第434章

第434章rostovlookedatthedrunkenpeasants,andsmiled.

“orpossiblythisentertainsyourexcellency？”saidyakovalpatitch,withasoberair,pointingwithhisotherhandtotheoldpeasants.

“no,there’snothingveryentertaininginthat,”saidrostov,andhemovedaway.“whatisthematter？”heinquired.

“imakeboldtosubmittoyourexcellencythattherudepeasantsherewillnotlettheirladyleavetheestate,andthreatentotakethehorsesoutofhercarriage,sothateverythinghasbeenpackedsincemorning,yetherexcellencycannotgetaway.”

“impossible！”criedrostov.

“ihavethehonourofsubmittingtoyouthesimpletruth,”saidalpatitch.

rostovgotoffhishorse,andgivingittotheorderly,walkedwithalpatitchtothehouse,questioninghimfurtheraboutthestateofaffairs.

theprincess’sofferofcorn,andherinterviewwithdronandwiththepeasants,had,infact,madethepositionsomuchworsethatdronhadfinallygivenupthekeysofoffice,joinedthepeasantsandrefusedtoappearwhenalpatitchsentforhim.inthemorningwhentheprincessorderedthehorsestobeputinforhertosetoff,thepeasantshadcomeoutinagreatcrowdtothegranary,andhadsenttosaythattheywouldnotlettheprincessgooutofthevillage;thattherewasanedictthatpeoplewerenottoleavetheirhouses,andthattheywouldunharnessthehorses.alpatitchwentouttolecturethem;inreplytheytoldhim（acertainkarpwastheprincipalspeaker,dronkeptinthebackgroundinthecrowd）thattheprincesscouldnotbeallowedtogo,thattherewasanedictforbiddingit,butthatonlyletherstay,andtheywouldserveherandobeyherineverythingasbefore.

atthemomentwhenrostovandilyinweregallopingalongthevillagestreet,regardlessoftheeffortsofalpatitch,theoldnurse,andthemaidtodissuadeher,princessmaryahadjustorderedthehorsestobeputin,andwasintendingtostart.butseeingthehorsemengallopingup,thecoachmentookthemforthefrench,andranaway,andagreatlamentationaroseamongthewomenofthehousehold.

“kindsir！protector！godhassentthee,”criedvoices,withmuchfeeling,asrostovcrossedthevestibule.princessmaryawassittinghelplessanddistraughtinthehall,whenrostovwasshownintoseeher.shedidnotknowwhohewas,orwhatbroughthimthere,orwhatwashappeningtoher.seeinghisrussianface,andrecognisinghimathisfirstwordsandgaitforamanofherownrank,shelookedathim,withherdeep,luminousgaze,andbeganspeakinginavoice,brokenandtremblingwithemotion.rostovatonceconceivedaromanceinthismeeting.“adefencelessgirl,crushedbysorrow,alone,abandonedtothemercyofcoarse,rebelliouspeasants！andwhatstrangedestinyhasbroughtmehere！”thoughtrostov,ashelistenedtoherandlookedather.“andwhatmildness,whatnobilityinherfeaturesandexpression！”hethought,ashelistenedtohertimidstory.

whenshebegantotellhimthatallthishadhappenedthedayafterherfather’sfuneral,hervoicetrembled.sheturnedaway,andasthoughafraidrostovmightascribeherwordstoadesiretoworkonhisfeelings,sheglancedathimwithalookofapprehensiveinquiry.thereweretearsinrostov’seyes.princessmaryanoticedit,andlookedathimwiththeluminouseyesthatmadeoneforgettheplainnessofherface.

“icannotexpresshowgladiam,princess,thatihappenedtocomethisway,andamabletoserveyouinanything,”saidrostov,rising.“itrustyouwillstartatonce,andianswerforitonmyhonour,nopersonshalldaretocauseyouannoyance,ifyouwillonlypermitmetoescortyou,”andmakingadeepbow,suchasaremadetoladiesoftheroyalfamily,heturnedtothedoor.

bytherespectfulnessofhistone,rostovtriedtoshowthatthoughhewouldconsideritahappinesstobeacquaintedwithher,hedidnotwishtotakeadvantageofhermisfortunetoforceanacquaintanceshipuponher.

princessmaryafeltandappreciatedthistone.

“iamvery,verygratefultoyou,”shesaidtohiminfrench;“butihopeitwasallonlyamisunderstanding,andthatnooneistoblame.”shebeganallatoncetocry.

“excuseme,”shesaid.

rostov,knittinghisbrows,bowedlowoncemore,andwentoutoftheroom.