第509章

第509章natashaquietlyrepeatedherquestion,andherfaceandherwholemanner,thoughshestillkeptholdofthecornersofthepocket-handkerchief,wassoserious,thatthemajorleftoffsmiling,andafteramoment’spondering—asthoughaskinghimselfhowfaritwerepossible—hegaveheranaffirmativeanswer.

“ohyes,whynot,theymay,”hesaid.

natashagaveaslightnod,andwentbackwithrapidstepstomavrakuzminishna,whowasstilltalkingwithcommiseratingsympathytotheyoungofficer.

“theymay;hesaidtheymight！”whisperednatasha.

theofficerinthecoveredcartturnedintotherostovs’courtyard,anddozensofcartsofwoundedmenbeganattheinvitationoftheinhabitantstodriveuptotheentriesofthehousesinpovarskystreet.natashawasevidentlydelightedathavingtodowithnewpeopleinconditionsquiteoutsidetheordinaryroutineoflife.shejoinedmavrakuzminishnaintryingtogetasmanyaspossibledrivenintotheiryard.

“wemustaskyourpapathough,”saidmavrakuzminishna.

“nonsense,nonsense.whatdoesitmatter？foroneday,we’llmoveintothedrawing-room.wecangivethemallourhalfofthehouse.”

“whatanidea！whatnext？thelodge,maybe,themen’sroom,andoldnurse’sroom;andyoumustaskleaveforthat.”

“well,iwillask.”

natasharanindoors,andwentontiptoetothehalf-opendoorofthedivan-room,wheretherewasastrongsmellofvinegarandhoffmann’sdrops.

“areyouasleep,mamma？”

“oh,whatchanceisthereofsleep！”saidthecountess,whohadjustdroppedintoadoze.

“mamma,darling！”saidnatasha,kneelingbeforehermotherandleaningherfaceagainsthermother’s.“iamsorry,forgiveme,i’llneverdoitagain,iwakedyou.mavrakuzminishnasentme;theyhavebroughtsomewoundedmenin,officers,willyouallowit？theyhavenowheretogo;iknowyouwillallowit,…”shesaidrapidly,nottakingbreath.

“officers？whohavebeenbroughtin？idon’tunderstand,”saidthecountess.

natashalaughed,thecountesstoosmiledfaintly.

“iknewyouwouldletme…soiwilltellthemso.”andnatasha,kissinghermother,gotupandwenttothedoor.

inthehallshemetherfather,whohadcomehomewithbadnews.

“wehavelingeredontoolong！”saidthecount,withunconsciousangerinhisvoice;“theclub’sshutupandthepoliceareleaving.”

“papa,youdon’tmindmyhavinginvitedsomeofthewoundedintothehouse？”saidnatasha.

“ofcoursenot,”saidthecountabsently.“butthat’snottothepoint.ibegyounownottoletyourselfbetakenupwithanynonsense,buttohelptopackandgetoff—togetoffto-morrow…”

andthecountgavehisbutlerandservantsthesameorders.petyacamebackatdinner-time,andhetoohadnewstotellthem.

hesaidthatthemobwastakinguparmsto-dayinthekremlin;thatthoughrastoptchin’splacardsaidhewouldgivethewordtwodayslater,ithadreallybeenarrangedthatallthepeopleshouldgonextdayinarmstothethreehills,andthereagreatbattlewastobefought.

thecountesslookedintimidhorroratherson’seager,excitedface,ashetoldthemthis.sheknewthatifshesaidawordtotryanddissuadepetyafromgoingtothisbattle（sheknewhowhewasenjoyingtheprospectofit）,hewouldsaysomethingaboutthedutyofaman,abouthonour,andthefatherland—somethingirrational,masculine,andperverse—whichitwouldbeuselesstooppose,andallhopeofpreventinghimwouldbegone.and,therefore,hopingtoeedinsettingoffbeforethisbattle,andintakingpetyawithher,toguardandprotectthemontheroad,shesaidnothingtoherson,butafterdinnercalledherhusbandaside,andwithtearsbesoughthimtotakeherawayassoonascouldbe,thatnightifpossible.withtheinstinctive,feminineduplicityoflove,thoughshehadtillthenshownnottheslightestsignofalarm,shedeclaredsheshoulddieofterroriftheydidnotgetawaythatverynight.shewasindeedwithoutfeigningafraidnowofeverything.