第323章

第323章countilyaandreitchrostovarrivedinmoscowtowardstheendofjanuarywithnatashaandsonya.thecountesswasstillunwell,andunabletotravel,buttheycouldnotputoffcomingtillsherecovered,forprinceandreywasexpectedinmoscoweveryday.theyhad,besides,toorderthetrousseau,toselltheestateinthesuburbsofmoscow,andtotakeadvantageofoldprincebolkonsky’spresenceinmoscowtopresenthisfuturedaughter-in-lawtohim.therostovs’houseinmoscowhadnotbeenheatedallthewinter;andastheywerecomingonlyforashorttime,andthecountesswasnotwiththem,countilyaandreitchmadeuphismindtostaywithmaryadmitryevnaahrostimov,whohadlongbeenpressingherhospitalityuponthecount.

lateintheeveningthefourloadedsledgesoftherostovsdroveintothecourtyardofmaryadmitryevnainoldequerrys’place.maryadmitryevnalivedalone.shehadbynowmarriedoffherdaughter.hersonswereallintheservice.

shestillheldherselfaserect;stillgaveeveryoneheropinionsinthesameloud,outspoken,decidedfashion;andherwholebearingseemedareprooftootherpeopleforeverysortofweakness,passion,andtemptation,ofwhichshewouldnotadmitthebarepossibility.intheearlymorning,inahouse-jacket,shelookedafterthemanagementofherhousehold.thenshedroveonsaints’daystomass,andfrommasstothegaolsandprisons;andofwhatshedidthere,sheneverspoketoanyone.

onordinarydaysshedressedandreceivedpetitionersofvariousclasses,ofwhomsomesoughtheraideveryday.thenshehaddinner,anabundantandappetisingmeal,atwhichsomethreeorfourguestswerealwayspresent.afterdinnersheplayedagameofboston;andatnighthadthenewspapersandnewbooksreadaloudtoherwhilesheknitted.itwasonlyasarareexceptionthatshewentoutintheevening;ifshedidso,itwasonlytovisitthemostimportantpeopleinthetown.

shehadnotgonetobedwhentherostovsarrived,andthedoorinthevestibulesqueakedontheblock,astherostovsandtheirservantscameinfromthecoldoutside.maryadmitryevnastoodinthedoorwayofthehall,withherspectaclesslippingdownonhernose,andherheadflungback,lookingwithasternandiratefaceatthenew-comers.itmighthavebeensupposedthatshewasirritatedattheirarrival,andwouldpackthemoffagainatonce,hadshenotattheverytimebeengivingcarefulinstructionstoherservantswheretoinstallherguestsandtheirbelongings.

“thecount’sthings？bringthemhere,”shesaid,pointingtothetrunks,andnotbestowingagreetingonanyone.“theyoungladies’,thiswaytotheleft.well,whatarewepotteringaboutfor？”shecalledtohermaids.“warmthesamovar！she’splumper,prettier,”shepronouncedofnatasha,flushedfromthefrostyair,asshedrewhercloserbyherhood.“foo！sheiscold！youmakehasteandgetyourwrapsoff,”sheshoutedtothecount,whowouldhavekissedherhand.“you’refrozen,iwarrant.rumforthetea！sonyushka,bonjour,”shesaidtosonya,indicatingbythisfrenchphrasetheslightlycontemptuousaffectionatenessofherattitudetosonya.

whentheyhadalltakenofftheiroutdoorthings,setthemselvesstraightafterthejourney,andcomeintotea,maryadmitryevnakissedthemallinduecourse.