第347章

第347章fromthedayofhiswife’sarrivalinmoscow,pierrehadbeenintendingtogoawaysomewhereelse,simplynottobewithher.soonaftertherostovs’arrivalinmoscow,theimpressionmadeuponhimbynatashahadimpelledhimtohastenincarryingouthisintention.hewenttotvertoseethewidowofosipalexyevitch,whohadlongbeforepromisedtogivehimpapersofthedeceased’s.

whenpierrecamebacktomoscow,hewashandedaletterfrommaryadmitryevna,whosummonedhimtoheronamatterofgreatimportance,concerningandreybolkonskyandhisbetrothed.pierrehadbeenavoidingnatasha.itseemedtohimthathehadforherafeelingstrongerthanamarriedmanshouldhaveforagirlbetrothedtohisfriend.andsomefatewascontinuallythrowinghimintohercompany.

“whathashappened？andwhatdotheywantwithme？”hethoughtashedressedtogotomaryadmitryevna’s.“ifonlyprinceandreywouldmakehastehomeandmarryher,”thoughtpierreonthewaytothehouse.

inthetverskoyboulevardsomeoneshoutedhisname.

“pierre！beenbacklong？”afamiliarvoicecalledtohim.pierreraisedhishead.anatole,withhiseverlastingcompanionmakarin,dashedbyinasledgewithapairofgreytrotting-horses,whowerekickingupthesnowontotheforepartofthesledge.anatolewassittingintheclassicposeofmilitarydandies,thelowerpartofhisfacemuffledinhisbeavercollar,andhisheadbentalittleforward.hisfacewasfreshandrosy;hishat,withitswhiteplume,wasstuckononeside,showinghiscurled,pomadedhair,sprinkledwithfinesnow.

“indeed,heistherealphilosopher！”thoughtpierre.“heseesnothingbeyondthepresentmomentofpleasure;nothingworrieshim,andsoheisalwayscheerful,satisfied,andserene.whatwouldinotgivetobejustlikehim！”pierremusedwithenvy.

inmaryadmitryevna’sentrance-hallthefootman,ashetookoffpierre’sfurcoat,toldhimthathismistressedhimtocometoherinherbedroom.

asheopenedthedoorintothereception-room,pierrecaughtsightofnatasha,sittingatthewindowwithathin,pale,andill-temperedface.shelookedroundathim,frowned,andwithanexpressionoffrigiddignitywalkedoutoftheroom.

“whathashappened？”askedpierre,goingintomaryadmitryevna.

“finedoings,”answeredmaryadmitryevna.“fifty-eightyearsihavelivedintheworld—neverhaveiseenanythingsodisgraceful.”andexactingfrompierrehiswordofhonournottosayawordaboutallhewastohear,maryadmitryevnainformedhimthatnatashahadbrokenoffherengagementwithouttheknowledgeofherparents;thatthecauseofherdoingsowasanatolekuragin,withwhompierre’swifehadthrownher,andwithwhomnatashahadattemptedtoelopeinherfather’sabsenceinordertobesecretlymarriedtohim.