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！
Natasha saw that his visit had been an interesting one； that he was longing to tell them about it； but dared not speak freely before the countess。 Denisov； not being a member of the family； did not understand Pierre’s circumspectness； and； moreover； being dissatisfied with the course of events； took a very great interest in all that was going forward at Petersburg。 He was continually trying to get Pierre to tell him about the recent scandal about the Semyonovsky regiment； or about Araktcheev； or about the Bible Society。 Pierre was sometimes led on into beginning to talk about those subjects； but Nikolay and Natasha always brought him back to the health of Prince Ivan and Countess Marya Antonovna。
‘‘Well； what is all this idiocy； Gossner and Madame Tatarinov；’’ Denisov asked； ‘‘is that still going on？’’
‘‘Going on？’’ said Pierre。 ‘‘Worse than ever。 The Bible Society is now the whole government。’’
‘‘What is that； mon cher ami？’’ asked the old countess； who； having drunk her tea； was obviously seeking a pretext for ill…humour after taking food。 ‘‘What are you saying about the government？ I don’t understand that。’’
‘‘Why； you know； maman；’’ put in Nikolay； who knew how to translate things into his mother’s language。 ‘‘Prince Alexander Nikolaevitch Golitsin had founded a society； so he has great influence they say。’’
‘‘Araktcheev and Golitsin；’’ said Pierre incautiously； ‘‘are practically the government now。 And what a government！ They see conspiracy in everything； they are afraid of everything。’’
‘‘What； Prince Alexander Nikolaevitch found fault with！ He is a most estimable man。 I used to meet him in old days at Marya Antonovna’s；’’ said the countess in an aggrieved tone。 And still more aggrieved by the general silence； she went on； ‘‘Nowadays people find fault with every one。 A Gospel Society； what harm is there in that？’’ and she got up （every one rose too）； and with a severe face sailed out to her table in the adjoining divan…room。
In the midst of the mournful silence that followed； they heard the sound of children’s voices and laughter from the next room。 There was evidently some joyful excitement afoot among the children。
‘‘Finished； finished！’’ the gleeful shriek of little Natasha was heard above all the rest。 Pierre exchanged glances with Countess Marya and Nikolay （Natasha he was looking at all the time）； and he smiled happily。
‘‘Delightful music！’’ he said。
‘‘Anna Makarovna has finished her stocking；’’ said Countess Marya。
‘‘Oh； I’m going to have a look at them；’’ said Pierre； jumping up。 ‘‘You know；’’ he said； stopping at the door； ‘‘why it is I so particularly love that music—it is what first lets me know that all’s well。 As I came today； the nearer I got to home； the greater my panic。 As I came into the vestibule； I heard Andryusha in peals of laughter； and then I knew all was well …’’
‘‘I know； I know that feeling；’’ Nikolay chimed in。 ‘‘I mustn’t come— the stockings are a surprise in store for me。’’
Pierre went into the children； and the shrieks and laughter were louder than ever。 ‘‘Now； Anna Makarovna；’’ cried Pierre’s voice； ‘‘here in the middle of the room and at the word of my command—one； two； and when I say three； you stand here。 You in my arms。 Now； one； two …’’ there was complete silence。 ‘‘Three！’’ and an enthusiastic roar of children’s voices rose in the room。 ‘‘Two； two！’’ cried the children。
They meant the two stockings； which； by a secret only known to her； Anna Makarovna used to knit on her needles at once。 She always made a solemn ceremony of pulling one stocking out of the other in the presence of the children when the pair was finished。
Chapter 14
SOON AFTER THIS the children came in to say good…night。 The children kissed every one； the tutors and governesses said good…night and went away。 Dessalle alone remained with his pupil。 The tutor whispered to his young charge to come downstairs。
‘‘No； M。 Dessalle； I will ask my aunt for leave to stay；’’ Nikolinka Bolkonsky answered； also in a whisper。
‘‘Ma tante； will you let me stay？’’ said Nikolinka； going up to his aunt。 His face was full of entreaty； excitement； and enthusiasm。 Countess Marya looked at him and turned to Pierre
‘‘When you are here； there is no tearing him away …’’ she said。
‘‘I will bring him directly； M。 Dessalle。 Good…night；’’ said Pierre； giving his hand to the Swiss tutor； and he turned smiling to Nikolinka。 ‘‘We have not seen each other at all yet。 Marie； how like he is growing；’’ he added； turning to Countess Marya。
‘‘Like my father？’’ said the boy； flushing crimson and looking up at Pierre with rapturous； shining eyes。
Pierre nodded to him； and went on with the conversation that had been interrupted by the children。 Countess Marya had some canvas embroidery in her hands； Natasha sat with her eyes fixed on her husband。 Nikolay and Denisov got up； asked for pipes； smoked； and took cups of tea from Sonya； still sitting with weary pertinacity at the samovar； and asked questions of Pierre。 The curly…headed； delicate boy； with his shining eyes； sat unnoticed by any one in a corner。 Turning the curly head and the slender neck above his laydown collar to follow Pierre’s movements； he trembled now and then； and murmured something to himself； evidently thrilled by some new and violent emotion。
The conversation turned on the scandals of the day in the higher government circles； a subject in which the majority of people usually find the chief interest of home politics。 Denisov； who was dissatisfied with the government on account of his own disappointments in the service； heard with glee of all the follies； as he considered them； that were going on now in Petersburg； and made his comments on Pierre’s words in harsh and in cutting phrases。
‘‘In old days you had to be a German to be anybody； nowadays you have to dance with the Tatarinov woman and Madame Krüdner； to read …Eckartshausen； and the rest of that crew。 Ugh！ I would let good old Bonaparte loose again！ He would knock all the nonsense out of them。 Why； isn’t it beyond everything to have given that fellow Schwartz the Semyonovsky regiment？’’ he shouted。
Though Nikolay had not Denisov’s disposition to find everything amiss； he too thought it dignified and becoming to criticise the government； and he believed that the fact； that A。 had been appointed minister of such a department； and B。 had been made governor of such a province； and the Tsar had said this； and the minister had said that； were all matters of the greatest importance。 And he thought it incumbent upon him to take an interest in the subject and to question Pierre about it。 So the questions put by Nikolay and Denisov kept the conversation on the usual lines of gossip about the higher government circles。
But Natasha； who knew every thought and expression in her husband； saw that Pierre all the while wanted to lead the conversation into another channel； and to open his heart on his own idea； the idea which he had gone to Petersburg to consult his new friend Prince Fyodor about。 She saw too that he could not lead up to this； and she came to the rescue with a questi