第384章

第384章therewereonlythreeglasses;thewaterwassodirtythattherewasnotellingwhethertheteawerestrongorweak,andthesamovarwouldonlyholdwaterenoughforsixglasses.butthatmadeitallthemorefuntotaketurnsinorderofsenioritytoreceiveaglassfromtheplump,short-nailed,andnotovercleanfingersofmaryahendrihovna.alltheofficersseemedindeedtobegenuinelyinloveforthateveningwithmaryahendrihovna.eventheofficerswhohadbeenplayingcardsbehindthescreensoonthrewuptheirgame,andgatheredroundthesamovar,catchingthegeneralmood,andjoininginthehomagepaidtomaryahendrihovna.thelatter,seeingherselfsurroundedbythesesplendidanddevotedyoungmen,beamedwithdelight,whichshesoughtinvaintoconceal,thoughshewasunmistakablyalarmedateverymovementmadebyherhusband,whowasslumberingbehindher.therewasonlyonespoon;sugartherewasinplenty,butittooksolongforalltostirtheirglasses,thatitwassettledthatmaryahendrihovnamuststirthesugarforeachinturn.rostovtookhisglassoftea,andaddingrumtoit,edmaryahendrihovnatostiritforhim.

“butyoutakeitwithoutsugar？”shesaid,smilingallthewhile,asthoughwhatevershesaidortheotherssaidhadaquitedifferentandveryamusingmeaning.

“idon’tcareaboutsugar,alliwantisforyoutostiritwithyourlittlehand.”

maryahendrihovnabeganlookingforthespoon,whichsomeonehadpouncedupon.

“useyourlittlefinger,maryahendrihovna,”saidrostov;“itwillbeallthesweeter.”

“it’shot,”saidmaryahendrihovna,blushingwithpleasure.

ilyintookthebucketofwater,andpouringafewdropsofruminit,wentuptomaryahendrihovna,inghertostiritwithherfinger.

“thisismycup,”hesaid.“onlydipyourfingerinandi’lldrinkitallup.”

whenthesamovarwasempty,rostovtookupthecardsandproposedagameof“kings”withmaryahendrihovna.theytossedtodecidewhichwastohavetheladyforapartner.rostovproposedasaruleofthegamethattheonewhowas“king”shouldhavetherighttokissmaryahendrihovna’shand,andtheonewhowasleftknaveshouldhavetofetchanothersamovarforthedoctor,whenhewaked.

“well,butwhatifmaryahendrihovnaisking？”askedilyin.

“sheisourqueenalready！andhercommandsarelaw.”

thegamewasjustbeginningwhenthedoctor’sdishevelledheadpoppedupbehindhiswife.hehadbeenawakeforsometimeandlisteningtotheconversation,andapparentlyhesawnothingagreeable,funny,oramusinginwhatwasbeingsaidanddone.hisfacelookeddepressedandweary.hedidnotgreettheofficers,butscratchinghimself,heaskedthemtomovetolethimpass.assoonashehadlefttheroom,alltheofficersbrokeintoloudpealsoflaughter,andmaryahendrihovnablushedtillthetearscame,makingherevenmorecharmingintheeyesoftheofficers.cominginagainfromtheyard,thedoctortoldhiswife（whohadlostherradiantsmile,andlookedathimindismayinexpectationofthesentenceinstoreforher）thattherainwasoverandtheymustspendthenightintheircoveredcart,ortheywouldhavealltheirthingsstolen.

“buti’llputanorderlyonguard…two,indeed！”saidrostov.“that’snonsense,doctor.”

“i’llbesentinelmyself！”saidilyin.

“no,gentlemen,youhavehadplentyofsleep,butihavebeenupthesetwonights,”saidthedoctor,andhesatgloomilybyhiswife’sside,waitingfortheendofthegame.

lookingatthedoctor’sgloomyfaceandsidelongglancesathiswife,theofficersgrewevenmorelively,andmanyofthemcouldnotsuppresstheirlaughter,forwhichtheyhastilysoughtpresentablepretexts.whenthedoctorhadledhiswifeaway,andsettledhimselfwithherintheircart,theofficerslaydownintheinn,coveringthemselveswiththeirwetovercoats.butforalongwhiletheystayedawake,chatting,recallingthedismayofthedoctor,andthedelightofthedoctor’swife,orrunningoutontothestepstoreportonwhatwasgoingoninthecart.severaltimesrostovmuffledhisheadupandtriedtogotosleep.butagainsomeremarkrousedhim,againaconversationsprangup,andagaintherewerepealsofcauseless,merry,childishlaughter.