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into the damp； dim veil of fog。
Nikolay went out on to the wet and muddy steps。 There was a smell of decaying leaves and dogs。 The broad…backed； black and tan bitch Milka； with her big； prominent； black eyes； caught sight of her master； got up； stretched out her hindlegs； lay down like a hare； then suddenly jumped up and licked him right on his nose and moustache。 Another harrier； catching sight of his master from the bright coloured path； arched its back； darted headlong to the steps； and； lifting its tail； rubbed itself against Nikolay’s legs。
“O； hoy！” He heard at that moment the inimitable hunting halloo which unites the deepest bass and the shrillest tenor notes。 And round the corner came the huntsman and whipper…in； Danilo； a grey； wrinkled man； with his hair cropped round in the Ukrainian fashion。 He held a bent whip in his hand； and his face had that expression of independence and scorn for everything in the world； which is only to be seen in huntsmen。 He took off his Circassian cap to his master and looked scornfully at him。 That scorn was not offensive to his master。 Nikolay knew that this Danilo； disdainful of all； and superior to everything； was still his man and his huntsman。
“Danilo；” said Nikolay； at the sight of this hunting weather； those dogs； and the huntsman； feeling shyly that he was being carried away by that irresistible sporting passion in which a man forgets all his previous intentions； like a man in love at the sight of his mistress。
“What is your bidding； your excellency？” asked a bass voice； fit for a head deacon； and hoarse from hallooing； and a pair of flashing black eyes glanced up from under their brows at the silent young master。 “Surely you can’t resist it？” those two eyes seemed to be asking。
“It’s a good day； eh？ Just right for riding and hunting； eh？” said Nikolay； scratching Milka behind the ears。
Danilo winked and made no reply。
“I sent Uvarka out to listen at daybreak；” his bass boomed out after a moment’s silence。 “He brought word she’s moved into the Otradnoe enclosure； there was howling there。” （“She’s moved” meant that the mother wolf； of whom both knew； had moved with her cubs into the Otradnoe copse； which was a small hunting preserve about two versts away。）
“Shouldn’t we go； eh？” said Nikolay。 “Come to me with Uvarka。”
“As you desire。”
“Then put off feeding them。”
“Yes； sir！”
Five minutes later Danilo and Uvarka were standing in Nikolay’s big study。 Although Danilo was not tall； to see him in a room gave one an impression such as one has on seeing a horse or bear standing on the floor among the furniture and surroundings of human life。 Danilo felt this himself； and as usual he kept close to the door and tried to speak more softly； and not to move for fear of causing some breakage in the master’s apartments。 He did his utmost to get everything said quickly so as to get as soon as might be out into the open again； from under a ceiling out under the sky。
After making inquiries and extracting from Danilo an admission that the dogs were fit （Danilo himself was longing to go）； Nikolay told them to have the horses saddled。 But just as Danilo was about to go； Natasha； wrapped in a big shawl of her old nurse’s； ran into the room； not yet dressed； and her hair in disorder。 Petya ran in with her。
“Are you going？” said Natasha。 “I knew you would！ Sonya said you weren’t going。 I knew that on such a day you couldn’t help going！”
“Yes； we’re going；” Nikolay answered reluctantly。 As he meant to attempt serious hunting he did not want to take Natasha and Petya。 “We are going； but only wolf…hunting； it will be dull for you。”
“You know that it’s the greatest of my pleasures；” said Natasha。 “It’s too bad—he’s going himself； has ordered the horses out and not a word to us。”
“No hindrance bars a Russian’s path！” declaimed Petya； “let’s go！”
“But you mustn’t； you know； mamma said you were not to；” said Nikolay to Natasha。
“No； I’m going； I must go；” said Natasha stoutly。 “Danilo； bid them saddle my horse； and tell Mihailo to come with my leash；” she said to the huntsman。
Simply to be in a room seemed irksome and unfitting to Danilo； but to have anything to do with a young lady he felt to be utterly impossible。 He cast down his eyes and made haste to get away； making as though it were no affair of his； and trying to avoid accidentally doing some hurt to the young lady。
Chapter 4
THE OLD COUNT； whose hunting establishment had always been kept up on a large scale； had now handed it all over to his son’s care； but on that day； the 15th of September； being in excellent spirits he prepared to join the expedition。 Within an hour the whole party was before the porch。 When Natasha and Petya said something to Nikolay he walked by them with a stern and serious air； betokening that he had no time to waste on trifles。 He looked over everything to do with the hunt； sent a pack of hounds and huntsmen on ahead to cut off the wolf from behind； got on his chestnut Don horse； and whistling to the dogs of his leash； he set off across the threshing…floor to the field leading to the Otradnoe preserve。 The old count’s horse； a sorrel gelding； with a white mane and tail； called Viflyanka； was led by the count’s groom； he was himself to drive straight in a light gig to the spot fixed for him to stand。
Fifty…four hounds were led out under the charge of six whippers…in and grooms。 Of huntsmen； properly speaking； there were taking part in the hunt eight men besides the members of the family； and more than forty greyhounds ran behind them； so that with the hounds in leashes there were about a hundred and thirty dogs and twenty persons on horseback。
Every dog knew its master and its call。 Every man in the hunt knew his task； his place； and the part assigned him。 As soon as they had passed beyond the fence； they all moved without noise or talk； lengthening out along the road and the field to the Otradnoe forest。
The horses stepped over the field as over a soft carpet； splashing now and then into pools as they crossed the road。 The foggy sky still seemed falling imperceptibly and regularly down on the earth； the air was still and warm； and there was no sound but now and then the whistle of a huntsman； the snort of a horse； the clack of a whip； or the whine of a dog who had dropped out of his place。 When they had gone a verst； five more horsemen accompanied by dogs appeared out of the mist to meet the Rostovs。 The foremost of them was a fresh； handsome old man with large； grey moustaches。
“Good…day； uncle；” said Nikolay as the old man rode up to him。
“All’s well and march！…I was sure of it；” began the man addressed as uncle。 He was not really the Rostovs’ uncle； but a distant relative； who had a small property in their neighbourhood。
‘I was sure you couldn’t resist； and a good thing you have come out。 All’s well and quick march。” （This was the uncle’s favorite saying。） “You had better attack the preserve at once； for my Girtchilk brought me word that the Ilagins are out with their hounds at Korniky； they’ll snatch the litter right under your noses。”
“That’s where I’m going。 Shall we join the packs？” asked Nikolay。
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