第564章

第564章onreachingmoscow，afterhermeetingwithrostovatbogutcharovo，princessmaryahadfoundhernephewtherewithhistutor，andaletterfromprinceandrey，directingherwhatroutetotaketoheraunt，madamemalvintsev’satvoronezh.thearrangementsforthejourney，anxietyaboutherbrother，theorganisationofherlifeinanewhouse，newpeople，theeducationofhernephew—allofthissmotheredinprincessmarya’sheartthatfeelingasitwereoftemptation，whichhadtormentedherduringherfather’sillnessandafterhisdeath，especiallysincehermeetingwithrostov.

shewasmelancholy.nowafteramonthhadpassedinquiet，undisturbedconditions，shefeltmoreandmoredeeplythelossofherfather，whichwasconnectedinherheartwiththedownfallofrussia.shewasanxious：thethoughtofthedangerstowhichherbrother—theonecreatureneartohernowleft—wasbeingexposedwasacontinualtorturetoher.shewasworriedtoobytheeducationofhernephew，whichshewasconstantlyfeelingherselfunfittedtocontrol.butatthebottomofherhearttherewasaninwardharmony，thatarosefromthesensethatshehadconqueredinherselfthosedreamsandhopesofpersonalhappiness，thathadsprungupinconnectionwithrostov.

whenthegovernor’swifecalledonmadamemalvintsevthedayafterhersoirée，and，talkingoverherplanswithher，explainingthatthoughunderpresentcircumstancesaformalbetrothalwasofcoursenottobethoughtof，yettheymightbringtheyoungpeopletogether，andletthemgettoknowoneanother，andhavingreceivedtheaunt’sapproval，begantospeakofrostovinprincessmarya’spresence，singinghispraises，anddescribinghowhehadblushedonhearingtheprincess’sname，heremotionwasnotoneofjoy，butofpain.herinnerharmonywasdestroyed，anddesires，doubts，self-reproach，andhopesprangupagain.

inthecourseofthetwodaysthatfollowedbeforerostovcalled，princessmaryawascontinuallyconsideringwhatherbehaviouroughttobeinregardtorostov.atonetime，shemadeuphermindthatshewouldnotcomedownintothedrawing-roomwhenhecametoseeheraunt，thatitwasnotsuitableforherinherdeepmourningtoreceivevisitors.thenshethoughtthiswouldberudeafterwhathehaddoneforher.thentheideastruckherthatherauntandthegovernor’swifehadviewsofsomesortuponherandrostov；theirwordsandglanceshadseemedattimestoconfirmthissuspicion.thenshetoldherselfthatitwasonlyherowndepravitythatcouldmakeherthinkthisofthem：couldtheypossiblyfailtorealisethatinherposition，stillwearingtheheaviestmourning，suchmatch-makingwouldbeaninsultbothtoherandtoherfather’smemory？onthesuppositionthatshewouldgodowntoseehim，princessmaryaimaginedthewordshewouldsaytoher，andshewouldsaytohim；andatonemoment，thosewordsseemedtoherundeservedlyfrigid，atthenext，theystruckherascarryingtoomuchmeaning.aboveallshedreadedtheembarrassment，whichshefeltwouldbesuretoovercomeher，andbetrayher，assoonasshesawhim.

butwhen，onsundayaftermatins，thefootmancameintothedrawing-roomtoannouncethatcountrostovhadcalled，theprincessshowednosignofembarrassment，onlyafaintflushcameintohercheeks，andhereyesshonewithanew，radiantlight.

“youhaveseenhim，aunt？”saidprincessmarya，inacomposedvoice，notknowingherselfhowshecouldbeexternallysocalmandnatural.

whenrostovcameintotheroom，theprincessdroppedherheadforaninstant，asthoughtogivetimefortheirvisitortogreetheraunt；andthenattheverymomentwhennikolayturnedtoher，sheraisedherheadandmethisgazewithshiningeyes.withamovementfullofdignityandgrace，sherosewithajoyoussmile，heldoutherdelicate，softhandtohim，andspokeinavoiceinwhichforthefirsttimetherewasthethrillofdeep，womanlychestnotes.mademoisellebourienne，whowasinthedrawing-room，gazedatprincessmaryawithbewilderedsurprise.themostaccomplishedcoquetteherself，shecouldnothaveman？uvredbetteronmeetingamanwhomshewantedtoattract.

“eitherblacksuitsherwonderfully，orshereallyhasgrownbetterlookingwithoutmynoticingit.andaboveall，suchtactandgrace！”thoughtmademoisellebourienne.