Shesangherpraises，insistedthathersonmustcallonher，expressedawishtoseeheroften，butyetalwaysbecameill—humoredwhenshebegantotalkabouther。
Nicholastriedtokeepsilencewhenhismotherspokeoftheprincess，buthissilenceirritatedher。
"Sheisaveryadmirableandexcellentyoungwoman，"saidshe，"andyoumustgoandcallonher。Youwouldatleastbeseeingsomebody，andIthinkitmustbedullforyouonlyseeingus。"
"ButIdon’tintheleastwantto，Mamma。"
"Youusedtowantto，andnowyoudon’t。ReallyIdon’tunderstandyou，mydear。Onedayyouaredull，andthenextyourefusetoseeanyone。"
"ButIneversaidIwasdull。"
"Why，yousaidyourselfyoudon’twanteventoseeher。Sheisaveryadmirableyoungwomanandyoualwayslikedher，butnowsuddenlyyouhavegotsomenotionorotherinyourhead。Youhideeverythingfromme。"
"Notatall，Mamma。"
"IfIwereaskingyoutodosomethingdisagreeablenow—butIonlyaskyoutoreturnacall。Onewouldthinkmerepolitenessrequiredit……Well，Ihaveaskedyou，andnowIwon’tinterfereanymoresinceyouhavesecretsfromyourmother。"
"Well，then，I’llgoifyouwishit。"
"Itdoesn’tmattertome。Ionlywishitforyoursake。"
Nicholassighed，bithismustache，andlaidoutthecardsforapatience，tryingtodiverthismother’sattentiontoanothertopic。
Thesameconversationwasrepeatednextdayandthedayafter，andthedayafterthat。
AfterhervisittotheRostovsandherunexpectedlychillyreceptionbyNicholas，PrincessMaryconfessedtoherselfthatshehadbeenrightinnotwishingtobethefirsttocall。
"Iexpectednothingelse，"shetoldherself，callingherpridetoheraid。"IhavenothingtodowithhimandIonlywantedtoseetheoldlady，whowasalwayskindtomeandtowhomIamundermanyobligations。"
Butshecouldnotpacifyherselfwiththesereflections；afeelingakintoremorsetroubledherwhenshethoughtofhervisit。ThoughshehadfirmlyresolvednottocallontheRostovsagainandtoforgetthewholematter，shefeltherselfallthetimeinanawkwardposition。
Andwhensheaskedherselfwhatdistressedher，shehadtoadmitthatitwasherrelationtoRostov。Hiscold，politemannerdidnotexpresshisfeelingforhersheknewthatbutitconcealedsomething，anduntilshecoulddiscoverwhatthatsomethingwas，shefeltthatshecouldnotbeatease。
Onedayinmidwinterwhensittingintheschoolroomattendingtohernephew’slessons，shewasinformedthatRostovhadcalled。Withafirmresolutionnottobetrayherselfandnotshowheragitation，shesentforMademoiselleBourienneandwentwithhertothedrawingroom。
HerfirstglanceatNicholas’facetoldherthathehadonlycometofulfillthedemandsofpoliteness，andshefirmlyresolvedtomaintainthetoneinwhichheaddressedher。
Theyspokeofthecountess’health，oftheirmutualfriends，ofthelatestwarnews，andwhenthetenminutesrequiredbyproprietyhadelapsedafterwhichavisitormayrise，Nicholasgotuptosaygood—by。
WithMademoiselleBourienne’shelptheprincesshadmaintainedtheconversationverywell，butattheverylastmoment，justwhenherose，shewassotiredoftalkingofwhatdidnotinteresther，andhermindwassofullofthequestionwhyshealonewasgrantedsolittlehappinessinlife，thatinafitofabsent—mindednessshesatstill，herluminouseyesgazingfixedlybeforeher，notnoticingthathehadrisen。
Nicholasglancedatherand，wishingtoappearnottonoticeherabstraction，madesomeremarktoMademoiselleBourienneandthenagainlookedattheprincess。Shestillsatmotionlesswithalookofsufferingonhergentleface。Hesuddenlyfeltsorryforherandwasvaguelyconsciousthathemightbethecauseofthesadnessherfaceexpressed。Hewishedtohelpherandsaysomethingpleasant，butcouldthinkofnothingtosay。
"Good—by，Princess！"saidhe。
Shestarted，flushed，andsigheddeeply。
"Oh，Ibegyourpardon，"shesaidasifwakingup。"Areyougoingalready，Count？Wellthen，good—by！Oh，butthecushionforthecountess！"
"Waitamoment，I’llfetchit，"saidMademoiselleBourienne，andshelefttheroom。
Theybothsatsilent，withanoccasionalglanceatoneanother。
"Yes，Princess，"saidNicholasatlastwithasadsmile，"itdoesn’tseemlongagosincewefirstmetatBogucharovo，buthowmuchwaterhasflowedsincethen！Inwhatdistressweallseemedtobethen，yetIwouldgivemuchtobringbackthattime……butthere’snobringingitback。"
PrincessMarygazedintentlyintohiseyeswithherownluminousonesashesaidthis。Sheseemedtobetryingtofathomthehiddenmeaningofhiswordswhichwouldexplainhisfeelingforher。
"Yes，yes，"saidshe，"butyouhavenoreasontoregretthepast，Count。AsIunderstandyourpresentlife，Ithinkyouwillalwaysrecallitwithsatisfaction，becausetheself—sacrificethatfillsitnow……"
"Icannotacceptyourpraise，"heinterruptedherhurriedly。"OnthecontraryIcontinuallyreproachmyself……Butthisisnotatallaninterestingorcheerfulsubject。"
Hisfaceagainresumeditsformerstiffandcoldexpression。Buttheprincesshadcaughtaglimpseofthemanshehadknownandloved，anditwastohimthatshenowspoke。
"Ithoughtyouwouldallowmetotellyouthis，"shesaid。"Ihadcomesoneartoyou……andtoallyourfamilythatIthoughtyouwouldnotconsidermysympathymisplaced，butIwasmistaken，"andsuddenlyhervoicetrembled。"Idon’tknowwhy，"shecontinued，recoveringherself，"butyouusedtobedifferent，and……"
"Thereareathousandreasonswhy，"layingspecialemphasisonthewhy。"Thankyou，Princess，"headdedsoftly。"Sometimesitishard。"
"Sothat’swhy！That’swhy！"avoicewhisperedinPrincessMary’ssoul。"No，itwasnotonlythatgay，kind，andfranklook，notonlythathandsomeexterior，thatIlovedinhim。Idivinedhisnoble，resolute，self—sacrificingspirittoo，"shesaidtoherself。"Yes，heispoornowandIamrich……Yes，that’stheonlyreason……
Yes，wereitnotforthat……"Andrememberinghisformertenderness，andlookingnowathiskind，sorrowfulface，shesuddenlyunderstoodthecauseofhiscoldness。
"Butwhy，Count，why？"shealmostcried，unconsciouslymovingclosertohim。"Why？Tellme。Youmusttellme！"
Hewassilent。
"Idon’tunderstandyourwhy，Count，"shecontinued，"butit’shardforme……Iconfessit。Forsomereasonyouwishtodeprivemeofourformerfriendship。Andthathurtsme。"Thereweretearsinhereyesandinhervoice。"Ihavehadsolittlehappinessinlifethateverylossishardformetobear……Excuseme，good—by！"andsuddenlyshebegantocryandwashurryingfromtheroom。
"Princess，forGod’ssake！"heexclaimed，tryingtostopher。
"Princess！"
Sheturnedround。Forafewsecondstheygazedsilentlyintooneanother’seyes—andwhathadseemedimpossibleandremotesuddenlybecamepossible，inevitable，andverynear。
EP1CH7
CHAPTERVII
Inthewinterof1813NicholasmarriedPrincessMaryandmovedtoBaldHillswithhiswife，hismother，andSonya。
Withinfouryearshehadpaidoffallhisremainingdebtswithoutsellinganyofhiswife’sproperty，andhavingreceivedasmallinheritanceonthedeathofacousinhepaidhisdebttoPierreaswell。
Inanotherthreeyears，by1820，hehadsomanagedhisaffairsthathewasabletobuyasmallestateadjoiningBaldHillsandwasnegotiatingtobuybackOtradnoe—thatbeinghispetdream。
Havingstartedfarmingfromnecessity，hesoongrewsodevotedtoitthatitbecamehisfavoriteandalmosthissoleoccupation。Nicholaswasaplainfarmer：hedidnotlikeinnovations，especiallytheEnglishonesthencomingintovogue。Helaughedattheoreticaltreatisesonestatemanagement，dislikedfactories，theraisingofexpensiveproducts，andthebuyingofexpensiveseedcorn，anddidnotmakeahobbyofanyparticularpartoftheworkonhisestate。Healwayshadbeforehismind’seyetheestateasawholeandnotanyparticularpartofit。Thechiefthinginhiseyeswasnotthenitrogeninthesoil，northeoxygenintheair，normanures，norspecialplows，butthatmostimportantagentbywhichnitrogen，oxygen，manure，andplowweremadeeffective—thepeasantlaborer。
WhenNicholasfirstbeganfarmingandbegantounderstanditsdifferentbranches，itwastheserfwhoespeciallyattractedhisattention。Thepeasantseemedtohimnotmerelyatool，butalsoajudgeoffarmingandanendinhimself。Atfirsthewatchedtheserfs，tryingtounderstandtheiraimsandwhattheyconsideredgoodandbad，andonlypretendedtodirectthemandgiveorderswhileinrealitylearningfromthemtheirmethods，theirmannerofspeech，andtheirjudgmentofwhatwasgoodandbad。Onlywhenhehadunderstoodthepeasants’tastesandaspirations，hadlearnedtotalktheirlanguage，tograspthehiddenmeaningoftheirwords，andfeltakintothemdidhebeginboldlytomanagehisserfs，thatis，toperformtowardthemthedutiesdemandedofhim。AndNicholas’managementproducedverybrilliantresults。
Guidedbysomegiftofinsight，ontakingupthemanagementoftheestatesheatonceunerringlyappointedasbailiff，villageelder，anddelegate，theverymentheserfswouldthemselveshavechosenhadtheyhadtherighttochoose，andthesepostsneverchangedhands。Beforeanalyzingthepropertiesofmanure，beforeenteringintothedebitandcreditasheironicallycalledit，hefoundouthowmanycattlethepeasantshadandincreasedthenumberbyallpossiblemeans。Hekeptthepeasantfamiliestogetherinthelargestgroupspossible，notallowingthefamilygroupstodivideintoseparatehouseholds。Hewashardalikeonthelazy，thedepraved，andtheweak，andtriedtogetthemexpelledfromthecommune。
Hewasascarefulofthesowingandreapingofthepeasants’hayandcornasofhisown，andfewlandownershadtheircropssownandharvestedsoearlyandsowell，orgotsogoodareturn，asdidNicholas。
Hedislikedhavinganythingtodowiththedomesticserfs—the"drones"ashecalledthem—andeveryonesaidhespoiledthembyhislaxity。Whenadecisionhadtobetakenregardingadomesticserf，especiallyifonehadtobepunished，healwaysfeltundecidedandconsultedeverybodyinthehouse；butwhenitwaspossibletohaveadomesticserfconscriptedinsteadofalandworkerhedidsowithouttheleasthesitation。Heneverfeltanyhesitationindealingwiththepeasants。Heknewthathiseverydecisionwouldbeapprovedbythemallwithveryfewexceptions。
Hedidnotallowhimselfeithertobehardonorpunishaman，ortomakethingseasyfororrewardanyone，merelybecausehefeltinclinedtodoso。Hecouldnothavesaidbywhatstandardhejudgedwhatheshouldorshouldnotdo，butthestandardwasquitefirmanddefiniteinhisownmind。
Often，speakingwithvexationofsomefailureorirregularity，hewouldsay："WhatcanonedowithourRussianpeasants？"andimaginedthathecouldnotbearthem。
Yetheloved"ourRussianpeasants"andtheirwayoflifewithhiswholesoul，andforthatveryreasonhadunderstoodandassimilatedtheonewayandmanneroffarmingwhichproducedgoodresults。
CountessMarywasjealousofthispassionofherhusband’sandregrettedthatshecouldnotshareit；butshecouldnotunderstandthejoysandvexationshederivedfromthatworld，tohersoremoteandalien。Shecouldnotunderstandwhyhewassoparticularlyanimatedandhappywhen，aftergettingupatdaybreakandspendingthewholemorninginthefieldsoronthethreshingfloor，hereturnedfromthesowingormowingorreapingtohaveteawithher。Shedidnotunderstandwhyhespokewithsuchadmirationanddelightofthefarmingofthethriftyandwell—to—dopeasantMatthewErmishin，whowithhisfamilyhadcartedcornallnight；orofthefactthathisNicholas’sheaveswerealreadystackedbeforeanyoneelsehadhisharvestin。Shedidnotunderstandwhyhesteppedoutfromthewindowtotheverandaandsmiledunderhismustacheandwinkedsojoyfully，whenwarmsteadyrainbegantofallonthedryandthirstyshootsoftheyoungoats，orwhywhenthewindcarriedawayathreateningcloudduringthehayharvesthewouldreturnfromthebarn，flushed，sunburned，andperspiring，withasmellofwormwoodandgentianinhishairand，gleefullyrubbinghishands，wouldsay：
"Well，onemoredayandmygrainandthepeasants’willallbeundercover。"
Stilllessdidsheunderstandwhyhe，kindheartedandalwaysreadytoanticipateherwishes，shouldbecomealmostdesperatewhenshebroughthimapetitionfromsomepeasantmenorwomenwhohadappealedtohertobeexcusedsomework；whyhe，thatkindNicholas，shouldobstinatelyrefuseher，angrilyaskinghernottointerfereinwhatwasnotherbusiness。Shefelthehadaworldapart，whichhelovedpassionatelyandwhichhadlawsshehadnotfathomed。
Sometimeswhen，tryingtounderstandhim，shespokeofthegoodworkhewasdoingforhisserfs，hewouldbevexedandreply："Notintheleast；itneverenteredmyheadandIwouldn’tdothatfortheirgood！
That’sallpoetryandoldwives’talk—allthatdoinggoodtoone’sneighbor！WhatIwantisthatourchildrenshouldnothavetogobegging。ImustputouraffairsinorderwhileIamalive，that’sall。
Andtodothat，orderandstrictnessareessential……That’sallaboutit！"saidhe，clenchinghisvigorousfist。"Andfairness，ofcourse，"headded，"forifthepeasantisnakedandhungryandhasonlyonemiserablehorse，hecandonogoodeitherforhimselforforme。"
AndallNicholasdidwasfruitful—probablyjustbecauseherefusedtoallowhimselftothinkthathewasdoinggoodtoothersforvirtue’ssake。Hismeansincreasedrapidly；serfsfromneighboringestatescametobeghimtobuythem，andlongafterhisdeaththememoryofhisadministrationwasdevoutlypreservedamongtheserfs。
"Hewasamaster……thepeasants’affairsfirstandthenhisown。Ofcoursehewasnottobetrifledwitheither—inaword，hewasarealmaster！"
EP1CH8
CHAPTERVIII
OnematterconnectedwithhismanagementsometimesworriedNicholas，andthatwashisquicktempertogetherwithhisoldhussarhabitofmakingfreeuseofhisfists。Atfirsthesawnothingreprehensibleinthis，butinthesecondyearofhismarriagehisviewofthatformofpunishmentsuddenlychanged。
OnceinsummerhehadsentforthevillageelderfromBogucharovo，amanwhohadsucceededtothepostwhenDrondiedandwhowasaccusedofdishonestyandvariousirregularities。Nicholaswentoutintotheporchtoquestionhim，andimmediatelyaftertheelderhadgivenafewrepliesthesoundofcriesandblowswereheard。OnreturningtolunchNicholaswentuptohiswife，whosatwithherheadbentlowoverherembroideryframe，andasusualbegantotellherwhathehadbeendoingthatmorning。AmongotherthingshespokeoftheBogucharovoelder。CountessMaryturnedredandthenpale，butcontinuedtositwithheadbowedandlipscompressedandgaveherhusbandnoreply。
"Suchaninsolentscoundrel！"hecried，growinghotagainatthemererecollectionofhim。"Ifhehadtoldmehewasdrunkanddidnotsee……Butwhatisthematterwithyou，Mary？"hesuddenlyasked。
CountessMaryraisedherheadandtriedtospeak，buthastilylookeddownagainandherlipspuckered。
"Why，whateveristhematter，mydearest？"
ThelooksoftheplainCountessMaryalwaysimprovedwhenshewasintears。Shenevercriedfrompainorvexation，butalwaysfromsorroworpity，andwhensheweptherradianteyesacquiredanirresistiblecharm。
ThemomentNicholastookherhandshecouldnolongerrestrainherselfandbegantocry。
"Nicholas，Isawit……hewastoblame，butwhydoyou……Nicholas！"
andshecoveredherfacewithherhands。
Nicholassaidnothing。Heflushedcrimson，leftherside，andpacedupanddowntheroom。Heunderstoodwhatshewasweepingabout，butcouldnotinhisheartatonceagreewithherthatwhathehadregardedfromchildhoodasquiteaneverydayeventwaswrong。
"Isitjustsentimentality，oldwives’tales，orissheright？"heaskedhimself。Beforehehadsolvedthatpointheglancedagainatherfacefilledwithloveandpain，andhesuddenlyrealizedthatshewasrightandthathehadlongbeensinningagainsthimself。
"Mary，"hesaidsoftly，goinguptoher，"itwillneverhappenagain；Igiveyoumyword。Never，"herepeatedinatremblingvoicelikeaboyaskingforforgiveness。
Thetearsflowedfasterstillfromthecountess’eyes。Shetookhishandandkissedit。
"Nicholas，whenwhendidyoubreakyourcameo？"sheaskedtochangethesubject，lookingathisfingeronwhichheworearingwithacameoofLaocoon’shead。
"Today—itwasthesameaffair。Oh，Mary，don’tremindmeofit！"
andagainheflushed。"Igiveyoumywordofhonoritshan’toccuragain，andletthisalwaysbearemindertome，"andhepointedtothebrokenring。
Afterthat，whenindiscussionswithhisvillageeldersorstewardsthebloodrushedtohisfaceandhisfistsbegantoclench，Nicholaswouldturnthebrokenringonhisfingerandwoulddrophiseyesbeforethemanwhowasmakinghimangry。Buthedidforgethimselfonceortwicewithinatwelvemonth，andthenhewouldgoandconfesstohiswife，andwouldagainpromisethatthisshouldreallybetheverylasttime。
"Mary，youmustdespiseme！"hewouldsay。"Ideserveit。"
"Youshouldgo，goawayatonce，ifyoudon’tfeelstrongenoughtocontrolyourself，"shewouldreplysadly，tryingtocomfortherhusband。
AmongthegentryoftheprovinceNicholaswasrespectedbutnotliked。Hedidnotconcernhimselfwiththeinterestsofhisownclass，andconsequentlysomethoughthimproudandothersthoughthimstupid。
Thewholesummer，fromspringsowingtoharvest，hewasbusywiththeworkonhisfarm。Inautumnhegavehimselfuptohuntingwiththesamebusinesslikeseriousness—leavinghomeforamonth，oreventwo，withhishunt。Inwinterhevisitedhisothervillagesorspenthistimereading。Thebookshereadwerechieflyhistorical，andonthesehespentacertainsumeveryyear。Hewascollecting，ashesaid，aseriouslibrary，andhemadeitaruletoreadthroughallthebookshebought。Hewouldsitinhisstudywithagraveair，reading—ataskhefirstimposeduponhimselfasaduty，butwhichafterwardsbecameahabitaffordinghimaspecialkindofpleasureandaconsciousnessofbeingoccupiedwithseriousmatters。Inwinter，exceptforbusinessexcursions，hespentmostofhistimeathomemakinghimselfonewithhisfamilyandenteringintoallthedetailsofhischildren’srelationswiththeirmother。Theharmonybetweenhimandhiswifegrewcloserandcloserandhedailydiscoveredfreshspiritualtreasuresinher。
FromthetimeofhismarriageSonyahadlivedinhishouse。Beforethat，NicholashadtoldhiswifeallthathadpassedbetweenhimselfandSonya，blaminghimselfandcommendingher。HehadaskedPrincessMarytobegentleandkindtohiscousin。ShethoroughlyrealizedthewronghehaddoneSonya，feltherselftoblametowardher，andimaginedthatherwealthhadinfluencedNicholas’choice。ShecouldnotfindfaultwithSonyainanywayandtriedtobefondofher，butoftenfeltill—willtowardherwhichshecouldnotovercome。
OnceshehadatalkwithherfriendNatashaaboutSonyaandaboutherowninjusticetowardher。
"Youknow，"saidNatasha，"youhavereadtheGospelsagreatdeal—
thereisapassageinthemthatjustfitsSonya。"
"What？"askedCountessMary，surprised。
"’Tohimthathathshallbegiven，andfromhimthathathnotshallbetakenaway。’Youremember？Sheisonethathathnot；why，I
don’tknow。Perhapsshelacksegotism，Idon’tknow，butfromheristakenaway，andeverythinghasbeentakenaway。SometimesIamdreadfullysorryforher。FormerlyIverymuchwantedNicholastomarryher，butIalwayshadasortofpresentimentthatitwouldnotcomeoff。Sheisasterileflower，youknow—likesomestrawberryblossoms。SometimesIamsorryforher，andsometimesIthinkshedoesn’tfeelitasyouorIwould。"
ThoughCountessMarytoldNatashathatthosewordsintheGospelmustbeunderstooddifferently，yetlookingatSonyasheagreedwithNatasha’sexplanation。ItreallyseemedthatSonyadidnotfeelherpositiontrying，andhadgrownquitereconciledtoherlotasasterileflower。Sheseemedtobefondnotsomuchofindividualsasofthefamilyasawhole。Likeacat，shehadattachedherselfnottothepeoplebuttothehome。Shewaitedontheoldcountess，pettedandspoiledthechildren，wasalwaysreadytorenderthesmallservicesforwhichshehadagift，andallthiswasunconsciouslyacceptedfromherwithinsufficientgratitude。
ThecountryseatatBaldHillshadbeenrebuilt，thoughnotonthesamescaleasundertheoldprince。
Thebuildings，begununderstraitenedcircumstances，weremorethansimple。Theimmensehouseontheoldstonefoundationswasofwood，plasteredonlyinside。Ithadbaredealfloorsandwasfurnishedwithverysimplehardsofas，armchairs，tables，andchairsmadebytheirownserfcarpentersoutoftheirownbirchwood。Thehousewasspaciousandhadroomsforthehouseserfsandapartmentsforvisitors。WholefamiliesoftheRostovs’andBolkonskis’relationssometimescametoBaldHillswithsixteenhorsesanddozensofservantsandstayedformonths。Besidesthat，fourtimesayear，onthenamedaysandbirthdaysofthehosts，asmanyasahundredvisitorswouldgatherthereforadayortwo。Therestoftheyearlifepursueditsunbrokenroutinewithitsordinaryoccupations，anditsbreakfasts，lunches，dinners，andsuppers，providedoutoftheproduceoftheestate。
EP1CH9
CHAPTERIX
ItwastheeveofSt。Nicholas，thefifthofDecember，1820。Natashahadbeenstayingatherbrother’swithherhusbandandchildrensinceearlyautumn。PierrehadgonetoPetersburgonbusinessofhisownforthreeweeksashesaid，buthadremainedtherenearlysevenweeksandwasexpectedbackeveryminute。
BesidestheBezukhovfamily，Nicholas’oldfriendtheretiredGeneralVasiliDmitrichDenisovwasstayingwiththeRostovsthisfifthofDecember。
Onthesixth，whichwashisnamedaywhenthehousewouldbefullofvisitors，NicholasknewhewouldhavetoexchangehisTartartunicforatailcoat，andputonnarrowbootswithpointedtoes，anddrivetothenewchurchhehadbuilt，andthenreceivevisitorswhowouldcometocongratulatehim，offerthemrefreshments，andtalkabouttheelectionsofthenobility；butheconsideredhimselfentitledtospendtheeveofthatdayinhisusualway。Heexaminedthebailiff’saccountsofthevillageinRyazanwhichbelong...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
第44章