第383章

第383章intheinn,beforewhichwasstandingthedoctor’scoveredcart,therewerealreadysomehalf-dozenofficers.maryahendrihovna,aplump,flaxen-headedlittlegermaninadressing-jacketandnightcap,wassittingonaboardbenchintheforemostcorner.herhusband,thedoctor,layasleepbehindher.rostovandilyinenteredtheroom,welcomedwithmerryshoutsandlaughter.

“isay！youarehavingajollytimehere！”saidrostov,laughing.

“andwhatareyouyawningover？”

“prettyfiguresyoulook！there’saperfectwaterfallfromthem！don’tswampourdrawing-room.”

“mindyoudon’tspattermaryahendrihovna’sdress,”chimedinvoices.

rostovandilyinmadehastetolookforaretreatwhere,withoutoffencetothemodestyofmaryahendrihovna,theymightchangetheirwetclothes.theywentbehindapartitionwalltochange;butinthelittlerecesswerethreeofficers,whocompletelyfilleditup.theyweresittingplayingcardsbythelightofasinglecandleonanemptybox,andnothingwouldinducethemtobudgefromtheirplaces.maryahendrihovnalentthemherpetticoattobehungbywayofacurtain;andscreenedbyit,rostovandilyintookofftheirwetthingsandputondryclothes,withtheaidoflavrushka,whohadbroughttheirpackages.

theymadeupafireinthebroken-downstove.theygotholdofaboard,proppeditontwosaddles,andcovereditwithahorse-cloth;thenbroughtoutalittlesamovar,acaseofwine,andhalfabottleofrum.allcrowdedroundmaryahendrihovna,inghertopreside.oneofferedheracleanhandkerchief,towipehercharminghands;anotherputhistunicunderherlittlefeet,tokeepthemfromthedampfloor;athirdhungacapeoverthewindow,toscreenherfromthedraught;whileafourthbrushedthefliesoffherhusband’sface,topreventtheirwakinghim.

“lethimalone,”saidmaryahendrihovna,withatimidandhappysmile;“hewillsleepwellanyhowafterbeingupallnight.”

“ohno,maryahendrihovna,”answeredtheofficer,“onemustlookafterthedoctorwell！anythingmayhappen;andhewillbekindtome,idaresay,whenhehastocutoffmylegormyarm.”