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！
th diamonds and pearls on their bare arms and necks。
Natasha looked into the looking…glasses and could not distinguish herself from the rest。 All was mingled into one brilliant procession。 At the entrance into the first room； the regular hum of voices； footsteps； greetings； deafened Natasha； the light and brilliance dazzled her still more。 The host and hostess who had been already standing at the door for half an hour； saying exactly the same words to every guest on arrival； Charmé de vous voir； gave the same greeting to the Rostovs and Madame Peronsky。 The two young girls in their white dresses； with roses alike in their black hair； made curtsies just alike； but unconsciously the hostess’s eyes rested longer on the slender figure of Natasha。 She looked at her； and smiled at her a smile that was something more than the smile of welcome she had for all。 Looking at her； the hostess was reminded perhaps of her golden days of girlhood； gone never to return； of her own first ball。 The host too followed Natasha with his eyes； and asked the count which of the girls was his daughter。
“Charming！” he said； kissing his own finger…tips。
In the ballroom； guests stood crowding about the entry in expectation of the Tsar。 The countess took up her position in the front row of this crowd。 Natasha heard and felt that several voices were asking who she was； that many pairs of eyes were fixed on her。 She knew that she was making a good impression on those who noticed her； and this observation calmed her somewhat。
“There are some like ourselves； and some not as good；” she thought。
Madame Peronsky was pointing out to the countess the most distinguished persons at the ball。
“That is the Dutch ambassador； do you see； the grey…haired man；” Madame Peronsky was saying； indicating an old man with a profusion of silver…grey curls； who was surrounded by ladies laughing at some story he was telling。 “And here she comes； the queen of Petersburg society； Countess Bezuhov；” she said； pointing to Ellen who had just come in。
“How lovely！ She’s quite equal to Marya Antonovna。 Look how attentive all the men are to her； young and old alike。 She’s both lovely and clever。… They say Prince So…and…So is wild about her。 And you see these two； though they are not good…looking； they are even more run after。”
She pointed out a lady who was crossing the room accompanied by a very ugly daughter。
“That’s the heiress of a million；” said Madame Peronsky。 “And； look； here come her suitors。…That’s Countess Bezuhov’s brother； Anatole Kuragin；” she said； pointing to a handsome officer in the Horse Guards； who passed by them looking from the height of his lifted head over the ladies to something beyond them。 “He is handsome； isn’t he？ They say he is to be married to that heiress。 And your cousin； Drubetskoy； is very attentive to her too。 They say she has millions。 Oh； that’s the French ambassador himself；” she said in answer to the countess’s inquiry as to the identity of Caulaincourt。 “Just look； he’s like some monarch。 But yet they’re nice； the French are very nice。 No people more charming in society。 Ah； here she is！ Yes； still lovelier than any one； our Marya Antonovna！ And how simply dressed！ Exquisite！”
“And that stout fellow in spectacles is a universal freemason；” said Madame Peronsky； indicating Bezuhov。 “Set him beside his wife： he’s a motley fool！”
Swinging his stout frame； Pierre slouched through the crowd； nodding to right and to left； as casually and good…naturedly as though he were walking through a crowd in a market。 He made his way through the crowd unmistakably looking for some one。
Natasha looked with joy at the familiar face of Pierre； the motley fool； as Madame Peronsky called him； and knew that it was they； and she in particular； of whom Pierre was in search in the crowd。 Pierre had promised her to be at the ball and to find her partners。 But before reaching them； Pierre came to a standstill beside a very handsome； dark man of medium height in a white uniform； who was standing in a window talking to a tall man wearing stars and a ribbon。
Natasha at once recognised the handsome young man in the white uniform； it was Bolkonsky； who seemed to her to have grown much younger； happier； and better looking。
“There’s some one else we know； Bolkonsky； do you see； mamma？” said Natasha； pointing out Prince Andrey。 “Do you remember he stayed a night at home； at Otradnoe？”
“Oh； do you know him？” said Madame Peronsky。 “I can’t bear him。 Every one is crazy over him。 And his conceit！ it’s beyond all bounds！ He takes after his worthy papa！ And he’s hand in glove now with Speransky； making out some sort of plans for reform。 Just look how he behaves with ladies！ She’s speaking to him； and he has turned his back on her；” she said； pointing to him。 “I would soon send him about his business if he were to treat me like those ladies。”
Chapter 16
THERE was a sudden stir； the crowd began talking； rushed forward； then moved apart again； and down the space left open through it； the Tsar walked to the strains of the band； which struck up at once。 Behind him walked the host and hostess。 The Tsar walked in rapidly； bowing to right and to left； as though trying to hurry over the first moments of greeting。 The musicians played the polonaise in vogue at the time on account of the words set to it。 The words began： “Alexander； Elisaveta； our hearts ye ravish quite。” The Tsar went into the drawing…room； the crowd made a dash for the door； several persons ran hurriedly to the door and back with excited faces。 The crowd made another rush back； away from the drawing…room door at which the Tsar appeared in conversation with the hostess。 A young man； looking distraught； pounced down on the ladies and begged them to move aside。 Several； with faces that betrayed a total oblivion of all the rules of decorum； squeezed forward； to the destruction of their dresses。 The men began approaching the ladies； and couples were formed for the polonaise。
There was a general movement of retreat； and the Tsar； smiling； came out of the drawing…room door； leading out the lady of the house； and not keeping time to the music。 He was followed by the host with Marya Antonovna Narishkin； then came ambassadors； ministers； and various generals； whose names Madame Peronsky never tired of reciting。 More than half the ladies had partners； and were taking part； or preparing to take part； in the polonaise。
Natasha felt that she would be left with her mother and Sonya in that minority of the ladies who were crowded back against the wall； and not invited to dance the polonaise。 She stood； her thin arms hanging at her sides； and her scarcely outlined bosom heaving regularly。 She held her breath； and gazed before her with shining； frightened eyes； with an expression of equal readiness for the utmost bliss or the utmost misery。 She took no interest in the Tsar； nor in all the great people Madame Peronsky was pointing out； her mind was filled by one thought： “Is it possible no one will come up to me？ Is it possible that I shall not dance among the foremost？ Is it possible I shall not be noticed by all these men； who now don’t even seem to see me； but if they look at m