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se was moving vigorously under the yoke； with no sign of slackening； and every token of being ready to go faster and faster if required。
Nikolay overtook the first sledge。 They drove down a hill and into a wide； trodden road by a meadow near a river。
“Where are we？” Nikolay wondered。 “Possibly Kosoy Meadow； I suppose。 But no； this is something new I never saw before。 This is not the Kosoy Meadow nor Demkin hill。 It’s something—there’s no knowing what。 It’s something new and fairy…like。 Well； come what may！” And shouting to his horses； he began to drive by the first sledge。 Zahar pulled up his horses and turned his face； which was white with hoar…frost to the eyebrows。
Nikolay let his horses go； Zahar； stretching his hands forward； urged his on。 “Come； hold on； master；” said he。
The sledges dashed along side by side； even more swiftly； and the horses’ hoofs flew up and down more and more quickly。 Nikolay began to get ahead。 Zahar； still keeping his hands stretched forward； raised one hand with the reins。
“Nonsense； master；” he shouted。 Nikolay put his three horses into a gallop and outstripped Zahar。 The horses scattered the fine dry snow in their faces； close by they heard the ringing of the bells and the horses’ legs moving rapidly out of step； and they saw the shadows of the sledge behind。 From different sides came the crunch of runners over the snow； and the shrieks of girls。 Stopping his horses again； Nikolay looked round him。 All around him lay still the same enchanted plain； bathed in moon…light； with stars scattered over its surface。
“Zahar’s shouting that I’m to turn to the left； but why to the left？” thought Nikolay。 “Are we really going to the Melyukovs’； is this really Melyukovka？ God knows where we are going； and God knows what is going to become of us—and very strange and nice it is what is happening to us。” He looked round in the sledge。
“Look； his moustache and his eyelashes are all white；” said one of the strange； pretty； unfamiliar figures sitting by him； with fine moustaches and eyebrows。
“I believe that was Natasha；” thought Nikolay； “and that was Madame Schoss； but perhaps it’s not so； and that Circassian with the moustaches I don’t know； but I love her。”
“Aren’t you cold？” he asked them。 They laughed and did not answer。 Dimmler from the sledge behind shouted； probably something funny； but they could not make out what he said。
“Yes； yes；” voices answered； laughing。
But now came a sort of enchanted forest with shifting； black shadows； and the glitter of diamonds； and a flight of marble steps； and silver roofs of enchanted buildings； and the shrill whine of some beasts。 “And if it really is Melyukovka； then it’s stranger than ever that after driving； God knows where； we should come to Melyukovka；” thought Nikolay。
It certainly was Melyukovka； and footmen and maid…servants were running out with lights and beaming faces。
“Who is it？” was asked from the entrance。
“The mummers from the count’s； I can see by the horses；” answered voices。
Chapter 11
PELAGEA DANILOVNA MELYUKOV； a broad…shouldered； energetic woman in spectacles and a loose house dress； was sitting in her drawing…room； surrounded by her daughters； and doing her utmost to keep them amused。 They were quietly occupied in dropping melted wax into water and watching the shadows of the shapes it assumed； when they heard the noise of steps in the vestibule； and the voices of people arriving。
The hussars； fine ladies； witches； clowns； and bears； coughing and rubbing the hoar…frost off their faces； came into the hall； where they were hurriedly lighting candles。 The clown—Dimmler—and the old lady—Nikolay—opened the dance。 Surrounded by the shrieking children； the mummers hid their faces； and disguising their voices； bowed to their hostess and dispersed about the room。
“Oh； there’s no recognising them。 And Natasha！ See what she looks like！ Really； she reminds me of some one。 How good Edward Karlitch is！ I didn’t know him。 And how he dances！ Oh； my goodness； and here’s a Circassian too； upon my word； how it suits Sonyushka！ And who’s this？ Well； you have brought us some fun！ Take away the tables； Nikita Vanya。 And we were sitting so quiet and dull！”
“Ha—ha—he！…The hussar； the hussar！ Just like a boy； and the legs！…I can’t look at him；…” voices cried。
Natasha； the favourite of the young Melyukovs； disappeared with them into rooms at the back of the house； and burnt cork and various dressing…gowns and masculine garments were sent for and taken from the footman by bare； girlish arms through the crack of the half…open door。 In ten minutes all the younger members of the Melyukov family reappeared in fancy dresses too。
Pelagea Danilovna； busily giving orders for clearing the room for the guests and preparing for their entertainment； walked about among the mummers in her spectacles； with a suppressed smile； looking close at them and not recognising any one。 She not only failed to recognise the Rostovs and Dimmler； but did not even know her own daughters； or identify the masculine dressing…gowns and uniforms in which they were disguised。
“And who is this？” she kept saying； addressing her governess and gazing into the face of her own daughter disguised as a Tatar of Kazan。 “One of the Rostovs； I fancy。 And you； my hussar； what regiment are you in； pray？” she asked Natasha。 “Give the Turk a preserved fruit；” she said to the footman carrying round refreshments； “that’s not forbidden by his law。”
Sometimes； looking at the strange and ludicrous capers cut by the dancers； who； having made up their minds once for all that no one recognised them； were quite free from shyness； Pelagea Danilovna hid her face in her handkerchief； and all her portly person shook with irrepressible； good…natured； elderly laughter。
“My Sashinette； my Sashinette！” she said。
After Russian dances and songs in chorus； Pelagea Danilovna made all the party； servants and gentry alike； join in one large circle。 They brought in a string； a ring； and a silver rouble； and began playing games。
An hour later all the fancy dresses were crumpled and untidy。 The corked moustaches and eyebrows were wearing off the heated； perspiring； and merry faces。 Pelagea Danilovna began to recognise the mummers。 She was enthusiastic over the cleverness of the dresses and the way they suited them； especially the young ladies； and thanked them all for giving them such good fun。 The guests were invited into the drawing…room for supper； while the servants were regaled in the hall。
“Oh； trying one’s fate in the bath…house； that’s awful！” was said at the supper…table by an old maiden lady who lived with the Melyukovs。
“Why so？” asked the eldest daughter of the Melyukovs。
“Well； you won’t go and try。 It needs courage…”
“I’ll go；” said Sonya。
“Tell us what happened to the young lady；” said the second girl。
“Well； it was like this；” said the old maid。 “The young lady went out； she took a cock； two knives and forks； and everything proper； and sat down。 She sat a little while； and all of a sudden she hears some one coming—a sledge with bells driving up。 She hears him coming。 He walks in； precisely in the shape of a man；