第335章

第335章whenafterservicetheyweredrinkingcoffeeinthedrawing-room，wherethecovershadbeenremovedfromthefurniture，theservantannouncedthatthecarriagewasready，andmaryadmitryevna，dressedinherbestshawlinwhichshepaidcalls，rosewithasternair，andannouncedthatshewasgoingtocallonprincenikolayandreitchbolkonskytoaskforanexplanationofhisconductaboutnatasha.aftermaryadmitryevnahadgone，adressmakerwaitedupontherostovsfrommadamechalmey，andnatasha，verygladofadiversion，wentintoaroomadjoiningthedrawing-room，andshuttingthedoorbetween，begantryingonhernewdresses.justasshehadputonabodicebastedtogether，withthesleevesnotyettackedin，andwasturningherheadtolookatthefitofthebackinthelooking-glass，shecaughtthesoundofherfather’svoiceinthedrawing-roomineagerconversationwithanothervoice，awoman’svoice，whichmadeherflushred.itwasthevoiceofellen.beforenatashahadtimetotakeoffthebodiceshewastryingon，thedooropened，andcountessbezuhovwalkedintotheroom，wearingadarkheliotropevelvetgownwithahighcollar，andbeamingwithagood-naturedandfriendlysmile.

“omyenchantress！”shesaidtotheblushingnatasha.“charming！no，thisisreallybeyondanything，count，”shesaidtocountilyaandreitch，whohadfollowedherin.“howcanyoubeinmoscow，andgonowhere？no，iwon’tletyouoff！thiseveningwehavemademoisellegeorgegivingarecitation，andafewpeoplearecoming；andifyoudon’tbringyourlovelygirls，whoaremuchprettierthanmademoisellegeorge，igiveupknowingyou！myhusband’snothere，hehasgoneawaytotver，orishouldhavesenthimforyou.youmustcome，youpositivelymust，beforenineo’clock.”

shenoddedtothedressmaker，whoknewher，andwascurtseyingrespectfully，andseatedherselfinalowchairbesidethelooking-glass，drapingthefoldsofhervelvetgownpicturesquelyabouther.shekeptupaflowofgood-humouredandlight-heartedchatter，andrepeatedlyexpressedherenthusiasticadmirationofnatasha’sbeauty.shelookedthroughherdressesandadmiredthem，spokewithadmiration，too，ofanewdressofherown“ofmetallicgas，”whichshehadreceivedfromparis，andadvisednatashatohaveonelikeit.

“butanythingsuitsyou，mycharmer！”shedeclared.thesmileofpleasureneverleftnatasha’sface.shefelthappy，andasitwereblossomingoutunderthepraisesofthischarmingcountessbezuhov，whohadseemedtoherbeforealadysounapproachableanddignified，andwasnowbeingsokingtoher.natasha’sspiritsrose，andshefeltalmostinlovewiththishandsomeandgood-naturedwoman.ellen，forherpart，wasgenuineinheradmirationofnatasha，andinherdesiretomakeherenjoyherself.anatolehadedhertothrowhimwithnatasha，anditwaswiththatobjectshehadcometotherostovs’.theideaofthrowingherbrotherandnatashatogetheramusedher.

althoughellenhadonceowednatashaagrudgeforcarryingoffborisfromherinpetersburg，shethoughtnomoreofthatnow，andwithallherheartwishednatashanothingbutgood.asshewasleavingtherostovs’，shedrewherprotégéeaside.

“mybrotherwasdiningwithmeyesterday—wehalfdiedwithlaughingathim—hewon’teat，anddoesnothingbutsighforyou，mycharmer！heismadly，madlyinlovewithyou，mydear.”

natashaflushedcrimsononhearingthosewords.

“howsheblushes，howsheblushes，mypretty！”ellenwenton.“youmustbesuretocome.ifyoudolovesomeone，itisnotareasontocloisteryourself.evenifyouarebetrothed，iamsureyourbetrothedwouldhavepreferredyoutogointosocietyratherthantolanguishinennui.”

“sothensheknowsiamengaged.sothentheywithherhusband，withpierre，withthatgoodpierre，talkedandlaughedaboutit.sothatitmeansnothing.”

andagainunderellen’sinfluencewhathadstruckherbeforeasterribleseemedtohersimpleandnatural.“andshe，suchagrandedame，issokind，andobviouslyshelikesmewithallherheart，”thoughtnatasha.“andwhynotenjoymyself，”thoughtnatasha，gazingatellenwithwide-open，wonderingeyes.

maryadmitryevnacamebacktodinnersilentandserious，havingevidentlybeendefeatedbytheoldprince.shewastoomuchagitatedbytheconflictshehadbeenthroughtobeabletodescribetheinterview.tothecount’sinquiries，sherepliedthateverythinghadbeenallrightandshewouldtellhimaboutitnextday.onhearingofthevisitofcountessbezuhovandtheinvitationfortheevening，maryadmitryevnasaid：

“idon’tcaretoassociatewithcountessbezuhovandidon’tadviseyouto，butstill，sinceyouhavepromised，bettergo.itwilldivertyourmind，”sheadded，addressingnatasha.