第562章

第562章withasmilethatneverlefthislips,nikolaysatbentalittleforwardonalowchair,andstoopingcloseoverhisblondebeauty,hepaidhermythologicalcompliments.

jauntilyshiftingthepostureofhislegsinhistightriding-breeches,diffusingascentofperfume,andadmiringhisfaircompanionandhimselfandthefinelinesofhislegsinthetightbreeches,nikolaytoldtheblondeladythathewantedtoelopewithaladyhere,invoronezh.

“whatisshelike？”

“charming,divine.hereyes”（nikolaygazedathiscompanion）“areblue,herlipsarecoral,herwhiteness…”hegazedathershoulders,“theshapeofdiana…”

thehusbandcameuptothemandaskedhiswifegloomilywhatshewastalkingof.

“ah！nikitaivanitch,”saidnikolay,risingcourteously.andasthoughanxiousfornikitaivanitchtotakeashareinhisjests,hebegantotellhimtooofhisintentionofrunningawaywithablondelady.

thehusbandsmiledgrimly,thewifegaily.

thegood-naturedgovernor’swifecameuptothemwithadisapprovingair.

“annaignatyevnawantstoseeyou,nikolay,”shesaid,pronouncingthenameinsuchawaythatrostovwasatonceawarethatannaignatyevnawasaverygreatlady.“come,nikolay.youletmecallyouso,don’tyou？”

“oh,yes,matante.whoisshe？”

“annaignatyevnamalvintsev.shehasheardaboutyoufromherniece,howyourescuedher…doyouguess？…”

“oh,irescuedsomany！”criednikolay.

“herniece,princessbolkonsky.sheishereinvoronezhwithheraunt.oho！howheblushes！eh？”

“notabitofit,nonsense,matante.”

“oh,verywell,verywell.oh！oh！whataboyitis！”

thegovernor’swifeledhimuptoatallandverystoutladyinabluetoque,whohadjustfinishedagameofcardswiththepersonagesofgreatestconsequenceinthetown.thiswasmadamemalvintsev,princessmarya’sauntonhermother’sside,awealthy,childlesswidow,whoalwayslivedinvoronezh.shewasstandingup,reckoningherlosses,whenrostovcameuptoher.

shedroppedhereyelidswithasevereanddignifiedair,glancedathim,andwentonupbraidingthegeneralwhohadbeenwinningfromher.

“delighted,mydearboy,”shesaid,holdingoutherhandtohim.“praycomeandseeme.”

aftersayingafewwordsaboutprincessmaryaandherlatefather,whommadamemalvintsevhadevidentlydisliked,andinquiringwhatnikolayknewaboutprinceandrey,whowasapparentlyalsonotinhergoodgraces,thedignifiedoldladydismissedhim,repeatingherinvitationtocomeandseeher.

nikolaypromisedtodosoandblushedagainashetookleaveofmadamemalvintsev.atthementionofprincessmarya’sname,rostovexperiencedasensationofshyness,evenofterror,whichhecouldnothaveexplainedtohimself.

onleavingmadamemalvintsev,rostovwouldhavegonebacktothedance,butthelittlegovernor’swifelaidherplumplittlehandonhissleeve,andsayingthatshewantedtohaveafewwordswithhim,ledhimintothedivan-room;thepersonsinthatroompromptlywithdrewthattheymightnotbeinherway.

“doyouknow,moncher,”saidthegovernor’swifewithaseriousexpressiononhergood-natured,littleface,“thisisreallythematchforyou;ifyoulike,iwilltryandarrangeit.”

“whomdoyoumean,matante？”askednikolay.

“iwillmakeamatchforyouwiththeprincess.katerinapetrovnatalksoflili,butisay,no—theprincess.doyouwishit？iamsureyourmammawillbegrateful.really,sheissuchasplendidgirl,charming！andsheisbynomeanssoveryplain.”