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！
The swarm of Bronnitskys； Wintzengerodes； and others like them； embittered the feud between the commanders still further； and there was less unity than ever。 Preparations were made to attack the French before Smolensk。 A general was sent to review the position。 This general； detesting Barclay； visits a friend of his own； a commander of a corps； and after spending the day with him； returns and condemns on every point the proposed field of battle without having seen it。
While disputes and intrigues were going on as to the suitable spot for a battle； and while we were looking for the French and mistaking their line of advance； the French fell upon Nevyerovsky’s division； and advanced upon the walls of Smolensk itself。
We were surprised into having to fight at Smolensk to save our communications。 A battle was fought。 Thousands were slain on both sides。
Smolensk was abandoned against the will of the Tsar and the whole people。 But Smolensk was burnt by its own inhabitants； who had been deceived by their governor。 And those ruined inhabitants； after setting an example to the rest of Russia； full of their losses； and burning with hatred of the enemy； moved on to Moscow。 Napoleon advances； we retreat； and so the very result is attained that is destined to overthrow Napoleon。
Chapter 2
THE DAY after his son’s departure； Prince Nikolay Andreitch sent for Princess Marya。
“Well； now are you satisfied？” he said to her。 “You have made me quarrel with my son！ Are you satisfied？ That was all you wanted！ Satisfied？ … It’s a grief to me； a grief。 I’m old and weak； and it was your wish。 Well； now； rejoice over it。 …” And after that； Princess Marya did not see her father again for a week。 He was ill and did not leave his study。
Princess Marya noticed to her surprise that during this illness the old prince excluded Mademoiselle Bourienne too from his room。 Tihon was the only person who looked after him。
A week later the prince reappeared； and began to lead the same life as before； showing marked energy in the laying out of farm buildings and gardens； and completely breaking off all relations with Mademoiselle Bourienne。 His frigid tone and air with Princess Marya seemed to say： “You see； you plotted against me； told lies to Prince Andrey of my relations with that Frenchwoman； and made me quarrel with him； but you see I can do without you； and without the Frenchwoman too。”
One half of the day Princess Marya spent with Nikolushka； giving him his Russian lessons； following his other lessons； and talking to Dessalle。 The rest of the day she spent in reading； or with her old nurse and “God’s folk；” who came by the back stairs sometimes to visit her。 The war Princess Marya looked on as women do look on war。 She was apprehensive for her brother who was at the front； and was horrified； without understanding it； at the cruelty of men； that led them to kill one another。 But she had no notion of the significance of this war； which seemed to her exactly like all the preceding wars。 She had no notion of the meaning of this war； although Dessalle； who was her constant companion； was passionately interested in the course of the war； and tried to explain his views on the subject to her； and although “God’s folk” all； with terror； told her in their own way of the rumours among the peasantry of the coming of Antichrist； and although Julie； now Princess Drubetskoy； who had renewed her correspondence with her； was continually writing her patriotic letters from Moscow。
“I write to you in Russian； my sweet friend；” Julie wrote； “because I feel a hatred for all the French and for their language too； I can’t bear to hear it spoken。 … In Moscow we are all wild with enthusiasm for our adored Emperor。
“My poor husband is enduring hardships and hunger in wretched Jewish taverns； but the news I get from him only increases my ardour。
“You have doubtless heard of the heroic action of Raevsky； who embraced his two sons and said； ‘We will die together； but we will not flinch！’ And though the enemy were twice as strong； we did not in fact flinch。 We kill time here as best we can； but in war； as in war。 Princess Alina and Sophie spend whole days with me； and we； unhappy windows of living husbands； have delightful talks over scraping lint。 We only want you； my darling； to make us complete；” etc。； etc。
The principal reason why Princess Marya failed to grasp the significance of the war was that the old prince never spoke of it； refused to recognize its existence； and laughed at Dessalle when he mentioned the war at dinner…time。 The prince’s tone was so calm and confident that Princess Marya put implicit faith in him。
During the whole of July the old prince was excessively active and even lively。 He laid out another new garden and a new wing for the servants。 The only thing that made Princess Marya anxious about him was that he slept badly； and gave up his old habit of sleeping in his study； and had a bed made up for him in a new place every day。 One night he would have his travelling bedstead set up in the gallery； the next night he would spend dozing dressed on the sofa or in the lounge…chair in the drawing…room； while the lad Petrushka； who had replaced Mademoiselle Bourienne in attendance on him； read aloud to him； then he would try spending a night in the dining…room。
On the first of August a second letter came from Prince Andrey。 In his first letter； which had been received shortly after he left home； Prince Andrey had humbly asked his father’s forgiveness for what he had permitted himself to say to him； and had begged to be restored to his favour。 To this letter； the old prince had sent an affectionate answer； and from that time he had kept the Frenchwoman at a distance。 Prince Andrey’s second letter was written under Vitebsk； after the French had taken it。 It consisted of a brief account of the whole campaign； with a plan sketched to illustrate it； and of reflections on the probable course it would take in the future。 In this letter Prince Andrey pointed out to his father the inconvenience of his position close to the theatre of war； and in the direct line of the enemy’s advance； and advised him to move to Moscow。
At dinner that day； on Dessalle’s observing that he had heard that the French had already entered Vitebsk； the old prince recollected Prince Andrey’s letter。
“I have heard from Prince Andrey to…day；” he said to Princess Marya； “have you read the letter？”
“No； mon pére；” the Princess answered timidly。 She could not possibly have read the letter； of which indeed she had not heard till that instant。
“He writes about this war；” said the prince； with the contemptuous smile that had become habitual with him in speaking of the present war。
“It must be very interesting；” said Dessalle。 “Prince Andrey is in a position to know。 …”
“Ah； very interesting！” said Mademoiselle Bourienne。
“Go and get it for me；” said the old prince to Mademoiselle Bourienne。 “You know； on the little table under the paper…weight。”
Mademoiselle Bourienne jumped up eagerly。
“Ah； no；” he shouted； frowning。 “You run； Mihail Ivanitch！” Mihail Ivanitch got up and went to the study。 But he had hardly left the room when the old p