第381章

第381章beforethebeginningofthecampaignrostovhadreceivedaletterfromhisparents,inwhichtheyinformedhimbrieflyofnatasha’sillnessandthebreakingoffofherengagement,andagainedhimtoretirefromthearmyandcomehometothem.natashahad,theyexplained,brokenofftheengagementbyherownwish.onreceivingthisletternikolaydidnotevenattempttoretirefromthearmyortoobtainleave,butwrotetohisparentsthathewasverysorrytohearofnatasha’sillnessandherrupturewithherbetrothed,andthathewoulddoeverythinginhispowertofollowtheirwishes.tosonyahewroteseparately.

“adoredfriendofmyheart,”hewrote;“nothingbuthonourcouldavailtokeepmefromreturningtothecountry.butnow,atthebeginningofacampaign,ishouldfeelmyselfdishonouredinmycomrades’eyes,aswellasmyown,ifiputmyownhappinessbeforemydutyandmyloveformycountry.butthisshallbeourlastseparation.believeme,immediatelyafterthewar,ifibelivingandstilllovedbythee,ishallthrowupeverythingandflytotheetopresstheeforevertomyardentbreast.”

itwas,infact,onlytheoutbreakofthewarthatdetainedrostovandhinderedhimfromreturninghome,ashehadpromised,andmarryingsonya.theautumnatotradnoewiththehunting,andthewinterwiththechristmasfestivitiesandsonya’slovehadopenedbeforehisimaginationavistaofpeaceandquietcountrydelightsunknowntohimbefore,andthisprospectnowluredhimback.“acharmingwife,children,agoodpackofhounds,tentotwelveleashesofswiftharriers,theestatetolookafter,theneighbours,electiontooffices,perhaps,bytheprovincialnobility,”hemused.butnowwarwasbreakingout,andhehadtoremainwithhisregiment.andsincethishadtobe,nikolayrostovwascharacteristicallyabletobecontenttoowiththelifeheledintheregiment,andtomakethatlifeapleasantone.

onhisreturnfromhisleave,nikolayhadbeenjoyfullywelcomedbyhiscomradesandsentoffforremounts.heeededinbringingbackfromlittlerussiasomefirst-ratehorsesthatgavehimgreatsatisfaction,andwonhimthecommendationofhissuperiorofficers.inhisabsencehehadbeenpromotedtobecaptain,andwhentheregimentwasbeingmadereadywithreinforcementsforactiveservice,hewasagainputincommandofhisoldsquadron.

thecampaignwasbeginning,paywasdoubled,theregimentwasreinforcedwithnewofficers,newmen,andfreshhorses,andhadmovedintopoland.thetemperofeagercheerfulness,alwayscommonatthebeginningofawar,wasgeneralinthearmy,androstov,fullyconsciousofhisimprovedpositionintheregiment,gavehimselfupheartandsoultothepleasuresandinterestsofthearmy,thoughheknewthatsoonerorlaterhewouldhavetoleaveit.