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o； I know you will allow it； …” she said rapidly； not taking breath。
“Officers？ Who have been brought in？ I don’t understand；” said the countess。
Natasha laughed； the countess too smiled faintly。
“I knew you would let me … so I will tell them so。” And Natasha； kissing her mother； got up and went to the door。
In the hall she met her father； who had come home with bad news。
“We have lingered on too long！” said the count； with unconscious anger in his voice； “the club’s shut up and the police are leaving。”
“Papa； you don’t mind my having invited some of the wounded into the house？” said Natasha。
“Of course not；” said the count absently。 “But that’s not to the point。 I beg you now not to let yourself be taken up with any nonsense； but to help to pack and get off—to get off to…morrow …”
And the count gave his butler and servants the same orders。 Petya came back at dinner…time； and he too had news to tell them。
He said that the mob was taking up arms to…day in the Kremlin； that though Rastoptchin’s placard said he would give the word two days later； it had really been arranged that all the people should go next day in arms to the Three Hills； and there a great battle was to be fought。
The countess looked in timid horror at her son’s eager； excited face； as he told them this。 She knew that if she said a word to try and dissuade Petya from going to this battle （she knew how he was enjoying the prospect of it）； he would say something about the duty of a man； about honour； and the fatherland—something irrational； masculine； and perverse—which it would be useless to oppose； and all hope of preventing him would be gone。 And； therefore； hoping to succeed in setting off before this battle； and in taking Petya with her； to guard and protect them on the road； she said nothing to her son； but after dinner called her husband aside； and with tears besought him to take her away as soon as could be； that night if possible。 With the instinctive； feminine duplicity of love； though she had till then shown not the slightest sign of alarm； she declared she should die of terror if they did not get away that very night。 She was indeed without feigning afraid now of everything。
Chapter 14
MADAME SCHOSS； who had gone out to visit her daughter； increased the countess’s terrors by describing the scenes she had witnessed at a spirit dealer’s in Myasnitsky Street。 She entered that street on her way home； but could not pass through it owing to the drunken mob raging round the spirit dealer’s。 She had taken a cab and driven home by a circuitous route； and the driver had told her that the mob had broken open the casks of spirit； that orders had been given to that effect。
After dinner all the Rostov household set to work packing and preparing for their departure with eager haste。 The old count； suddenly rousing himself to the task； spent the rest of the day continually trotting from the courtyard into the house and back again； shouting confused instructions to the hurrying servants； and trying to spur them on to even greater haste。 Petya looked after things in the yard。 Sonya was quite bewildered by the count’s contradictory orders； and did not know what to do。 The servants raced about the rooms； shouting； quarrelling； and making a noise。 Natasha； too； suddenly set to work with the ardour that was characteristic of her in all she did。 At first her intervention was sceptically received。 No one expected anything serious from her or would obey her instructions。 But with heat and perseverance she insisted on being obeyed； got angry and almost shed tears that they did not heed her； and did at last succeed in impressing them。 Her first achievement； which cost her immense effort； and established her authority； was the packing of the rugs。 There were a number of costly Gobelin tapestries and Persian rugs in the house。 When Natasha set to work； she found two boxes standing open in the hall： one packed almost full of china； the other full of rugs。 There was a great deal more china left standing on the tables and there was more still to come from the storeroom。 Another third box was needed； and the men had gone to get one。
“Sonya； wait a little； and we’ll pack it all without that；” said Natasha。
“You cannot； miss； we have tried already；” said the footman。
“No； wait a minute； please。” And Natasha began taking out the plates and dishes； packed up in paper
“The dishes would go better in here with the rugs；” she said。
“Why； there are rugs enough left that we shall hardly get into three boxes；” said the footman。
“But do wait a little； please。” And Natasha began rapidly and deftly sorting out the things。 “These we don’t want；” she said of the plates of Kiev ware； “this and this we can pack in the rugs；” she decided； fishing out the Saxony dishes。
“Come； let it alone； Natasha； come； that’s enough； we’ll pack them；” said Sonya reproachfully。
“What a young lady！” protested the footman。
But Natasha would not give in。 She pulled everything out； and began rapidly packing them again； deciding that the commoner rugs and crockery should not be taken at all。 When she had taken everything out； she began repacking what was to go； and by sorting out almost all the cheaper goods which were not worth taking； all that was of value was got into two boxes。 Only the lid of the box full of rugs would not shut。 A few things might have been taken out； but Natasha wanted to manage it in her own way。 She unpacked； repacked； squeezed the things in； made the footman and Petya； whom she had drawn into assisting in the work； press on the lid； and herself tried desperately to do the same。
“That will do； Natasha；” Sonya said to her。 “I see you are quite right； but take out just the top one。”
“I won’t；” cried Natasha； with one hand holding her disordered hair off her perspiring face； while with the other she squeezed down the rugs。 “Press it； Petya； press it！ Vassilitch； press hard！” she cried。 The rugs yielded； and the lid closed。 Natasha； clapping her hands； shrieked with delight； and tears started into her eyes。 But that lasted only a second。 She set to work at once on a fresh job； and now the servants put complete faith in her； and the count did not take it amiss when they told him that Natalya Ilyinitshna had given some direction superseding his orders； and the servants came to Natasha to ask whether a cart was packed full enough and whether the loads were to be tied on。 The packing went on fast now； thanks to Natasha’s supervision； everything useless was left behind； and the most valuable goods were packed as compactly as possible。
But with all their exertions； even late at night everything was not ready。 The countess had fallen asleep； and the count put off their departure till morning and went to bed。
Sonya and Natasha slept in the divan…room； without undressing。
That night another wounded officer was driven along Povarsky Street； and Mavra Kuzminishna； who was standing at the gate； had him brought into the Rostovs’ yard。 The wounded officer must； Mavra Kuzminishna thought； be a man of very great consequence。 He was in a coach with the hood let down and a carriage apron completely covering it。 An old man； a most