Nicholas，thoughhehadneverseenIlagin，withhisusualabsenceofmoderationinjudgment，hatedhimcordiallyfromreportsofhisarbitrarinessandviolence，andregardedhimashisbitterestfoe。
Herodeinangryagitationtowardhim，firmlygraspinghiswhipandfullypreparedtotakethemostresoluteanddesperatestepstopunishhisenemy。
Hardlyhadhepassedanangleofthewoodbeforeastoutgentlemaninabeavercapcameridingtowardhimonahandsomeraven—blackhorse，accompaniedbytwohuntservants。
Insteadofanenemy，NicholasfoundinIlaginastatelyandcourteousgentlemanwhowasparticularlyanxioustomaketheyoungcount’sacquaintance。HavingriddenuptoNicholas，Ilaginraisedhisbeavercapandsaidhemuchregrettedwhathadoccurredandwouldhavethemanpunishedwhohadallowedhimselftoseizeafoxhuntedbysomeoneelse’sborzois。Hehopedtobecomebetteracquaintedwiththecountandinvitedhimtodrawhiscovert。
Natasha，afraidthatherbrotherwoulddosomethingdreadful，hadfollowedhiminsomeexcitement。Seeingtheenemiesexchangingfriendlygreetings，sherodeuptothem。IlaginliftedhisbeavercapstillhighertoNatashaandsaid，withapleasantsmile，thattheyoungcountessresembledDianainherpassionforthechaseaswellasinherbeauty，ofwhichhehadheardmuch。
Toexpiatehishuntsman’soffense，IlaginpressedtheRostovstocometoanuplandofhisaboutamileawaywhichheusuallykeptforhimselfandwhich，hesaid，swarmedwithhares。Nicholasagreed，andthehunt，nowdoubled，movedon。
ThewaytoIligin’suplandwasacrossthefields。Thehuntservantsfellintoline。Themastersrodetogether。"Uncle，"Rostov，andIlaginkeptstealthilyglancingatoneanother’sdogs，tryingnottobeobservedbytheircompanionsandsearchinguneasilyforrivalstotheirownborzois。
Rostovwasparticularlystruckbythebeautyofasmall，pure—bred，red—spottedbitchonIlagin’sleash，slenderbutwithmuscleslikesteel，adelicatemuzzle，andprominentblackeyes。HehadheardoftheswiftnessofIlagin’sborzois，andinthatbeautifulbitchsawarivaltohisownMilka。
InthemiddleofasoberconversationbegunbyIlaginabouttheyear’sharvest，Nicholaspointedtothered—spottedbitch。
"Afinelittlebitch，that！"saidheinacarelesstone。"Issheswift？"
"Thatone？Yes，she’sagooddog，getswhatshe’safter，"answeredIlaginindifferently，ofthered—spottedbitchErza，forwhich，ayearbefore，hehadgivenaneighborthreefamiliesofhouseserfs。"Soinyourparts，too，theharvestisnothingtoboastof，Count？"hewenton，continuingtheconversationtheyhadbegun。Andconsideringitpolitetoreturntheyoungcount’scompliment，IlaginlookedathisborzoisandpickedoutMilkawhoattractedhisattentionbyherbreadth。"Thatblack—spottedoneofyoursisfine—wellshaped！"
saidhe。
"Yes，she’sfastenough，"repliedNicholas，andthought："Ifonlyafull—grownharewouldcrossthefieldnowI’dshowyouwhatsortofborzoisheis，"andturningtohisgroom，hesaidhewouldgivearubletoanyonewhofoundahare。
"Idon’tunderstand，"continuedIlagin，"howsomesportsmencanbesojealousaboutgameanddogs。Formyself，Icantellyou，Count，I
enjoyridingincompanysuchasthis……whatcouldbebetter？"heagainraisedhiscaptoNatasha"butasforcountingskinsandwhatonetakes，Idon’tcareaboutthat。"
"Ofcoursenot！"
"Orbeingupsetbecausesomeoneelse’sborzoiandnotminecatchessomething。AllIcareaboutistoenjoyseeingthechase，isitnotso，Count？ForIconsiderthat……"
"A—tu！"camethelong—drawncryofoneoftheborzoiwhippers—in，whohadhalted。Hestoodonaknollinthestubble，holdinghiswhipaloft，andagainrepeatedhislong—drawncry，"A—tu！"Thiscallandtheupliftedwhipmeantthathesawasittinghare。
"Ah，hehasfoundone，Ithink，"saidIlagincarelessly。"Yes，wemustrideup……Shallwebothcourseit？"answeredNicholas，seeinginErzaand"Uncle’s"redRugaytworivalshehadneveryethadachanceofpittingagainsthisownborzois。"AndsupposetheyoutdomyMilkaatonce！"hethoughtasherodewith"Uncle"andIlagintowardthehare。
"Afull—grownone？"askedIlaginasheapproachedthewhipwhohadsightedthehare—andnotwithoutagitationhelookedroundandwhistledtoErza。
"Andyou，MichaelNikanorovich？"hesaid，addressing"Uncle。"
Thelatterwasridingwithasullenexpressiononhisface。
"HowcanIjoinin？Why，you’vegivenavillageforeachofyourborzois！That’sit，comeon！Yoursareworththousands。Tryyoursagainstoneanother，youtwo，andI’lllookon！"
"Rugay，hey，hey！"heshouted。"Rugayushka！"headded，involuntarilybythisdiminutiveexpressinghisaffectionandthehopesheplacedonthisredborzoi。Natashasawandfelttheagitationthetwoelderlymenandherbrotherweretryingtoconceal，andwasherselfexcitedbyit。
Thehuntsmanstoodhalfwayuptheknollholdinguphiswhipandthegentlefolkrodeuptohimatafootpace；thehoundsthatwerefaroffonthehorizonturnedawayfromthehare，andthewhips，butnotthegentlefolk，alsomovedaway。Allweremovingslowlyandsedately。
"Howisitpointing？"askedNicholas，ridingahundredpacestowardthewhipwhohadsightedthehare。
Butbeforethewhipcouldreply，thehare，scentingthefrostcomingnextmorning，wasunabletorestandleapedup。Thepackonleashrusheddownhillinfullcryafterthehare，andfromallsidestheborzoisthatwerenotonleashdartedafterthehoundsandthehare。
Allthehunt，whohadbeenmovingslowly，shouted，"Stop！"callinginthehounds，whiletheborzoiwhips，withacryof"A—tu！"gallopedacrossthefieldsettingtheborzoisonthehare。ThetranquilIlagin，Nicholas，Natasha，and"Uncle"flew，recklessofwhereandhowtheywent，seeingonlytheborzoisandthehareandfearingonlytolosesightevenforaninstantofthechase。Theharetheyhadstartedwasastrongandswiftone。Whenhejumpeduphedidnotrunatonce，butprickedhisearslisteningtotheshoutingandtramplingthatresoundedfromallsidesatonce。Hetookadozenbounds，notveryquickly，lettingtheborzoisgainonhim，and，finallyhavingchosenhisdirectionandrealizedhisdanger，laidbackhisearsandrushedoffheadlong。Hehadbeenlyinginthestubble，butinfrontofhimwastheautumnsowingwherethegroundwassoft。Thetwoborzoisofthehuntsmanwhohadsightedhim，havingbeenthenearest，werethefirsttoseeandpursuehim，buttheyhadnotgonefarbeforeIlagin’sred—spottedErzapassedthem，gotwithinalength，flewattheharewithterribleswiftnessaimingathisscut，and，thinkingshehadseizedhim，rolledoverlikeaball。Theharearchedhisbackandboundedoffyetmoreswiftly。FrombehindErzarushedthebroad—haunched，black—spottedMilkaandbeganrapidlygainingonthehare。
"Milashka，dear！"roseNicholas’triumphantcry。ItlookedasifMilkawouldimmediatelypounceonthehare，butsheovertookhimandflewpast。Theharehadsquatted。AgainthebeautifulErzareachedhim，butwhenclosetothehare’sscutpausedasifmeasuringthedistance，soasnottomakeamistakethistimebutseizehishindleg。
"Erza，darling！Ilaginwailedinavoiceunlikehisown。Erzadidnothearkentohisappeal。Attheverymomentwhenshewouldhaveseizedherprey，theharemovedanddartedalongthebalkbetweenthewinterryeandthestubble。AgainErzaandMilkawereabreast，runninglikeapairofcarriagehorses，andbegantoovertakethehare，butitwaseasierfortheharetorunonthebalkandtheborzoisdidnotovertakehimsoquickly。
"Rugay，Rugayushka！That’sit，comeon！"cameathirdvoicejustthen，and"Uncle’s"redborzoi，strainingandcurvingitsback，caughtupwiththetwoforemostborzois，pushedaheadofthemregardlessoftheterriblestrain，putonspeedclosetothehare，knockeditoffthebalkontotheryefield，againputonspeedstillmoreviciously，sinkingtohiskneesinthemuddyfield，andallonecouldseewashow，muddyinghisback，herolledoverwiththehare。Aringofborzoissurroundedhim。Amomentlatereveryonehaddrawnuproundthecrowdofdogs。Onlythedelighted"Uncle"dismounted，andcutoffapad，shakingthehareforthebloodtodripoff，andanxiouslyglancingroundwithrestlesseyeswhilehisarmsandlegstwitched。Hespokewithouthimselfknowingwhomtoorwhatabout。"That’sit，comeon！That’sadog！……There，ithasbeatenthemall，thethousand—rubleaswellastheone—rubleborzois。That’sit，comeon！"saidhe，pantingandlookingwrathfullyaroundasifhewereabusingsomeone，asiftheywereallhisenemiesandhadinsultedhim，andonlynowhadheatlastsucceededinjustifyinghimself。"Thereareyourthousand—rubleones……That’sit，comeon！……"
"Rugay，here’sapadforyou！"hesaid，throwingdownthehare’smuddypad。"You’vedeservedit，that’sit，comeon！"
"She’dtiredherselfout，she’drunitdownthreetimesbyherself，"
saidNicholas，alsonotlisteningtoanyoneandregardlessofwhetherhewereheardornot。
"Butwhatisthereinrunningacrossitlikethat？"saidIlagin’sgroom。
"Onceshehadmisseditandturneditaway，anymongrelcouldtakeit，"Ilaginwassayingatthesametime，breathlessfromhisgallopandhisexcitement。AtthesamemomentNatasha，withoutdrawingbreath，screamedjoyously，ecstatically，andsopiercinglythatitseteveryone’seartingling。Bythatshrieksheexpressedwhattheothersexpressedbyalltalkingatonce，anditwassostrangethatshemustherselfhavebeenashamedofsowildacryandeveryoneelsewouldhavebeenamazedatitatanyothertime。"Uncle"himselftwistedupthehare，threwitneatlyandsmartlyacrosshishorse’sbackasifbythatgesturehemeanttorebukeeverybody，and，withanairofnotwishingtospeaktoanyone，mountedhisbayandrodeoff。Theothersallfollowed，dispiritedandshamefaced，andonlymuchlaterweretheyabletoregaintheirformeraffectationofindifference。ForalongtimetheycontinuedtolookatredRugaywho，hisarchedbackspatteredwithmudandclankingtheringofhisleash，walkedalongjustbehind"Uncle’s"horsewiththesereneairofaconqueror。
"Well，Iamlikeanyotherdogaslongasit’snotaquestionofcoursing。Butwhenitis，thenlookout！"hisappearanceseemtoNicholastobesaying。
When，muchlater，"Uncle"rodeuptoNicholasandbegantalkingtohim，hefeltflatteredthat，afterwhathadhappened，"Uncle"
deignedtospeaktohim。
BK7CH7
CHAPTERVII
TowardeveningIlagintookleaveofNicholas，whofoundthattheyweresofarfromhomethatheaccepted"Uncle’s"offerthatthehuntingpartyshouldspendthenightinhislittlevillageofMikhaylovna。
"Andifyouputupatmyhousethatwillbebetterstill。That’sit，comeon！"said"Uncle。""Youseeit’sdampweather，andyoucouldrest，andthelittlecountesscouldbedrivenhomeinatrap。"
"Uncle’s"offerwasaccepted。AhuntsmanwassenttoOtradnoeforatrap，whileNicholasrodewithNatashaandPetyato"Uncle’s"house。
Somefivemaledomesticserfs，bigandlittle，rushedouttothefrontporchtomeettheirmaster。Ascoreofwomenserfs，oldandyoung，aswellaschildren，poppedoutfromthebackentrancetohavealookatthehunterswhowerearriving。ThepresenceofNatasha—
awoman，alady，andonhorseback—raisedthecuriosityoftheserfstosuchadegreethatmanyofthemcameuptoher，staredherintheface，andunabashedbyherpresencemaderemarksaboutherasthoughsheweresomeprodigyonshowandnotahumanbeingabletohearorunderstandwhatwassaidabouther。
"Arinka！Look，shesitssideways！Thereshesitsandherskirtdangles……See，she’sgotalittlehuntinghorn！"
"Goodnessgracious！Seeherknife？……"
"Isn’tsheaTartar！"
"Howisityoudidn’tgoheadoverheels？"askedtheboldestofall，addressingNatashadirectly。
"Uncle"dismountedattheporchofhislittlewoodenhousewhichstoodinthemidstofanovergrowngardenand，afteraglanceathisretainers，shoutedauthoritativelythatthesuperfluousonesshouldtakethemselvesoffandthatallnecessarypreparationsshouldbemadetoreceivetheguestsandthevisitors。
Theserfsalldispersed。"Uncle"liftedNatashaoffherhorseandtakingherhandledherupthericketywoodenstepsoftheporch。
Thehouse，withitsbare，unplasteredlogwalls，wasnotoverclean—itdidnotseemthatthoselivinginitaimedatkeepingitspotless—butneitherwasitnoticeablyneglected。Intheentrytherewasasmelloffreshapples，andwolfandfoxskinshungabout。
"Uncle"ledthevisitorsthroughtheanteroomintoasmallhallwithafoldingtableandredchairs，thenintothedrawingroomwitharoundbirchwoodtableandasofa，andfinallyintohisprivateroomwheretherewasatatteredsofa，aworncarpet，andportraitsofSuvorov，ofthehost’sfatherandmother，andofhimselfinmilitaryuniform。Thestudysmeltstronglyoftobaccoanddogs。"Uncle"askedhisvisitorstositdownandmakethemselvesathome，andthenwentoutoftheroom。Rugay，hisbackstillmuddy，cameintotheroomandlaydownonthesofa，cleaninghimselfwithhistongueandteeth。
Leadingfromthestudywasapassageinwhichapartitionwithraggedcurtainscouldbeseen。Frombehindthiscamewomen’slaughterandwhispers。Natasha，Nicholas，andPetyatookofftheirwrapsandsatdownonthesofa。Petya，leaningonhiselbow，fellasleepatonce。NatashaandNicholasweresilent。Theirfacesglowed，theywerehungryandverycheerful。Theylookedatoneanothernowthatthehuntwasoverandtheywereinthehouse，Nicholasnolongerconsidereditnecessarytoshowhismanlysuperiorityoverhissister，Natashagavehimawink，andneitherrefrainedlongfromburstingintoapealofringinglaughterevenbeforetheyhadapretextreadytoaccountforit。
Afterawhile"Uncle"camein，inaCossackcoat，bluetrousers，andsmalltopboots。AndNatashafeltthatthiscostume，theveryoneshehadregardedwithsurpriseandamusementatOtradnoe，wasjusttherightthingandnotatallworsethanaswallow—tailorfrockcoat。
"Uncle"toowasinhighspiritsandfarfrombeingoffendedbythebrother’sandsister’slaughteritcouldneverenterhisheadthattheymightbelaughingathiswayoflifehehimselfjoinedinthemerriment。
"That’sright，youngcountess，that’sit，comeon！Ineversawanyonelikeher！"saidhe，offeringNicholasapipewithalongstemand，withapracticedmotionofthreefingers，takingdownanotherthathadbeencutshort。"She’sriddenalldaylikeaman，andisasfreshasever！
Soonafter"Uncle’s"reappearancethedoorwasopened，evidentlyfromthesoundbyabarefootedgirl，andastout，rosy，good—lookingwomanofaboutforty，withadoublechinandfullredlips，enteredcarryingalargeloadedtray。Withhospitabledignityandcordialityinherglanceandineverymotion，shelookedatthevisitorsand，withapleasantsmile，bowedrespectfully。Inspiteofherexceptionalstoutness，whichcausedhertoprotrudeherchestandstomachandthrowbackherhead，thiswomanwhowas"Uncle’s"housekeepertrodverylightly。Shewenttothetable，setdownthetray，andwithherplumpwhitehandsdeftlytookfromitthebottlesandvarioushorsd’oeuvresanddishesandarrangedthemonthetable。Whenshehadfinished，shesteppedasideandstoppedatthedoorwithasmileonherface。"HereIam。Iamshe！Nowdoyouunderstand’Uncle’？"herexpressionsaidtoRostov。Howcouldonehelpunderstanding？NotonlyNicholas，butevenNatashaunderstoodthemeaningofhispuckeredbrowandthehappycomplacentsmilethatslightlypuckeredhislipswhenAnisyaFedorovnaentered。Onthetraywasabottleofherbwine，differentkindsofvodka，pickledmushrooms，ryecakesmadewithbuttermilk，honeyinthecomb，stillmeadandsparklingmead，apples，nutsrawandroasted，andnut—and—honeysweets。Afterwardsshebroughtafreshlyroastedchicken，ham，preservesmadewithhoney，andpreservesmadewithsugar。
AllthiswasthefruitofAnisyaFedorovna’shousekeeping，gatheredandpreparedbyher。ThesmellandtasteofitallhadasmackofAnisyaFedorovnaherself：asavorofjuiciness，cleanliness，whiteness，andpleasantsmiles。
"Takethis，littleLady—Countess！"shekeptsaying，assheofferedNatashafirstonethingandthenanother。
Natashaateofeverythingandthoughtshehadneverseenoreatensuchbuttermilkcakes，sucharomaticjam，suchhoney—and—nutsweets，orsuchachickenanywhere。AnisyaFedorovnalefttheroom。
Aftersupper，overtheircherrybrandy，Rostovand"Uncle"talkedofpastandfuturehunts，ofRugayandIlagin’sdogs，whileNatashasatuprightonthesofaandlistenedwithsparklingeyes。ShetriedseveraltimestowakePetyathathemighteatsomething，butheonlymutteredincoherentwordswithoutwakingup。Natashafeltsolightheartedandhappyinthesenovelsurroundingsthatsheonlyfearedthetrapwouldcomeforhertoosoon。Afteracasualpause，suchasoftenoccurswhenreceivingfriendsforthefirsttimeinone’sownhouse，"Uncle，"answeringathoughtthatwasinhisvisitors’mind，said：
"This，yousee，ishowIamfinishingmydays……Deathwillcome。
That’sit，comeon！Nothingwillremain。Thenwhyharmanyone？"
"Uncle’s"facewasverysignificantandevenhandsomeashesaidthis。InvoluntarilyRostovrecalledallthegoodhehadheardabouthimfromhisfatherandtheneighbors。Throughoutthewholeprovince"Uncle"hadthereputationofbeingthemosthonorableanddisinterestedofcranks。Theycalledhimintodecidefamilydisputes，chosehimasexecutor，confidedsecretstohim，electedhimtobeajusticeandtootherposts；buthealwayspersistentlyrefusedpublicappointments，passingtheautumnandspringinthefieldsonhisbaygelding，sittingathomeinwinter，andlyinginhisovergrowngardeninsummer。
"Whydon’tyouentertheservice，Uncle？"
"Ididonce，butgaveitup。Iamnotfitforit。That’sit，comeon！Ican’tmakeheadortailofit。That’sforyou—Ihaven’tbrainsenough。Now，huntingisanothermatter—that’sit，comeon！
Openthedoor，there！"heshouted。"Whyhaveyoushutit？"
Thedoorattheendofthepassageledtothehuntsmen’sroom，astheycalledtheroomforthehuntservants。
Therewasarapidpatterofbarefeet，andanunseenhandopenedthedoorintothehuntsmen’sroom，fromwhichcametheclearsoundsofabalalaykaonwhichsomeone，whowasevidentlyamasteroftheart，wasplaying。Natashahadbeenlisteningtothosestrainsforsometimeandnowwentoutintothepassagetohearbetter。
"That’sMitka，mycoachman……Ihavegothimagoodbalalayka。
I’mfondofit，"said"Uncle。"
ItwasthecustomforMitkatoplaythebalalaykainthehuntsmen’sroomwhen"Uncle"returnedfromthechase。"Uncle"wasfondofsuchmusic。
"Howgood！Reallyverygood！"saidNicholaswithsomeunintentionalsuperciliousness，asifashamedtoconfessthatthesoundspleasedhimverymuch。
"Verygood？"saidNatashareproachfully，noticingherbrother’stone。"Not’verygood’it’ssimplydelicious！"
Justas"Uncle’s"pickledmushrooms，honey，andcherrybrandyhadseemedtoherthebestintheworld，soalsothatsong，atthatmoment，seemedtohertheacmeofmusicaldelight。
"More，please，more！"criedNatashaatthedoorassoonasthebalalaykaceased。Mitkatunedupafresh，andrecommencedthrummingthebalalaykatotheairofMyLady，withtrillsandvariations。"Uncle"
satlistening，slightlysmiling，withhisheadononeside。Theairwasrepeatedahundredtimes。Thebalalaykawasretunedseveraltimesandthesamenoteswerethrummedagain，butthelistenersdidnotgrowwearyofitandwishedtohearitagainandagain。AnisyaFedorovnacameinandleanedherportlypersonagainstthedoorpost。
"Youlikelistening？"shesaidtoNatasha，withasmileextremelylike"Uncle’s。""That’sagoodplayerofours，"sheadded。
"Hedoesn’tplaythatpartright！"said"Uncle"suddenly，withanenergeticgesture。"Hereheoughttoburstout—that’sit，comeon！—
oughttoburstout。"
"Doyouplaythen？"askedNatasha。
"Uncle"didnotanswer，butsmiled。
"Anisya，goandseeifthestringsofmyguitarareallright。I
haven’ttoucheditforalongtime。That’sit—comeon！I’vegivenitup。"
AnisyaFedorovna，withherlightstep，willinglywenttofulfillhererrandandbroughtbacktheguitar。
Withoutlookingatanyone，"Uncle"blewthedustoffitand，tappingthecasewithhisbonyfingers，tunedtheguitarandsettledhimselfinhisarmchair。Hetooktheguitaralittleabovethefingerboard，archinghisleftelbowwithasomewhattheatricalgesture，and，withawinkatAnisyaFedorovna，struckasinglechord，pureandsonorous，andthenquietly，smoothly，andconfidentlybeganplayinginveryslowtime，notMyLady，butthewell—knownsong：Cameamaidendownthestreet。Thetune，playedwithprecisionandinexacttime，begantothrillintheheartsofNicholasandNatasha，arousinginthemthesamekindofsobermirthasradiatedfromAnisyaFedorovna’swholebeing。AnisyaFedorovnaflushed，anddrawingherkerchiefoverherfacewentlaughingoutoftheroom。"Uncle"continuedtoplaycorrectly，carefully，withenergeticfirmness，lookingwithachangedandinspiredexpressionatthespotwhereAnisyaFedorovnahadjuststood。Somethingseemedtobelaughingalittleononesideofhisfaceunderhisgraymustaches，especiallyasthesonggrewbriskerandthetimequickerandwhen，hereandthere，asheranhisfingersoverthestrings，so...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
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