband was given her； and her husband gave her a family。 And she saw no need of another better husband； and indeed； as all her spiritual energies were devoted to serving that husband and his children； she could not picture； and found no interest in trying to picture； what would have happened had things been different。
Natasha did not care for society in general； but she greatly prized the society of her kinsfolk—of Countess Marya； her brother； her mother； and Sonya。 She cared for the society of those persons to whom she could rush in from the nursery in a dressing…gown with her hair down； to whom she could； with a joyful face； show a baby’s napkin stained yellow instead of green； and to receive their comforting assurances that that proved that baby was now really better。
Natasha neglected herself to such a degree that her dresses； her untidy hair； her inappropriately blurted…out words； and her jealousy— she was jealous of Sonya； of the governess； of every woman； pretty and ugly—were a continual subject of jests among her friends。 The general opinion was that Pierre was tied to his wife’s apron strings； and it really was so。 From the earliest days of their marriage Natasha had made plain her claims。 Pierre had been greatly surprised at his wife’s view—to him a completely novel idea—that every minute of his life belonged to her and their home。 He was surprised at his wife’s demands； but he was flattered by them； and he acquiesced in them。
Pierre was so far under petticoat government that he did not dare to be attentive； or even to speak with a smile； to any other woman； did not dare go to dine at the club； without good reason； simply for entertainment； did not dare spent money on idle whims； and did not dare to be away from home for any long time together； except on business； in which his wife included his scientific pursuits。 Though she understood nothing of the latter； she attached great consequence to them。 To make up for all this Pierre had complete power in his own house to dispose of the whole household； as well as of himself； as he chose。 In their own home Natasha made herself a slave to her husband； and the whole household had to go on tiptoe if the master were busy reading or writing in his study。 Pierre had only to show the slightest preference； for what he desired to be at once carried out。 He had but to express a wish and Natasha jumped up at once and ran for what he wanted。
The whole household was ruled by the supposed directions of the master； that is； by the wishes of Pierre； which Natasha tried to guess。 Their manner of life and place of residence； their acquaintances and ties； Natasha’s pursuits； and the bringing up of the children—all followed； not only Pierre’s expressed wishes； but even the deductions Natasha strove to draw from the ideas he explained in conversation with her。 And she guessed very correctly what was the essential point of Pierre’s wishes； and having once guessed it she was steadfast in adhering to it： even when Pierre himself would have veered round she opposed him with his own weapons。
In the troubled days that Pierre could never forget； after the birth of their first child； they had tried three wet nurses； one after another； for the delicate baby； and Natasha had fallen ill with anxiety。 At the time Pierre had explained to her Rousseau’s views on the unnaturalness and harmfulness of a child being suckled by any woman but its own mother and told her he fully agreed with those views。 When the next baby was born； in spite of the opposition of her mother； the doctors； and even of her husband himself； who had looked on it as something unheard of； and injurious； she insisted on having her own way； and from that day had nursed all her children herself。 It happened very often in moments of irritability that the husband and wife quarrelled； but long after their dispute Pierre had； to his own delight and surprise； found in his wife’s actions； as well as words； that very idea of his with which she had quarrelled。 And he not only found his own idea； but found it purified of all that was superfluous； and had been evoked by the heat of argument in his own expression of the idea。
After seven years of married life； Pierre had a firm and joyful consciousness that he was not a bad fellow； and he felt this because he saw himself reflected in his wife。 In himself he felt all the good and bad mingled together； and obscuring one another。 But in his wife he saw reflected only what was really good； everything not quite good was left out。 And this result was not reached by the way of logical thought； but by way of a mysterious； direct reflection of himself。
Chapter 11
TWO MONTHS PREVIOUSLY； Pierre was already settled at the Rostovs’ when he received a letter from a certain Prince Fyodor； urging him to come to Petersburg for the discussion of various important questions that were agitating the Petersburg members of a society； of which Pierre had been one of the chief founders。
Natasha read this letter； as she did indeed all her husband’s letters； and bitterly as she always felt his absence； she urged him herself to go to Petersburg。 To everything appertaining to her husband’s intellectual； abstract pursuits； she ascribed immense consequence； though she had no understanding of them； and she was always in dread of being a hindrance to her husband in such matters。 To Pierre’s timid glance of inquiry after reading the letter； she replied by begging him to go； and all she asked was that he would fix an absolutely certain date for his return。 And leave of absence was given him for four wee