第673章

第673章pierreflushedandhesitated.“thenapatrolcameupandallwhowerenotpillaging,allthemen,thatis,theytookprisoner.andmewiththem.”

“iamsureyouarenottellingusall;iamsureyoudidsomething,”saidnatasha,andafteramoment’spause,“somethinggood.”

pierrewentonwithhisstory.whenhecametotheexecution,hewouldhavepassedoverthehorribledetailsofit,butnatashainsistedonhisleavingnothingout.

pierrewasbeginningtotellthemaboutkarataev;hehadrisenfromthetableandwaswalkingupanddown,natashafollowinghimwithhereyes.

“no,”hesaid,stoppingshortinhisstory,“youcannotunderstandwhatilearnedfromthatilliterateman—thatsimplecreature.”

“no,no,tellus,”saidnatasha.“whereishenow？”

“hewaskilledalmostbeforemyeyes.”

andpierrebegantodescribethelatterpartoftheirretreat,karataev’sillness（hisvoiceshookcontinually）andthenhisdeath.

pierretoldthetaleofhisadventuresashehadneverthoughtofthembefore.hesawnowasitwereanewsignificanceinallhehadbeenthrough.heexperiencednowintellingitalltonatashathatrarehappinessgiventomenbywomenwhentheylistentothem—notbycleverwomen,who,astheylisten,areeithertryingtorememberwhattheyaretoldtoenrichtheirintellectandonoccasiontorepeatit,ortoadaptwhatistoldthemtotheirownideasandtobringoutinhastetheclevercommentselaboratedintheirlittlementalfactory.thisrarehappinessisgivenonlybythoserealwomen,giftedwithafacultyforpickingoutandassimilatingallthatisbestinwhatamanshowsthem.natasha,thoughherselfunconsciousofit,wasallraptattention;shedidnotlostoneword,onequaverofthevoice,oneglance,onetwitchinginthefacialmuscles,onegestureofpierre’s.shecaughtthewordbeforeitwasutteredandboreitstraighttoheropenheart,diviningthesecretimportofallpierre’sspiritualtravail.

princessmaryaunderstoodhisstoryandsympathisedwithhim,butshewasseeingnowsomethingelsethatabsorbedallherattention.shesawthepossibilityofloveandhappinessbetweennatashaandpierre.andthisidea,whichstruckhernowforthefirsttime,filledherheartwithgladness.

itwasthreeo’clockinthenight.thefootmen,withmelancholyandseverefaces,cameinwithfreshcandles,butnoonenoticedthem.

pierrefinishedhisstory.withshining,eagereyesnatashastillgazedintentlyandpersistentlyathim,asthoughshelongedtounderstandsomethingmore,thatperhapshehadleftunsaid.inshamefacedandhappyconfusion,pierreglancedathernowandthen,andwasthinkingwhattosaynowtochangethesubject.princessmaryawasmute.itdidnotstrikeanyofthemthatitwasthreeo’clockinthenight,andtimetobeinbed.

“theysay：sufferingsaremisfortunes,”saidpierre.“butifatonce,thisminute,iwasasked,wouldiremainwhatiwasbeforeiwastakenprisoner,orgothroughitallagain,ishouldsay,forgod’ssakeletmeratherbeaprisonerandeathorsefleshagain.weimaginethatassoonaswearetornoutofourhabitualpathallisover,butitisonlythebeginningofsomethingnewandgood.aslongasthereislife,thereishappiness.thereisagreatdeal,agreatdealbeforeus.thatisaytoyou,”hesaid,turningtonatasha.

“yes,yes,”shesaid,answeringsomethingaltogetherdifferent,“anditoowouldaskfornothingbetterthantogothroughitallagain.”

pierrelookedintentlyather.

“yes,andnothingmore,”natashadeclared.

“nottrue,nottrue,”criedpierre.“iamnottoblameforbeingaliveandwantingtolive;andyouthesame.”

allatoncenatashaletherheaddropintoherhands,andburstintotears.

“whatisit,natasha？”saidprincessmarya.

“nothing,nothing.”shesmiledthroughhertearstopierre.“good-night,it’sbedtime.”

pierregotup,andtookleave.

natasha,asshealwaysdid,wentwithprincessmaryaintoherbedroom.theytalkedofwhatpierrehadtoldthem.princessmaryadidnotgiveheropinionofpierre.natasha,too,didnottalkofhim.

“well,good-night,marie,”saidnatasha.“doyouknowiamoftenafraidthatwedon’ttalkofhim”（shemeantprinceandrey）,“asthoughwewereafraidofdesecratingourfeelings,andsoweforgethim.”

princessmaryasighedheavily,andbythissighacknowledgedthejusticeofnatasha’swords;butshedidnotinwordsagreewithher.

“isitpossibletoforget？”shesaid.

“iwassogladtotellallaboutitto-day;itwashardandpainful,andyetiwasgladto…veryglad,”saidnatasha;“iamsurethathereallylovedhim.thatwaswhyitoldhim…itdidn’tmattermytellinghim？”sheaskedsuddenly,blushing.

“pierre？oh,no！howgoodheis,”saidprincessmarya.

“doyouknow,marie,”saidnatasha,suddenly,withamischievoussmile,suchasprincessmaryahadnotseenforalongwhileonherface.“hehasbecomesocleanandsmoothandfresh;asthoughhehadjustcomeoutofabath;doyouunderstand？outofamoralbath.isn’titso？”

“yes,”saidprincessmarya.“hehasgainedagreatdeal.”

“andhisshortjacket,andhiscroppedhair;exactlyasthoughhehadjustcomeoutofabath…papausedsometimes…”

“icanunderstandhowhe”（princeandrey）“caredfornooneelseashedidforhim,”saidprincessmarya.

“yes,andheissodifferentfromhim.theysaymenarebetterfriendswhentheyareutterlydifferent.thatmustbetrue;heisnotabitlikehiminanything,ishe？”

“yes,andheissuchasplendidfellow.”

“well,good-night,”answerednatasha.andthesamemischievoussmilelingeredalongwhileasthoughforgottenonherface.