第385章

第385章itwaspasttwoo’clock,noonewasyetasleep,whenthequartermasterappeared,bringingacommandtoadvanceuponalittleplacecalledostrovna.stillwiththesamechatterandlaughtertheofficersbeganhurriedlygettingready;againthesamovarwasfilledupwithdirtywater.butrostov,withoutwaitingfortea,wentofftohissquadron.itwasalreadylight;therainhadceased,andthecloudswereparting.itwaschillanddamp,especiallyintheirstillwetclothes.astheycameoutoftheinn,inthetwilightofthedawn,rostovandilyinbothglancedattheleathercoverofthedoctor’scart,stillglisteningfromtherain.thedoctor’sfeetwerestickingoutfromunderthecover,andinthemiddleofthecarttheycaughtaglimpseofhiswife’snightcap,andheardsleepybreathing.

“she’sreallyverycharming,”saidrostovtoilyin.

“anexquisitewoman！”respondedilyin,withallthegravityofaboyofsixteen.

halfanhourlaterthesquadronstooddrawnupontheroad.thewordofcommandwasheard,“mount！”andthesoldierscrossedthemselvesandgotontheirhorses.rostov,ridingaheadofthem,gavetheword：“forward！”anddrawingoutfourabreast,thehussarsstartedwithasoundofsubduedtalk,splashinghoofs,andjinglingsabres.theytrottedalongthebroadhigh-road,withbirch-treesoneachsideofit,followingtheinfantryandartillery,whohadgoneonbefore.

thebroken,purplish-blueclouds,flushedredbythesunrise,werescuddingbeforethewind.itgrewlighterandlighter.theycouldseedistinctly,stillglisteningfromtherain,thefeatherygrasswhichalwaysgrowsbesideby-roads.thedroopingbranchesofthebirch-treesswayedinthewind,anddrippedbrightdropsaslantacrosstheroad.thefacesofthesoldiersshowedmoreandmoredistinctly.rostov,withilyin,whowouldnotdropbehind,rodeononesideoftheroadbetweenthetworowsofbirch-trees.

onactiveservicerostovallowedhimselftheindulgenceofridingacossackhorseinsteadoftheregimentalhorse,brokeninforparade.hewasaconnoisseurandloverofhorses,andhadlatelyobtainedabigsorrelhorsewithwhitetailandmane,afinespiritedbeastofthedonbreed,onwhomhecouldout-gallopeveryone.itwasanenjoymenttorostovtoridethishorse.herodeon,thinkingofthehorse,ofthemorning,ofthedoctor’swife,andneveroncegivingathoughttothedangerawaitinghim.