第508章

第508章onsaturday,the31stofaugust,thewholehouseholdoftherostovsseemedturnedupsidedown.allthedoorsstoodwideopen,allthefurniturehadbeenmovedaboutorcarriedout,looking-glassesandpictureshadbeentakendown.theroomswerelitteredupwithboxes,withhayandpackingpaperandcord.peasantsandhouse-serfsweretrampingabouttheparquetfloorscarryingouttheage.thecourtyardwascrowdedwithpeasants’carts,somepiledhighwithgoodsandcordedup,othersstillstandingempty.

thevoicesandstepsoftheimmensemultitudeofservantsandofpeasants,whohadcomewiththecarts,resoundedthroughthecourtyardandthehouse.thecounthadbeenoutsinceearlymorning.thecountesshadaheadachefromthenoiseandbustle,andwaslyingdowninthenewdivan-roomwithcompressessteepedinvinegaronherhead.petyawasnotathome;hehadgoneofftoseeacomrade,withwhomhewasplanningtogettransferredfromthemilitiatoaregimentatthefront.sonyawasinthegreathall,superintendingthepackingofthechinaandglass.natashawassittingonthefloorinherdismantledroomamongheapsofdresses,ribbons,andscarfs.shesatgazingimmovablyatthefloor,holdinginherhandsanoldball-dress,theverydress,nowoutoffashion,inwhichshehadbeentoherfirstpetersburgball.

natashawasashamedofdoingnothingwheneveryoneinthehousewassobusy,andseveraltimesthatmorningshehadtriedtosettowork;buthersoulwasnotinit;andshewasutterlyunabletodoanythingunlessallherheartandsoulwereinit.shestoodoversonyawhileshepackedthechina,andtriedtohelp;butsoonthrewitup,andwenttoherroomtopackherownthings.atfirstshehadfounditamusingtogiveawayherdressesandribbonstothemaids,butafterwardswhenitcametopackingwhatwasleft,itseemedawearisometask.

“dunyasha,you’llpackitall,dear？yes？yes？”

andwhendunyashareadilyundertooktodoitallforher,natashasatdownonthefloorwiththeoldball-dressinherhands,andfelltodreamingonsubjectsfarremovedfromwhatshouldhavebeenoccupyinghermindthen.fromthereverieshehadfalleninto,natashawasarousedbythetalkofthemaidsinthenextroomandtheirhurriedfootstepsfromtheirroomtothebackstairs.natashagotupandlookedoutofthewindow.ahugetrainofcartsfullofwoundedmenhadstoppedinthestreet.

themaids,thefootmen,thehousekeeper,theoldnurse,thecooks,thecoachmen,thegrooms,andthescullion-boyswereallatthegates,staringatthewoundedmen.

natashaflungawhitepocket-handkerchiefoverherhair,andholdingthecornersinbothhands,wentoutintothestreet.

theoldhousekeeper,mavrakuzminishna,hadleftthecrowdstandingatthegate,andgoneuptoacartwithatiltofbast-matsthrownoverit.shewastalkingtoapaleyoungofficerwhowaslyinginthiscart.natashatookafewstepsforwardandstoodstilltimidly,holdingherkerchiefonandlisteningtowhatthehousekeeperwassaying.

“soyouhavenoonetheninmoscow？”mavrakuzminishnawassaying.“you’dbemorecomfortableinsomeapartment.…inourhouseeven.themastersareallleaving.”

“idon’tknowifitwouldbeallowed,”saidtheofficerinafeeblevoice.“there’sourchiefofficer…askhim,”andhepointedtoastoutmajorwhohadturnedbackandwaswalkingalongtherowofcartsdownthestreet.

natashaglancedwithfrightenedeyesintothefaceofthewoundedofficer,andatoncewenttomeetthemajor.

“maythewoundedmenstayinourhouse？”sheasked.

themajorwithasmileputhishandtohiscap.

“whatisyourpleasure,ma’mselle？”hesaid,screwinguphiseyesandsmiling.