War and Peace by graf Leo Tolstoy (latest ebook reader .TXT) π
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- Author: graf Leo Tolstoy
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βNow then, go away and take your monstrosity with you,β said the mother, pushing away her daughter with pretended sternness, and turning to the visitor she added: βShe is my youngest girl.β
NatΓ‘sha, raising her face for a moment from her motherβs mantilla, glanced up at her through tears of laughter, and again hid her face.
The visitor, compelled to look on at this family scene, thought it necessary to take some part in it.
βTell me, my dear,β said she to NatΓ‘sha, βis Mimi a relation of yours? A daughter, I suppose?β
NatΓ‘sha did not like the visitorβs tone of condescension to childish things. She did not reply, but looked at her seriously.
Meanwhile the younger generation: BorΓs, the officer, Anna MikhΓ‘ylovnaβs son; Nicholas, the undergraduate, the countβs eldest son; SΓ³nya, the countβs fifteen-year-old niece, and little PΓ©tya, his youngest boy, had all settled down in the drawing room and were obviously trying to restrain within the bounds of decorum the excitement and mirth that shone in all their faces. Evidently in the back rooms, from which they had dashed out so impetuously, the conversation had been more amusing than the drawing room talk of society scandals, the weather, and Countess AprΓ‘ksina. Now and then they glanced at one another, hardly able to suppress their laughter.
The two young men, the student and the officer, friends from childhood, were of the same age and both handsome fellows, though not alike. BorΓs was tall and fair, and his calm and handsome face had regular, delicate features. Nicholas was short with curly hair and an open expression. Dark hairs were already showing on his upper lip, and his whole face expressed impetuosity and enthusiasm. Nicholas blushed when he entered the drawing room. He evidently tried to find something to say, but failed. BorΓs on the contrary at once found his footing, and related quietly and humorously how he had known that doll Mimi when she was still quite a young lady, before her nose was broken; how she had aged during the five years he had known her, and how her head had cracked right across the skull. Having said this he glanced at NatΓ‘sha. She turned away from him and glanced at her younger brother, who was screwing up his eyes and shaking with suppressed laughter, and unable to control herself any longer, she jumped up and rushed from the room as fast as her nimble little feet would carry her. BorΓs did not laugh.
βYou were meaning to go out, werenβt you, Mamma? Do you want the carriage?β he asked his mother with a smile.
βYes, yes, go and tell them to get it ready,β she answered, returning his smile.
BorΓs quietly left the room and went in search of NatΓ‘sha. The plump boy ran after them angrily, as if vexed that their program had been disturbed.
The only young people remaining in the drawing room, not counting the young lady visitor and the countessβ eldest daughter (who was four years older than her sister and behaved already like a grown-up person), were Nicholas and SΓ³nya, the niece. SΓ³nya was a slender little brunette with a tender look in her eyes which were veiled by long lashes, thick black plaits coiling twice round her head, and a tawny tint in her complexion and especially in the color of her slender but graceful and muscular arms and neck. By the grace of her movements, by the softness and flexibility of her small limbs, and by a certain coyness and reserve of manner, she reminded one of a pretty, half-grown kitten which promises to become a beautiful little cat. She evidently considered it proper to show an interest in the general conversation by smiling, but in spite of herself her eyes under their thick long lashes watched her cousin who was going to join the army, with such passionate girlish adoration that her smile could not for a single instant impose upon anyone, and it was clear that the kitten had settled down only to spring up with more energy and again play with her cousin as soon as they too could, like NatΓ‘sha and BorΓs, escape from the drawing room.
βAh yes, my dear,β said the count, addressing the visitor and pointing to Nicholas, βhis friend BorΓs has become an officer, and so for friendshipβs sake he is leaving the university and me, his old father, and entering the military service, my dear. And there was a place and everything waiting for him in the Archives Department! Isnβt that friendship?β remarked the count in an inquiring tone.
βBut they say that war has been declared,β replied the visitor.
βTheyβve been saying so a long while,β said the count, βand theyβll say so again and again, and that will be the end of it. My dear, thereβs friendship for you,β he repeated. βHeβs joining the hussars.β
The visitor, not knowing what to say, shook her head.
βItβs not at all from friendship,β declared Nicholas, flaring up and turning away as if from a shameful aspersion. βIt is not from friendship at all; I simply feel that the army is my vocation.β
He glanced at his cousin and the young lady visitor; and they were both regarding him with a smile of approbation.
βSchubert, the colonel of the PΓ‘vlograd Hussars, is dining with us today. He has been here on leave and is taking Nicholas back with him. It canβt be helped!β said the count, shrugging his shoulders and speaking playfully of a matter that evidently distressed him.
βI have already told you, Papa,β said his son, βthat if you donβt wish to let me go, Iβll stay. But I know I am no use anywhere except in the army; I am not a diplomat or a government clerk.βI donβt know how to hide what I feel.β As he spoke he kept glancing with the flirtatiousness of a handsome youth at SΓ³nya and the young lady visitor.
The little kitten, feasting her eyes on him, seemed ready at any moment to start her gambols again and display her kittenish nature.
βAll right, all right!β said the old count. βHe always flares up! This Buonaparte has turned all their heads; they all think of how he rose from an ensign and became Emperor. Well, well, God grant it,β he added, not noticing his visitorβs sarcastic smile.
The elders began talking about Bonaparte. Julie KarΓ‘gina turned to young RostΓ³v.
βWhat a pity you werenβt at the ArkhΓ‘rovsβ on Thursday. It was so dull without you,β said she, giving him a tender smile.
The young man, flattered, sat down nearer to her with a coquettish smile, and engaged the smiling Julie in a confidential conversation without at all noticing that his involuntary smile had stabbed the heart of SΓ³nya, who blushed and smiled unnaturally. In the midst of his talk he glanced round at her. She gave him a passionately angry glance, and hardly able to restrain her tears and maintain the artificial smile on her lips, she got up and left the room. All Nicholasβ animation vanished. He waited for the first pause in the conversation, and then with a distressed face left the room to find SΓ³nya.
βHow plainly
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