第440章

第440章“well,now,that’sall,”saidkutuzov,ashesignedthelastpaper,andrisingclumsily,andstraighteninghisfat,whiteneck,hewenttothedoorwithamorecheerfulcountenance.

thepriest’swife,withthecolourrushingtoherface,snatchedupthedish,andthoughshehadbeensolongpreparing,shedidnoteedinpresentingitattherightmoment.withalowbowsheofferedittokutuzov.kutuzovscreweduphiseyes.hesmiled,chuckedherunderthechin,andsaid：

“andwhataprettyface！thankyou,mydear！”

hetooksomegoldcoinsoutofhistrouserpocket,andputthemonthedish.“well,andhowarewegettingon？”hesaid,goingtowardstheroomthathadbeenassignedhim.thepriest’swife,withsmilingdimplesonherrosyface,followedtoshowhimtheroom.theadjutantcameouttoprinceandreyintheporch,andinvitedhimtolunch.halfanhourlaterkutuzovsentforprinceandrey.hewasreclininginalowchair,stillinthesameunbuttonedmilitarycoat.hehadafrenchnovelinhishand,andatprinceandrey’sentrancelaidapaper-knifeinitandputitaside.itwasleschevaliersducygne,aworkbymadamedegenlis,asprinceandreysawbythecover.

“well,sitdown;sitdownhere.letushavealittletalk,”saidkutuzov.“it’ssad;verysad.butremember,mydear,thinkofmeasafather,anotherfather,toyou…！”

princeandreytoldkutuzovallheknewabouthisfather’send,andwhathehadseenatbleakhills.

“tothinkwhatwehavebeenbroughtto！”kutuzovcriedsuddenly,inavoicefulloffeeling,princeandrey’sstoryevidentlybringingvividlybeforehimthepositionofrussia.

“waitabit;waitabit！”headded,withavindictivelookinhisface,andapparentlyunwillingtocontinueaconversationthatstirredhimtoodeeply,hesaid：

“isentforyoutokeepyouwithme.”

“ithankyourhighness！”answeredprinceandrey,“butiamafraidiamnomoregoodforstaffwork,”hesaid,withasmile,whichkutuzovnoticed.helookedathiminquiringly.“andthegreatthingis,”addedprinceandrey,“iamusedtomyregiment.iliketheofficers;andithinkthemenhavecometolikeme.ishouldbesorrytoleavetheregiment.ifideclinethehonourofbeinginattendanceonyou,believeme…”

kutuzov’spodgyfacebeamedwithashrewd,good-natured,andyetsubtlyironicalexpression.hecutbolkonskyshort.

“i’msureyouwouldhavebeenofusetome.butyou’reright;you’reright.it’snotherethatwewantmen.therearealwaysamultitudeofcounsellors;butmenarescarce.theregimentswouldn’tbewhattheyareifallthewould-becounsellorswouldserveinthemlikeyou.irememberyouatausterlitz.iremember,irememberyouwiththeflag！”saidkutuzov,andaflushofpleasurecameintoprinceandrey’sfaceatthisreminiscence.kutuzovheldouthishandtohim,offeringhimhischeektokiss,andagainprinceandreysawtearsintheoldman’seye.thoughprinceandreyknewkutuzov’stearswereapttocomeeasily,andthathewasparticularlyaffectionateandtenderwithhimfromthedesiretoshowsympathywithhisloss,yethefeltthisreminderofausterlitzagreeableandflattering.