第324章

第324章“heartilygladyouhavecome,andarestayingwithme,”shesaid.“it’slongbeentimeyouwerehere,”shesaid,withasignificantglanceatnatasha.…“theoldfellow’shere,andhisson’sexpectedfromdaytoday.youmust,youmustmaketheiracquaintance.oh,well,weshalltalkofthatlateron,”sheadded,withaglanceatsonya,showingthatshedidnotcaretotalkofitbeforeher.“now,listen,”sheturnedtothecount,“whatdoyouwanttodoto-morrow？whomwillyousendfor？shinshin？”—shecrookedonefinger.“thetearfulannamihalovna—two.she’sherewithherson.theson’stobemarriedtoo！thenbezuhov.he’shere,too,withhiswife.heranawayfromher,andshehascometrottingafterhim.hedinedwithmelastwednesday.well,andi’lltakethem”—sheindicatedtheyoungladies—“to-morrowtoiverskychapel,andthenweshallgotoaubert-chalmey.you’llbegettingeverythingnow,iexpect！don’tjudgebyme—thesleevesnowadaysarelikethis！theotherdaytheyoungprincess,irinavassilyevna,cametoseeme,justasthoughshehadputtwobarrelsonherarms,adreadfulfright.everydaythere’sanewfashion.andwhatsortofbusinessisityouhavecomeforyourself？”shesaidseverely,addressingthecount.

“everythinghascometogether,”answeredthecount.“there’sthegirl’sragstobuy;andnowthere’sapurchaserturnedupforthemoscowestateandthehouse.ifyou’llgraciouslypermitit,i’llchooseanopportunityanddriveovertomaryinskoeforaday,leavingmygirlsonyourhands.”

“verygood,verygood,they’llbesafeenoughwithme.i’massafeasthemortgagebank.i’lltakethemwheretheymustgo,andscoldthemandpetthemtoo,”saidmaryadmitryevna,puttingherbighandonthecheekofherfavouriteandgod-daughternatasha.

nextmorningmaryadmitryevnaboretheyoungladiesofftoiverskychapelandtomadameaubert-chalmey,whowassofrightenedofmaryadmitryevnathatshealwayssoldherdressesatalosssimplytogetridofherassoonaspossible.maryadmitryevnaorderedalmostthewholetrousseau.ontheirreturn,shesenteveryoneoutoftheroombutnatasha,andcalledherfavouritetositbesideherarm-chair.

“well,nowwecanhaveachat.icongratulateyouonyourbetrothed.afinefellowyouhavehooked！i’mgladofitforyoursake,andihaveknownhimsincehewasthathigh”—sheheldherhandayardfromthefloor.natashaflushedjoyfully.“ilikehimandallhisfamily.now,listen！youknow,ofcourse,thatoldprincenikolaywasverymuchagainsthisson’smarrying.he’sawhimsicaloldfellow！ofcourse,princeandreyisnotachild,hecangetonwithouthim,buttoenterafamilyagainstthefather’swillisnotanicethingtodo.onewantspeaceandloveinafamily.you’reaclevergirl,you’llknowhowtomanagethings.youmustuseyourwitsandyourkindheart.andeverythingwillcomeright.”

natashawassilent,notasmaryadmitryevnasupposedfromshyness.inrealitynatashadislikedanyone’sinterferinginwhattouchedherloveforprinceandrey,whichseemedtohersomethingsoapartfromallhumanaffairs,thatnoone,assheimagined,couldunderstandit.shelovedprinceandrey,andonlyhim,andknewonlyhim;helovedher,andwastoarriveinadayortwoandcarryheroff.shedidnotcareaboutanythingelse.

“ihaveknownhimalongwhile,doyousee;andmasha,yoursister-in-law,ilove.sisters-in-lawaresaidtobemischief-makers,butshe—well,shewouldn’thurtafly.shehasedmetobringyoutwotogether.youmustgotoseeherto-morrowwithyourfather,andbeasniceaspossible;youareyoungerthansheis.bythetimeyouryoungmancomesback,you’llbefriendswithhissisterandhisfather,andtheywillhavelearnedtoloveyou.yesorno？itwillbebetterso,eh？”

“ohyes！”natasharespondedreluctantly.