"Yes？Andhow……didhespeak？"
"Yes，likeaman。Everythingquiteallright，andhebeganpersuadingher；andsheshouldhavekepthimtalkingtillcockcrow，butshegotfrightened，justgotfrightenedandhidherfaceinherhands。Thenhecaughtherup。Itwasluckythemaidsraninjustthen……"
"Now，whyfrightenthem？"saidPelageyaDanilovna。
"Mamma，youusedtotryyourfateyourself……"saidherdaughter。
"Andhowdoesonedoitinabarn？"inquiredSonya。
"Well，sayyouwenttothebarnnow，andlistened。Itdependsonwhatyouhear；hammeringandknocking—that’sbad；butasoundofshiftinggrainisgoodandonesometimeshearsthat，too。"
"Mamma，telluswhathappenedtoyouinthebarn。"
PelageyaDanilovnasmiled。
"Oh，I’veforgotten……"shereplied。"Butnoneofyouwouldgo？"
"Yes，Iwill；PelageyaDanilovna，letme！I’llgo，"saidSonya。
"Well，whynot，ifyou’renotafraid？"
"LouisaIvanovna，mayI？"askedSonya。
Whethertheywereplayingtheringandstringgameortherublegameortalkingasnow，NicholasdidnotleaveSonya’sside，andgazedatherwithquiteneweyes。Itseemedtohimthatitwasonlytoday，thankstothatburnt—corkmustache，thathehadfullylearnedtoknowher。Andreally，thatevening，Sonyawasbrighter，moreanimated，andprettierthanNicholashadeverseenherbefore。
"Sothat’swhatsheislike；whatafoolIhavebeen！"hethoughtgazingathersparklingeyes，andunderthemustacheahappyrapturoussmiledimpledhercheeks，asmilehehadneverseenbefore。
"I’mnotafraidofanything，"saidSonya。"MayIgoatonce？"Shegotup。
Theytoldherwherethebarnwasandhowsheshouldstandandlisten，andtheyhandedherafurcloak。ShethrewthisoverherheadandshouldersandglancedatNicholas。
"Whatadarlingthatgirlis！"thoughthe。"AndwhathaveIbeenthinkingoftillnow？"
Sonyawentoutintothepassagetogotothebarn。Nicholaswenthastilytothefrontporch，sayinghefelttoohot。Thecrowdofpeoplereallyhadmadethehousestuffy。
Outside，therewasthesamecoldstillnessandthesamemoon，butevenbrighterthanbefore。Thelightwassostrongandthesnowsparkledwithsomanystarsthatonedidnotwishtolookupattheskyandtherealstarswereunnoticed。Theskywasblackanddreary，whiletheearthwasgay。
"Iamafool，afool！whathaveIbeenwaitingfor？"thoughtNicholas。andrunningoutfromtheporchhewentroundthecornerofthehouseandalongthepaththatledtothebackporch。HeknewSonyawouldpassthatway。Halfwaylaysomesnow—coveredpilesoffirewoodandacrossandalongthemanetworkofshadowsfromthebareoldlimetreesfellonthesnowandonthepath。Thispathledtothebarn。Thelogwallsofthebarnanditssnow—coveredroof，thatlookedasifhewnoutofsomepreciousstone，sparkledinthemoonlight。A
treeinthegardensnappedwiththefrost，andthenallwasagainperfectlysilent。Hisbosomseemedtoinhalenotairbutthestrengthofeternalyouthandgladness。
Fromthebackporchcamethesoundoffeetdescendingthesteps，thebottomstepuponwhichsnowhadfallengavearingingcreakandheheardthevoiceofanoldmaidservantsaying，"Straight，straight，alongthepath，Miss。Only，don’tlookback。"
"Iamnotafraid，"answeredSonya’svoice，andalongthepathtowardNicholascamethecrunching，whistlingsoundofSonya’sfeetinherthinshoes。
Sonyacamealong，wrappedinhercloak。Shewasonlyacoupleofpacesawaywhenshesawhim，andtohertoohewasnottheNicholasshehadknownandalwaysslightlyfeared。Hewasinawoman’sdress，withtousledhairandahappysmilenewtoSonya。Sheranrapidlytowardhim。
"Quitedifferentandyetthesame，"thoughtNicholas，lookingatherfacealllitupbythemoonlight。Heslippedhisarmsunderthecloakthatcoveredherhead，embracedher，pressedhertohim，andkissedheronthelipsthatworeamustacheandhadasmellofburntcork。Sonyakissedhimfullonthelips，anddisengagingherlittlehandspressedthemtohischeeks。
"Sonya！……Nicholas！"……wasalltheysaid。Theyrantothebarnandthenbackagain，re—entering，hebythefrontandshebythebackporch。
BK7CH12
CHAPTERXII
WhentheyalldrovebackfromPelageyaDanilovna’s，Natasha，whoalwayssawandnoticedeverything，arrangedthatsheandMadameSchossshouldgobackinthesleighwithDimmler，andSonyawithNicholasandthemaids。
OnthewaybackNicholasdroveatasteadypaceinsteadofracingandkeptpeeringbythatfantasticall—transforminglightintoSonya’sfaceandsearchingbeneaththeeyebrowsandmustacheforhisformerandhispresentSonyafromwhomhehadresolvednevertobepartedagain。HelookedandrecognizinginherboththeoldandthenewSonya，andbeingremindedbythesmellofburntcorkofthesensationofherkiss，inhaledthefrostyairwithafullbreastand，lookingatthegroundflyingbeneathhimandatthesparklingsky，felthimselfagaininfairyland。
"Sonya，isitwellwiththee？"heaskedfromtimetotime。
"Yes！"shereplied。"Andwiththee？"
WhenhalfwayhomeNicholashandedthereinstothecoachmanandranforamomenttoNatasha’ssleighandstoodonitswing。
"Natasha！"hewhisperedinFrench，"doyouknowIhavemadeupmymindaboutSonya？"
"Haveyoutoldher？"askedNatasha，suddenlybeamingalloverwithjoy。
"Oh，howstrangeyouarewiththatmustacheandthoseeyebrows！……
Natasha—areyouglad？"
"Iamsoglad，soglad！Iwasbeginningtobevexedwithyou。I
didnottellyou，butyouhavebeentreatingherbadly。Whataheartshehas，Nicholas！Iamhorridsometimes，butIwasashamedtobehappywhileSonyawasnot，"continuedNatasha。"NowIamsoglad！
Well，runbacktoher。"
"No，waitabit……Oh，howfunnyyoulook！"criedNicholas，peeringintoherfaceandfindinginhissistertoosomethingnew，unusual，andbewitchinglytenderthathehadnotseeninherbefore。
"Natasha，it’smagical，isn’tit？"
"Yes，"shereplied。"Youhavedonesplendidly。"
"HadIseenherbeforeassheisnow，"thoughtNicholas，"Ishouldlongagohaveaskedherwhattodoandhavedonewhatevershetoldme，andallwouldhavebeenwell。"
"SoyouaregladandIhavedoneright？"
"Oh，quiteright！IhadaquarrelwithMammasometimeagoaboutit。
Mammasaidshewasanglingforyou。Howcouldshesaysuchathing！
InearlystormedatMamma。IwillneverletanyonesayanythingbadofSonya，forthereisnothingbutgoodinher。"
"Thenit’sallright？"saidNicholas，againscrutinizingtheexpressionofhissister’sfacetoseeifshewasinearnest。Thenhejumpeddownand，hisbootsscrunchingthesnow，ranbacktohissleigh。Thesamehappy，smilingCircassian，withmustacheandbeamingeyeslookingupfromunderasablehood，wasstillsittingthere，andthatCircassianwasSonya，andthatSonyawascertainlyhisfuturehappyandlovingwife。
WhentheyreachedhomeandhadtoldtheirmotherhowtheyhadspenttheeveningattheMelyukovs’，thegirlswenttotheirbedroom。Whentheyhadundressed，butwithoutwashingoffthecorkmustaches，theysatalongtimetalkingoftheirhappiness。Theytalkedofhowtheywouldlivewhentheyweremarried，howtheirhusbandswouldbefriends，andhowhappytheywouldbe。OnNatasha’stablestoodtwolookingglasseswhichDunyashahadpreparedbeforehand。
"Onlywhenwillallthatbe？Iamafraidnever……Itwouldbetoogood！"saidNatasha，risingandgoingtothelookingglasses。
"Sitdown，Natasha；perhapsyou’llseehim，"saidSonya。
Natashalitthecandles，oneoneachsideofoneofthelookingglasses，andsatdown。
"Iseesomeonewithamustache，"saidNatasha，seeingherownface。
"Youmustn’tlaugh，Miss，"saidDunyasha。
WithSonya’shelpandthemaid’s，Natashagottheglasssheheldintotherightpositionoppositetheother；herfaceassumedaseriousexpressionandshesatsilent。Shesatalongtimelookingattherecedinglineofcandlesreflectedintheglassesandexpectingfromtalesshehadheardtoseeacoffin，orhim，PrinceAndrew，inthatlastdim，indistinctlyoutlinedsquare。Butreadyasshewastotakethesmallestspeckfortheimageofamanorofacoffin，shesawnothing。Shebeganblinkingrapidlyandmovedawayfromthelookingglasses。
"WhyisitothersseethingsandIdon’t？"shesaid。"Yousitdownnow，Sonya。Youabsolutelymust，tonight！Doitforme……TodayI
feelsofrightened！"
Sonyasatdownbeforetheglasses，gottherightposition，andbeganlooking。
"Now，MissSonyaissuretoseesomething，"whisperedDunyasha；
"whileyoudonothingbutlaugh。"
SonyaheardthisandNatasha’swhisper：
"Iknowshewill。Shesawsomethinglastyear。"
Foraboutthreeminutesallweresilent。
"Ofcourseshewill！"whisperedNatasha，butdidnotfinish……
suddenlySonyapushedawaytheglassshewasholdingandcoveredhereyeswithherhand。
"Oh，Natasha！"shecried。
"Didyousee？Didyou？Whatwasit？"exclaimedNatasha，holdingupthelookingglass。
Sonyahadnotseenanything，shewasjustwantingtoblinkandtogetupwhensheheardNatashasay，"Ofcourseshewill！"ShedidnotwishtodisappointeitherDunyashaorNatasha，butitwashardtositstill。Shedidnotherselfknowhoworwhytheexclamationescapedherwhenshecoveredhereyes。
"Yousawhim？"urgedNatasha，seizingherhand。
"Yes。Waitabit……I……sawhim，"Sonyacouldnothelpsaying，notyetknowingwhomNatashameantbyhim，NicholasorPrinceAndrew。
"Butwhyshouldn’tIsayIsawsomething？Othersdosee！BesideswhocantellwhetherIsawanythingornot？"flashedthroughSonya’smind。
"Yes，Isawhim，"shesaid。
"How？Standingorlying？"
"No，Isaw……Atfirsttherewasnothing，thenIsawhimlyingdown。"
"Andrewlying？Isheill？"askedNatasha，herfrightenedeyesfixedonherfriend。
"No，onthecontrary，onthecontrary！Hisfacewascheerful，andheturnedtome。"Andwhensayingthissheherselffanciedshehadreallyseenwhatshedescribed。
"Well，andthen，Sonya？……"
"Afterthat，Icouldnotmakeoutwhattherewas；somethingblueandred……"
"Sonya！Whenwillhecomeback？WhenshallIseehim！O，God，howafraidIamforhimandformyselfandabouteverything！……"Natashabegan，andwithoutreplyingtoSonya’swordsofcomfortshegotintobed，andlongafterhercandlewasoutlayopen—eyedandmotionless，gazingatthemoonlightthroughthefrostywindowpanes。
BK7CH13
CHAPTERXIII
SoonaftertheChristmasholidaysNicholastoldhismotherofhisloveforSonyaandofhisfirmresolvetomarryher。Thecountess，whohadlongnoticedwhatwasgoingonbetweenthemandwasexpectingthisdeclaration，listenedtohiminsilenceandthentoldhersonthathemightmarrywhomhepleased，butthatneithershenorhisfatherwouldgivetheirblessingtosuchamarriage。Nicholas，forthefirsttime，feltthathismotherwasdispleasedwithhimandthat，despiteherloveforhim，shewouldnotgiveway。Coldly，withoutlookingatherson，shesentforherhusbandand，whenhecame，triedbrieflyandcoldlytoinformhimofthefacts，inherson’spresence，butunabletorestrainherselfsheburstintotearsofvexationandlefttheroom。TheoldcountbeganirresolutelytoadmonishNicholasandbeghimtoabandonhispurpose。Nicholasrepliedthathecouldnotgobackonhisword，andhisfather，sighingandevidentlydisconcerted，verysoonbecamesilentandwentintothecountess。Inallhisencounterswithhisson，thecountwasalwaysconsciousofhisownguilttowardhimforhavingwastedthefamilyfortune，andsohecouldnotbeangrywithhimforrefusingtomarryanheiressandchoosingthedowerlessSonya。Onthisoccasion，hewasonlymorevividlyconsciousofthefactthatifhisaffairshadnotbeenindisorder，nobetterwifeforNicholasthanSonyacouldhavebeenwishedfor，andthatnoonebuthimselfwithhisMitenkaandhisuncomfortablehabitswastoblamefortheconditionofthefamilyfinances。
Thefatherandmotherdidnotspeakofthemattertotheirsonagain，butafewdayslaterthecountesssentforSonyaand，withacrueltyneitherofthemexpected，reproachedherniecefortryingtocatchNicholasandforingratitude。Sonyalistenedsilentlywithdowncasteyestothecountess’cruelwords，withoutunderstandingwhatwasrequiredofher。Shewasreadytosacrificeeverythingforherbenefactors。Self—sacrificewashermostcherishedideabutinthiscaseshecouldnotseewhatsheoughttosacrifice，orforwhom。ShecouldnothelplovingthecountessandthewholeRostovfamily，butneithercouldshehelplovingNicholasandknowingthathishappinessdependedonthatlove。Shewassilentandsadanddidnotreply。Nicholasfeltthesituationtobeintolerableandwenttohaveanexplanationwithhismother。HefirstimploredhertoforgivehimandSonyaandconsenttotheirmarriage，thenhethreatenedthatifshemolestedSonyahewouldatoncemarryhersecretly。
Thecountess，withacoldnesshersonhadneverseeninherbefore，repliedthathewasofage，thatPrinceAndrewwasmarryingwithouthisfather’sconsent，andhecoulddothesame，butthatshewouldneverreceivethatintriguerasherdaughter。
Explodingatthewordintriguer，Nicholas，raisinghisvoice，toldhismotherhehadneverexpectedhertotrytoforcehimtosellhisfeelings，butifthatwereso，hewouldsayforthelasttime……
Buthehadnotimetoutterthedecisivewordwhichtheexpressionofhisfacecausedhismothertoawaitwithterror，andwhichwouldperhapshaveforeverremainedacruelmemorytothemboth。Hehadnottimetosayit，forNatasha，withapaleandsetface，enteredtheroomfromthedooratwhichshehadbeenlistening。
"Nicholas，youaretalkingnonsense！Bequiet，bequiet，bequiet，I
tellyou！……"shealmostscreamed，soastodrownhisvoice。
"Mammadarling，it’snotatallso……mypoor，sweetdarling，"shesaidtohermother，whoconsciousthattheyhadbeenonthebrinkofarupturegazedathersonwithterror，butintheobstinacyandexcitementoftheconflictcouldnotandwouldnotgiveway。
"Nicholas，I’llexplaintoyou。Goaway！Listen，Mammadarling，"
saidNatasha。
Herwordswereincoherent，buttheyattainedthepurposeatwhichshewasaiming。
Thecountess，sobbingheavily，hidherfaceonherdaughter’sbreast，whileNicholasrose，clutchinghishead，andlefttheroom。
Natashasettoworktoeffectareconciliation，andsofarsucceededthatNicholasreceivedapromisefromhismotherthatSonyashouldnotbetroubled，whileheonhissidepromisednottoundertakeanythingwithouthisparents’knowledge。
Firmlyresolved，afterputtinghisaffairsinorderintheregiment，toretirefromthearmyandreturnandmarrySonya，Nicholas，serious，sorrowful，andatvariancewithhisparents，but，asitseemedtohim，passionatelyinlove，leftatthebeginningofJanuarytorejoinhisregiment。
AfterNicholashadgonethingsintheRostovhouseholdweremoredepressingthanever，andthecountessfellillfrommentalagitation。
SonyawasunhappyattheseparationfromNicholasandstillmoresoonaccountofthehostiletonethecountesscouldnothelpadoptingtowardher。Thecountwasmoreperturbedthaneverbytheconditionofhisaffairs，whichcalledforsomedecisiveaction。TheirtownhouseandestatenearMoscowhadinevitablytobesold，andforthistheyhadtogotoMoscow。Butthecountess’healthobligedthemtodelaytheirdeparturefromdaytoday。
Natasha，whohadbornethefirstperiodofseparationfromherbetrothedlightlyandevencheerfully，nowgrewmoreagitatedandimpatienteveryday。Thethoughtthatherbestdays，whichshewouldhaveemployedinlovinghim，werebeingvainlywasted，withnoadvantagetoanyone，tormentedherincessantly。Hislettersforthemostpartirritatedher。Ithurthertothinkthatwhileshelivedonlyinthethoughtofhim，hewaslivingareallife，seeingnewplacesandnewpeoplethatinterestedhim。Themoreinterestinghisletterswerethemorevexedshefelt。Herletterstohim，farfromgivingheranycomfort，seemedtoherawearisomeandartificialobligation。Shecouldnotwrite，becauseshecouldnotconceivethepossibilityofexpressingsincerelyinaletterevenathousandthpartofwhatsheexpressedbyvoice，smile，andglance。Shewrotetohimformal，monotonous，anddryletters，towhichsheattachednoimportanceherself，andintheroughcopiesofwhichthecountesscorrectedhermistakesinspelling。
Therewasstillnoimprovementinthecountess’health，butitwasimpossibletodeferthejourneytoMoscowanylonger。Natasha’strousseauhadtobeorderedandthehousesold。Moreover，PrinceAndrewwasexpectedinMoscow，whereoldPrinceBolkonskiwasspendingthewinter，andNatashafeltsurehehadalreadyarrived。
Sothecountessremainedinthecountry，andthecount，takingSonyaandNatashawithhim，wenttoMoscowattheendofJanuary。
BOOKEIGHT：1811—12
CHAPTERI
AfterPrinceAndrewsengagementtoNatasha，Pierrewithoutanyapparentcausesuddenlyfeltitimpossibletogoonlivingasbefore。Firmlyconvincedashewasofthetruthsrevealedtohimbyhisbenefactor，andhappyashehadbeeninperfectinghisinnerman，towhichhehaddevotedhimselfwithsuchardor—allthezestofsuchalifevanishedaftertheengagementofAndrewandNatashaandthedeathofJosephAlexeevich，thenewsofwhichreachedhimalmostatthesametime。Onlytheskeletonofliferemained：hishouse，abrilliantwifewhonowenjoyedthefavorsofaveryimportantpersonage，acquaintancewithallPetersburg，andhiscourtservicewithitsdullformalities。AndthislifesuddenlyseemedtoPierreunexpectedlyloathsome。Heceasedkeepingadiary，avoidedthecompanyoftheBrothers，begangoingtotheClubagain，drankagreatdeal，andcameoncemoreintouchwiththebachelorsets，leadingsuchalifethattheCountessHelenethoughtitnecessarytospeakseverelytohimaboutit。Pierrefeltthatsheright，andtoavoidcompromisingherwentawaytoMoscow。
InMoscowassoonasheenteredhishugehouseinwhichthefadedandfadingprincessesstilllived，withitsenormousretinue；assoonas，drivingthroughthetown，hesawtheIberianshrinewithinnumerabletapersburningbeforethegoldencoversoftheicons，theKremlinSquarewithitssnowundisturbedbyvehicles，thesleighdriversandhovelsoftheSivtsevVrazhok，thoseoldMoscoviteswhodesirednothing，hurriednowhere，andwereendingtheirdaysleisurely；whenhesawthoseoldMoscowladies，theMoscowballs，andtheEnglishClub，hefelthimselfathomeinaquiethaven。InMoscowhefeltatpeace，athome，warmanddirtyasinanolddressinggown。
Moscowsociety，fromtheoldwomendowntothechildren，receivedPierrelikealong—expectedguestwhoseplacewasalwaysreadyawaitinghim。ForMoscowsocietyPierrewasthenicest，kindest，mostintellectual，merriest，andmostmagnanimousofcranks，aheedless，genialnoblemanoftheoldRussiantype。Hispursewasalwaysemptybecauseitwasopentoeveryone。
Benefitperformances，poorpictures，statues，benevolentsocieties，gypsychoirs，schools，subscriptiondinners，sprees，Freemasons，churches，andbooks—nooneandnothingmetwitharefusalfromhim，andhaditnotbeenfortwofriendswhohadborrowedlargesumsfromhimandtakenhimundertheirprotection，hewouldhavegiveneverythingaway。TherewasneveradinnerorsoireeattheClubwithouthim。AssoonashesankintohisplaceonthesofaaftertwobottlesofMargauxhewassurrounded，andtalking，disputing，andjokingbegan。Whentherewerequarrels，hiskindlysmileandwell—timedjestsreconciledtheantagonists。TheMasonicdinnersweredullanddrearywhenhewasnotthere。
Whenafterabachelorsupperherosewithhisamiableandkindlysmile，yieldingtotheentreatiesofthefestivecompanytodriveoffsomewherewiththem，shoutsofdelightandtriumpharoseamongtheyoungmen。Atballshedancedifapartnerwasneeded。Youngladies，marriedandunmarried，likedhimbecausewithoutmakinglovetoanyofthem，hewasequallyamiabletoall，especiallyaftersupper。"Ilestcharmant；iln’apasdesexe，"*theysaidofhim。
*"Heischarming；hehasnosex。"
Pierrewasoneofthoseretiredgentlemen—in—waitingofwhomtherewerehundredsgood—humoredlyendingtheirdaysinMoscow。
Howhorrifiedhewouldhavebeensevenyearsbefore，whenhefirstarrivedfromabroad，hadhebeentoldthattherewasnoneedforhimtoseekorplananything，thathisruthadlongbeenshaped，eternallypredetermined，andthatwriggleashemight，hewouldbewhatallinhispositionwere。Hecouldnothavebelievedit！HadhenotatonetimelongedwithallhishearttoestablisharepublicinRussia；thenhimselftobeaNapoleon；thentobeaphilosopher；andthenastrategistandtheconquerorofNapoleon？Hadhenotseenthepossibilityof，andpassionatelydesired，theregenerationofthesinfulhumanrace，andhisownprogresstothehighestdegreeofperfection？Hadhenotestablishedschoolsandhospitalsandliberatedhisserfs？
Butinsteadofallthat—herehewas，thewealthyhusbandofanunfaithfulwife，aretiredgentleman—in—waiting，fondofeatinganddrinkingand，asheunbuttonedhiswaistcoat，ofabusingthegovernmentabit，amemberoftheMoscowEnglishClub，andauniversalfavoriteinMoscowsociety。ForalongtimehecouldnotreconcilehimselftotheideathathewasoneofthosesameretiredMoscowgentlemen—in—waitinghehadsodespisedsevenyearsbefore。
Sometimesheconsoledhimselfwiththethoughtthathewasonlylivingthislifetemporarily；butthenhewasshockedbythethoughtofhowmany，likehimself，hadenteredthatlifeandthatClubtemporarily，withalltheirteethandhair，andhadonlyleftitwhennotasingletoothorhairremained。
Inmomentsofpride，whenhethoughtofhispositionitseemedtohimthathewasquitedifferentanddistinctfromthoseotherretiredgentlemen—in—waitinghehadformerlydespised：theywereempty，stupid，contentedfellows，satisfiedwiththeirposition，"whileIamstilldiscontentedandwanttodosomethingformankind。
Butperhapsallthesecomradesofminestruggledjustlikemeandsoughtsomethingnew，apathinlifeoftheirown，andlikemewerebroughtbyforc...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
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