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！
When they had all taken off their outdoor things； set themselves straight after the journey； and come in to tea； Marya Dmitryevna kissed them all in due course。
“Heartily glad you have come； and are staying with me；” she said。 “It’s long been time you were here；” she said； with a significant glance at Natasha。… “The old fellow’s here； and his son’s expected from day to day。 You must； you must make their acquaintance。 Oh； well； we shall talk of that later on；” she added； with a glance at Sonya； showing that she did not care to talk of it before her。 “Now； listen；” she turned to the count； “what do you want to do to…morrow？ Whom will you send for？ Shinshin？”—she crooked one finger。 “The tearful Anna Mihalovna— two。 She’s here with her son。 The son’s to be married too！ Then Bezuhov。 He’s here； too； with his wife。 He ran away from her； and she has come trotting after him。 He dined with me last Wednesday。 Well； and I’ll take them”—she indicated the young ladies—“to…morrow to Iversky chapel； and then we shall go to Aubert…Chalmey。 You’ll be getting everything now； I expect！ Don’t judge by me—the sleeves nowadays are like this！ The other day the young princess； Irina Vassilyevna； came to see me； just as though she had put two barrels on her arms； a dreadful fright。 Every day there’s a new fashion。 And what sort of business is it you have come for yourself？” she said severely； addressing the count。
“Everything has come together；” answered the count。 “There’s the girl’s rags to buy； and now there’s a purchaser turned up for the Moscow estate and the house。 If you’ll graciously permit it； I’ll choose an opportunity and drive over to Maryinskoe for a day； leaving my girls on your hands。”
“Very good； very good； they’ll be safe enough with me。 I’m as safe as the Mortgage Bank。 I’ll take them where they must go； and scold them and pet them too；” said Marya Dmitryevna； putting her big hand on the cheek of her favourite and god…daughter Natasha。
Next morning Marya Dmitryevna bore the young ladies off to Iversky chapel and to Madame Aubert…Chalmey； who was so frightened of Marya Dmitryevna that she always sold her dresses at a loss simply to get rid of her as soon as possible。 Marya Dmitryevna ordered almost the whole trousseau。 On their return； she sent every one out of the room but Natasha； and called her favourite to sit beside her arm…chair。
“Well； now we can have a chat。 I congratulate you on your betrothed。 A fine fellow you have hooked！ I’m glad of it for your sake； and I have known him since he was that high”—she held her hand a yard from the floor。 Natasha flushed joyfully。 “I like him and all his family。 Now； listen！ You know； of course； that old Prince Nikolay was very much against his son’s marrying。 He’s a whimsical old fellow！ Of course； Prince Andrey is not a child； he can get on without him； but to enter a family against the father’s will is not a nice thing to do。 One wants peace and love in a family。 You’re a clever girl； you’ll know how to manage things。 You must use your wits and your kind heart。 And every thing will come right。”
Natasha was silent； not as Marya Dmitryevna supposed from shyness。 In reality Natasha disliked any one’s interfering in what touched her love for Prince Andrey； which seemed to her something so apart from all human affairs； that no one； as she imagined； could understand it。 She loved Prince Andrey； and only him； and knew only him； he loved her； and was to arrive in a day or two and carry her off。 She did not care about anything else。
“I have known him a long while； do you see； and Masha； your sister…in…law； I love。 Sisters…in…law are said to be mischief…makers； but she— well； she wouldn’t hurt a fly。 She has begged me to bring you two together。 You must go to see her to…morrow with your father； and be as nice as possible； you are younger than she is。 By the time your young man comes back； you’ll be friends with his sister and his father； and they will have learned to love you。 Yes or no？ It will be better so； eh？”
“Oh yes！” Natasha responded reluctantly。
Chapter 7
NEXT DAY； by the advice of Marya Dmitryevna； Count Ilya Andreitch went with Natasha to call on Prince Nikolay Andreitch。 The count prepared for the visit by no means in a cheerful spirit： in his heart he was afraid。 Count Ilya Andreitch had a vivid recollection of his last interview with the old prince at the time of the levying of the militia； when； in reply to his invitation to dinner； he had had to listen to a heated reprimand for furnishing less than the required number of men。 Natasha in her best dress was； on the contrary； in the most cheerful frame of mind。 “They can’t help liking me；” she thought； “every one always does like me。 And I’m so ready to do anything they please for them； so readily to love them—him for being his father； and her for being his sister—they can have no reason for not loving me！”
They drove to the gloomy old house in Vosdvizhenka； and went into the vestibule。
“Well now； with God’s blessing；” said the count； half in jest； half in earnest。 But Natasha noticed that her father was in a nervous fidget as he went into the entry； and asked timidly and softly whether the prince and the princess were at home。 After their arrival had been announced； there was some perturbation visible among the prince’s servants。 The footman； who was running to announce them； was stopped by another footman in the big hall； and they whispered together。 A maid…servant ran into the hall； and hurriedly said something； mentioning the princess。 At last one old footman came out with a wrathful air； and announced to the Rostovs that the prince was not receiving； but the princess begged them to walk up。 The first person to meet the visitors was Mademoiselle Bourienne。 She greeted the father and daughter with marked courtesy； and conducted them to the princess’s apartment。 The princess； with a frightened and agitated face； flushed in patches； ran in； treading heavily； to meet her visitors； doing her best to seem cordial and at ease。 From the first glance Princess Marya disliked Natasha。 She thought her too fashionably dressed； too frivolously gay and vain。 Princess Marya had no idea that before she had seen her future sister…in…law she had been unfavourably disposed to her； through unconscious envy of her beauty； her youth； and her happiness； and through jealousy of her brother’s love for her。 Apart from this insuperable feeling of antipathy to her； Princess Marya was at that moment agitated by the fact that on the Rostovs’ having been announced the old prince had shouted that he didn’t want to see them； that Princess Marya could see them if she chose； but they were not to be allowed in to see him。 Princess Marya resolved to see the Rostovs； but she was every instant in dread of some freak on the part of the old prince； as he had appeared greatly excited by the arrival of the Rostovs。
“Well； here I have brought you my songstress； princess；” said the count； bowing and scraping； while he looked round uneasily as though he were afraid the old prince might come in。 “How glad I am that you should make friends。…Sorry； very sorry； the prince is still unwell