Therewereintheroomachild’scot，twoboxes，twoarmchairs，atable，achild’stable，andthelittlechaironwhichPrinceAndrewwassitting。Thecurtainsweredrawn，andasinglecandlewasburningonthetable，screenedbyaboundmusicbooksothatthelightdidnotfallonthecot。
"Mydear，"saidPrincessMary，addressingherbrotherfrombesidethecotwhereshewasstanding，"betterwaitabit……later……"
"Oh，leaveoff，youalwaystalknonsenseandkeepputtingthingsoff—andthisiswhatcomesofit！"saidPrinceAndrewinanexasperatedwhisper，evidentlymeaningtowoundhissister。
"Mydear，really……it’sbetternottowakehim……he’sasleep，"
saidtheprincessinatoneofentreaty。
PrinceAndrewgotupandwentontiptoeuptothelittlebed，wineglassinhand。
"Perhapswe’dreallybetternotwakehim，"hesaidhesitating。
"Asyouplease……really……Ithinkso……butasyouplease，"saidPrincessMary，evidentlyintimidatedandconfusedthatheropinionhadprevailed。Shedrewherbrother’sattentiontothemaidwhowascallinghiminawhisper。
Itwasthesecondnightthatneitherofthemhadslept，watchingtheboywhowasinahighfever。Theselastdays，mistrustingtheirhouseholddoctorandexpectinganotherforwhomtheyhadsenttotown，theyhadbeentryingfirstoneremedyandthenanother。Wornoutbysleeplessnessandanxietytheythrewtheirburdenofsorrowononeanotherandreproachedanddisputedwitheachother。
"Petrushahascomewithpapersfromyourfather，"whisperedthemaid。
PrinceAndrewwentout。
"Deviltakethem！"hemuttered，andafterlisteningtotheverbalinstructionshisfatherhadsentandtakingthecorrespondenceandhisfather’sletter，hereturnedtothenursery。
"Well？"heasked。
"Stillthesame。Wait，forheaven’ssake。KarlIvanichalwayssaysthatsleepismoreimportantthananything，"whisperedPrincessMarywithasigh。
PrinceAndrewwentuptothechildandfelthim。Hewasburninghot。
"ConfoundyouandyourKarlIvanich！"Hetooktheglasswiththedropsandagainwentuptothecot。
"Andrew，don’t！"saidPrincessMary。
Buthescowledatherangrilythoughalsowithsufferinginhiseyes，andstoopedglassinhandovertheinfant。
"ButIwishit，"hesaid。"Ibegyou—giveithim！"
PrincessMaryshruggedhershouldersbuttooktheglasssubmissivelyandcallingthenursebegangivingthemedicine。Thechildscreamedhoarsely。PrinceAndrewwincedand，clutchinghishead，wentoutandsatdownonasofainthenextroom。
Hestillhadallthelettersinhishand。Openingthemmechanicallyhebeganreading。Theoldprince，nowandthenusingabbreviations，wroteinhislargeelongatedhandonbluepaperasfollows：
Havejustthismomentreceivedbyspecialmessengerveryjoyfulnews—ifit’snotfalse。BennigsenseemstohaveobtainedacompletevictoryoverBuonaparteatEylau。InPetersburgeveryoneisrejoicing，andtherewardssenttothearmyareinnumerable。ThoughheisaGerman—Icongratulatehim！Ican’tmakeoutwhatthecommanderatKorchevo—acertainKhandrikov—isupto；tillnowtheadditionalmenandprovisionshavenotarrived。GallopofftohimatonceandsayI’llhavehisheadoffifeverythingisnothereinaweek。HavereceivedanotherletteraboutthePreussisch—EylaubattlefromPetenka—hetookpartinit—andit’salltrue。Whenmischief—makersdon’tmeddleevenaGermanbeatsBuonaparte。Heissaidtobefleeingingreatdisorder。MindyougallopofftoKorchevowithoutdelayandcarryoutinstructions！
PrinceAndrewsighedandbrokethesealofanotherenvelope。ItwasacloselywrittenletteroftwosheetsfromBilibin。Hefoldeditupwithoutreadingitandrereadhisfather’sletter，endingwiththewords："GallopofftoKorchevoandcarryoutinstructions！"
"No，pardonme，Iwon’tgonowtillthechildisbetter，"thoughthe，goingtothedoorandlookingintothenursery。
PrincessMarywasstillstandingbythecot，gentlyrockingthebaby。
"Ahyes，andwhatelsedidhesaythat’sunpleasant？"thoughtPrinceAndrew，recallinghisfather’sletter。"Yes，wehavegainedavictoryoverBonaparte，justwhenI’mnotserving。Yes，yes，he’salwayspokingfunatme……Ah，well！Lethim！"AndhebeganreadingBilibin’sletterwhichwaswritteninFrench。Hereadwithoutunderstandinghalfofit，readonlytoforget，ifbutforamoment，whathehadtoolongbeenthinkingofsopainfullytotheexclusionofallelse。
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Bilibinwasnowatarmyheadquartersinadiplomaticcapacity，andthoughhewroteinFrenchandusedFrenchjestsandFrenchidioms，hedescribedthewholecampaignwithafearlessself—censureandself—derisiongenuinelyRussian。Bilibinwrotethattheobligationofdiplomaticdiscretiontormentedhim，andhewashappytohaveinPrinceAndrewareliablecorrespondenttowhomhecouldpouroutthebilehehadaccumulatedatthesightofallthatwasbeingdoneinthearmy。Theletterwasold，havingbeenwrittenbeforethebattleatPreussisch—Eylau。
"SincethedayofourbrilliantsuccessatAusterlitz，"wroteBilibin，"asyouknow，mydearprince，Ineverleaveheadquarters。I
havecertainlyacquiredatasteforwar，anditisjustaswellforme；whatIhaveseenduringtheselastthreemonthsisincredible。
"Ibeginabovo。’Theenemyofthehumanrace，’asyouknow，attacksthePrussians。ThePrussiansareourfaithfulallieswhohaveonlybetrayedusthreetimesinthreeyears。Wetakeuptheircause，butitturnsoutthat’theenemyofthehumanrace’paysnoheedtoourfinespeechesandinhisrudeandsavagewaythrowshimselfonthePrussianswithoutgivingthemtimetofinishtheparadetheyhadbegun，andintwotwistsofthehandhebreaksthemtosmithereensandinstallshimselfinthepalaceatPotsdam。
"’Imostardentlydesire，’writestheKingofPrussiatoBonaparte，’thatYourMajestyshouldbereceivedandtreatedinmypalaceinamanneragreeabletoyourself，andinsofarascircumstancesallowed，Ihavehastenedtotakeallstepstothatend。MayIhavesucceeded！’ThePrussiangeneralspridethemselvesonbeingpolitetotheFrenchandlaydowntheirarmsatthefirstdemand。
"TheheadofthegarrisonatGlogau，withtenthousandmen，askstheKingofPrussiawhatheistodoifheissummonedtosurrender……
Allthisisabsolutelytrue。
"Inshort，hopingtosettlemattersbytakingupawarlikeattitude，itturnsoutthatwehavelandedourselvesinwar，andwhatismore，inwaronourownfrontiers，withandfortheKingofPrussia。Wehaveeverythinginperfectorder，onlyonelittlethingislacking，namely，acommanderinchief。AsitwasconsideredthattheAusterlitzsuccessmighthavebeenmoredecisivehadthecommanderinchiefnotbeensoyoung，allouroctogenarianswerereviewed，andofProzorovskiandKamenskithelatterwaspreferred。Thegeneralcomestous，Suvorov—like，inakibitka，andisreceivedwithacclamationsofjoyandtriumph。
"Onthe4th，thefirstcourierarrivesfromPetersburg。Themailsaretakentothefieldmarshal’sroom，forhelikestodoeverythinghimself。Iamcalledintohelpsortthelettersandtakethosemeantforus。Thefieldmarshallooksonandwaitsforlettersaddressedtohim。Wesearch，butnonearetobefound。ThefieldmarshalgrowsimpatientandsetstoworkhimselfandfindslettersfromtheEmperortoCountT。，PrinceV。，andothers。Thenheburstsintooneofhiswildfuriesandragesateveryoneandeverything，seizestheletters，opensthem，andreadsthosefromtheEmperoraddressedtoothers。’Ah！Sothat’sthewaytheytreatme！Noconfidenceinme！Ah，orderedtokeepaneyeonme！Verywellthen！
Getalongwithyou！’SohewritesthefamousorderofthedaytoGeneralBennigsen：
’Iamwoundedandcannotrideandconsequentlycannotcommandthearmy。YouhavebroughtyourarmycorpstoPultusk，routed：hereitisexposed，andwithoutfuelorforage，sosomethingmustbedone，and，asyouyourselfreportedtoCountBuxhowdenyesterday，youmustthinkofretreatingtoourfrontier—whichdotoday。’
"’Fromallmyriding，’hewritestotheEmperor，’Ihavegotasaddlesorewhich，comingafterallmypreviousjourneys，quitepreventsmyridingandcommandingsovastanarmy，soIhavepassedonthecommandtothegeneralnextinseniority，CountBuxhowden，havingsenthimmywholestaffandallthatbelongstoit，advisinghimifthereisalackofbread，tomovefartherintotheinteriorofPrussia，foronlyoneday’srationofbreadremains，andinsomeregimentsnoneatall，asreportedbythedivisioncommanders，OstermannandSedmoretzki，andallthatthepeasantshadhasbeeneatenup。ImyselfwillremaininhospitalatOstrolenkatillI
recover。InregardtowhichIhumblysubmitmyreport，withtheinformationthatifthearmyremainsinitspresentbivouacanotherfortnighttherewillnotbeahealthymanleftinitbyspring。
"’Grantleavetoretiretohiscountryseattoanoldmanwhoisalreadyinanycasedishonoredbybeingunabletofulfillthegreatandglorioustaskforwhichhewaschosen。Ishallawaityourmostgraciouspermissionhereinhospital，thatImaynothavetoplaythepartofasecretaryratherthancommanderinthearmy。Myremovalfromthearmydoesnotproducetheslighteststir—ablindmanhasleftit。TherearethousandssuchasIinRussia。’
"ThefieldmarshalisangrywiththeEmperorandhepunishesusall，isn’titlogical？
"Thisisthefirstact。Thosethatfollowarenaturallyincreasinglyinterestingandentertaining。Afterthefieldmarshal’sdepartureitappearsthatwearewithinsightoftheenemyandmustgivebattle。
Buxhowdeniscommanderinchiefbyseniority，butGeneralBennigsendoesnotquiteseeit；moreparticularlyasitisheandhiscorpswhoarewithinsightoftheenemyandhewishestoprofitbytheopportunitytofightabattle’onhisownhand’astheGermanssay。Hedoesso。ThisisthebattleofPultusk，whichisconsideredagreatvictorybutinmyopinionwasnothingofthekind。Wecivilians，asyouknow，haveaverybadwayofdecidingwhetherabattlewaswonorlost。Thosewhoretreatafterabattlehavelostitiswhatwesay；
andaccordingtothatitiswewholostthebattleofPultusk。Inshort，weretreatafterthebattlebutsendacouriertoPetersburgwithnewsofavictory，andGeneralBennigsen，hopingtoreceivefromPetersburgthepostofcommanderinchiefasarewardforhisvictory，doesnotgiveupthecommandofthearmytoGeneralBuxhowden。Duringthisinterregnumwebeginaveryoriginalandinterestingseriesofmaneuvers。Ouraimisnolonger，asitshouldbe，toavoidorattacktheenemy，butsolelytoavoidGeneralBuxhowdenwhobyrightofseniorityshouldbeourchief。Soenergeticallydowepursuethisaimthataftercrossinganunfordableriverweburnthebridgestoseparateourselvesfromourenemy，whoatthemomentisnotBonapartebutBuxhowden。GeneralBuxhowdenwasallbutattackedandcapturedbyasuperiorenemyforceasaresultofoneofthesemaneuversthatenabledustoescapehim。Buxhowdenpursuesus—wescuttle。Hehardlycrossestherivertooursidebeforewerecrosstotheother。Atlastourenemy。
Buxhowden，catchesusandattacks。Bothgeneralsareangry，andtheresultisachallengeonBuxhowden’spartandanepilepticfitonBennigsen’s。ButatthecriticalmomentthecourierwhocarriedthenewsofourvictoryatPultusktoPetersburgreturnsbringingourappointmentascommanderinchief，andourfirstfoe，Buxhowden，isvanquished；wecannowturnourthoughtstothesecond，Bonaparte。Butasitturnsout，justatthatmomentathirdenemyrisesbeforeus—
namelytheOrthodoxRussiansoldiers，loudlydemandingbread，meat，biscuits，fodder，andwhatnot！Thestoresareempty，theroadsimpassable。TheOrthodoxbeginlooting，andinawayofwhichourlastcampaigncangiveyounoidea。Halftheregimentsformbandsandscourthecountrysideandputeverythingtofireandsword。Theinhabitantsaretotallyruined，thehospitalsoverflowwithsick，andfamineiseverywhere。Twicethemaraudersevenattackourheadquarters，andthecommanderinchiefhastoaskforabattaliontodispersethem。Duringoneoftheseattackstheycarriedoffmyemptyportmanteauandmydressinggown。TheEmperorproposestogiveallcommandersofdivisionstherighttoshootmarauders，butImuchfearthiswillobligeonehalfthearmytoshoottheother。"
AtfirstPrinceAndrewreadwithhiseyesonly，butafterawhile，inspiteofhimselfalthoughheknewhowfaritwassafetotrustBilibin，whathehadreadbegantointeresthimmoreandmore。Whenhehadreadthusfar，hecrumpledtheletterupandthrewitaway。
Itwasnotwhathehadreadthatvexedhim，butthefactthatthelifeoutthereinwhichhehadnownopartcouldperturbhim。Heshuthiseyes，rubbedhisforeheadasiftoridhimselfofallinterestinwhathehadread，andlistenedtowhatwaspassinginthenursery。Suddenlyhethoughtheheardastrangenoisethroughthedoor。Hewasseizedwithalarmlestsomethingshouldhavehappenedtothechildwhilehewasreadingtheletter。Hewentontiptoetothenurserydoorandopenedit。
JustashewentinhesawthatthenursewashidingsomethingfromhimwithascaredlookandthatPrincessMarywasnolongerbythecot。
"Mydear，"heheardwhatseemedtohimherdespairingwhisperbehindhim。
Asoftenhappensafterlongsleeplessnessandlonganxiety，hewasseizedbyanunreasoningpanic—itoccurredtohimthatthechildwasdead。Allthathesawandheardseemedtoconfirmthisterror。
"Allisover，"hethought，andacoldsweatbrokeoutonhisforehead。Hewenttothecotinconfusion，surethathewouldfinditemptyandthatthenursehadbeenhidingthedeadbaby。Hedrewthecurtainasideandforsometimehisfrightened，restlesseyescouldnotfindthebaby。Atlasthesawhim：therosyboyhadtossedabouttillhelayacrossthebedwithhisheadlowerthanthepillow，andwassmackinghislipsinhissleepandbreathingevenly。
PrinceAndrewwasasgladtofindtheboylikethat，asifhehadalreadylosthim。Hebentoverhimand，ashissisterhadtaughthim，triedwithhislipswhetherthechildwasstillfeverish。Thesoftforeheadwasmoist。PrinceAndrewtouchedtheheadwithhishand；
eventhehairwaswet，soprofuselyhadthechildperspired。Hewasnotdead，butevidentlythecrisiswasoverandhewasconvalescent。
PrinceAndrewlongedtosnatchup，tosqueeze，toholdtohisheart，thishelplesslittlecreature，butdarednotdoso。Hestoodoverhim，gazingathisheadandatthelittlearmsandlegswhichshowedundertheblanket。Heheardarustlebehindhimandashadowappearedunderthecurtainofthecot。Hedidnotlookround，butstillgazingattheinfant’sfacelistenedtohisregularbreathing。
ThedarkshadowwasPrincessMary，whohadcomeuptothecotwithnoiselesssteps，liftedthecurtain，anddroppeditagainbehindher。PrinceAndrewrecognizedherwithoutlookingandheldouthishandtoher。Shepressedit。
"Hehasperspired，"saidPrinceAndrew。
"Iwascomingtotellyouso。"
Thechildmovedslightlyinhissleep，smiled，andrubbedhisforeheadagainstthepillow。
PrinceAndrewlookedathissister。Inthedimshadowofthecurtainherluminouseyesshonemorebrightlythanusualfromthetearsofjoythatwereinthem。Sheleanedovertoherbrotherandkissedhim，slightlycatchingthecurtainofthecot。Eachmadetheotherawarninggestureandstoodstillinthedimlightbeneaththecurtainasifnotwishingtoleavethatseclusionwheretheythreewereshutofffromalltheworld。PrinceAndrewwasthefirsttomoveaway，rufflinghishairagainstthemuslinofthecurtain。
"Yes，thisistheonethingleftmenow，"hesaidwithasigh。
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SoonafterhisadmissiontotheMasonicBrotherhood，PierrewenttotheKievprovince，wherehehadthegreatestnumberofserfs，takingwithhimfulldirectionswhichhehadwrittendownforhisownguidanceastowhatheshoulddoonhisestates。
WhenhereachedKievhesentforallhisstewardstotheheadofficeandexplainedtothemhisintentionsandwishes。Hetoldthemthatstepswouldbetakenimmediatelytofreehisserfs—andthattillthentheywerenottobeoverburdenedwithlabor，womenwhilenursingtheirbabieswerenottobesenttowork，assistancewastobegiventotheserfs，punishmentsweretobeadmonitoryandnotcorporal，andhospitals，asylums，andschoolsweretobeestablishedonalltheestates。Someofthestewardsthereweresemiliterateforemenamongthemlistenedwithalarm，supposingthesewordstomeanthattheyoungcountwasdispleasedwiththeirmanagementandembezzlementofmoney，someaftertheirfirstfrightwereamusedbyPierre’slispandthenewwordstheyhadnotheardbefore，otherssimplyenjoyedhearinghowthemastertalked，whilethecleverestamongthem，includingthechiefsteward，understoodfromthisspeechhowtheycouldbesthandlethemasterfortheirownends。
ThechiefstewardexpressedgreatsympathywithPierre’sintentions，butremarkedthatbesidesthesechangesitwouldbenecessarytogointothegeneralstateofaffairswhichwasfarfromsatisfactory。
DespiteCountBezukhov’senormouswealth，sincehehadcomeintoanincomewhichwassaidtoamounttofivehundredthousandrublesayear，Pierrefelthimselffarpoorerthanwhenhisfatherhadmadehimanallowanceoftenthousandrubles。Hehadadimperceptionofthefollowingbudget：
About80，000wentinpaymentsonalltheestatestotheLandBank，about30，000wentfortheupkeepoftheestatenearMoscow，thetownhouse，andtheallowancetothethreeprincesses；about15，000wasgiveninpensionsandthesameamountforasylums；150，000alimonywassenttothecountess；about70，00wentforinterestondebts。Thebuildingofanewchurch，previouslybegun，hadcostabout10，000ineachofthelasttwoyears，andhedidnotknowhowtherest，about100，000rubles，wasspent，andalmosteveryyearhewasobligedtoborrow。Besidesthisthechiefstewardwroteeveryyeartellinghimoffiresandbadharvests，orofthenecessityofrebuildingfactoriesandworkshops。SothefirsttaskPierrehadtofacewasoneforwhichhehadverylittleaptitudeorinclination—practicalbusiness。
Hediscussedestateaffairseverydaywithhischiefsteward。Buthefeltthatthisdidnotforwardmattersatall。Hefeltthattheseconsultationsweredetachedfromrealaffairsanddidnotlinkupwiththemormakethemmove。Ontheonehand，thechiefstewardputthestateofthingstohimintheveryworstlight，pointingoutthenecessityofpayingoffthedebtsandundertakingnewactivitieswithserflabor，towhichPierredidnotagree。Ontheotherhand，Pierredemandedthatstepsshouldbetakentoliberatetheserfs，whichthestewardmetbyshowingthenecessityoffirstpayingofftheloansfromtheLandBank，andtheconsequentimpossibilityofaspeedyemancipation。
Thestewarddidnotsayitwasquiteimpossible，butsuggestedsellingtheforestsintheprovinceofKostroma，thelandlowerdowntheriver，andtheCrimeanestate，inordertomakeitpossible：allofwhichoperationsaccordingtohimwereconnectedwithsuchcomplicatedmeasures—theremovalofinjunctions，petitions，permits，andsoon—thatPierrebecamequitebewilderedandonlyreplied：
"Yes，yes，doso。"
Pierrehadnoneofthepracticalpersistencethatwouldhaveenabledhimtoattendtothebusinesshimselfandsohedislikeditandonlytriedtopretendtothestewardthathewasattendingtoit。Thestewardforhisparttriedtopretendtothecountthatheconsideredtheseconsultationsveryvaluablefortheproprietorandtroublesometohimself。
InKievPierrefoundsomepeopleheknew，andstrangershastenedtomakehisacquaintanceandjoyfullywelcomedtherichnewcomer，thelargestlandowneroftheprovince。TemptationstoPierre’sgreatestweakness—theonetowhichhehadconfessedwhenadmittedtotheLodge—weresostrongthathecouldnotresistthem。Againwholedays，weeks，andmonthsofhislifepassedinasgreatarushandwereasmuchoccupiedwitheveningparties，dinners，lunches，andballs，givinghimnotimeforreflection，asinPetersburg。
Insteadofthenewlifehehadhopedtoleadhestilllivedtheoldlife，onlyinnewsurroundings。
OfthethreepreceptsofFreemasonryPierrerealizedthathedidnotfulfilltheonewhichenjoinedeveryMasontosetanexampleofmorallife，andthatofthesevenvirtueshelackedtwo—moralityandtheloveofdeath。Heconsoledhimselfwiththethoughtthathefulfilledanotheroftheprecepts—thatofreformingthehumanrace—
andhadothervirtues—loveofhisneighbor，andespeciallygenerosity。
Inthespringof1807hedecidedtoreturntoPetersburg。OnthewayheintendedtovisitallhisestatesandseeforhimselfhowfarhisordershadbeencarriedoutandinwhatstateweretheserfswhomGodhadentrustedtohiscareandwhomheintendedtobenefit。
Thechiefsteward，whoconsideredtheyoungcount’sattemptsalmostinsane—unprofitabletohimself，tothecount，andtotheserfs—madesomeconcessions。Continuingtorepresenttheliberationoftheserfsasimpracticable，hearrangedfortheerectionoflargebuildings—schools，hospitals，andasylums—onalltheestatesbeforethemasterarrived。EverywherepreparationsweremadenotforceremoniouswelcomeswhichheknewPierrewouldnotlike，butforjustsuchgratefullyreligiousones，withofferingsoficonsandthebreadandsaltofhospitality，as，accordingtohisunderstandingofhismaster，wouldtouchanddeludehim。
Thesouthernspring，thecomfortablerapidtravelinginaViennacarriage，andthesolitudeoftheroad，allhadagladdeningeffectonPierre。Theestateshehadnotbeforevisitedwereeachmorepicturesquethantheother；theserfseverywhereseemedthrivingandtouchinglygratefulforthebenefitsconferredonthem。Everywherewerereceptions，whichthoughtheyembarrassedPierreawakenedajoyfulfeelinginthedepthofhisheart。InoneplacethepeasantspresentedhimwithbreadandsaltandaniconofSaintPeterandSaintPaul，askingpermission，asamarkoftheirgratitudeforthebenefitshehadconferredonthem，tobuildanewchantrytothechurchattheirownexpenseinhonorofPeterandPaul，hispatronsaints。Inanotherplacethewomenwithinfantsinarmsmethimtothankhimforreleasingthemfromhardwork。Onathirdestatethepriest，bearingacross，cametomeethimsurroundedbychildrenwhom，bythecount’sgenerosity，hewasinstructinginreading，writing，andreligion。OnallhisestatesPierresawwithhisowneyesbrickbuildingserectedorincourseoferection，allononeplan，forhospitals，schools，andalmshouses，whichweresoontobeopened。
Everywherehesawthestewards’accounts，accordingtowhichtheserfs’manoriallaborhadbeendiminished，andheardthetouchingthanksofdeputationsofserfsintheirfull—skirtedbluecoats。
WhatPierredidnotknowwasthattheplacewheretheypresentedhimwithbreadandsaltandwishedtobuildachantryinhonorofPeterandPaulwasamarketvillagewhereafairwasheldonSt。Peter’sday，andthattherichestpeasantswhoformedt...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
第15章