第326章

第326章inspiteoftheuneasyglancesflungatherbyprincessmarya,whowantedtotalktonatashabyherself,mademoisellebouriennewouldnotleavetheroom,andpersistedinkeepingupaconversationaboutmoscowentertainmentsandtheatres.natashafeltoffendedbythedelayintheentry,byherfather’snervousness,andbytheconstrainedmanneroftheprincess,whoseemedtohertobemakingafavourofreceivingher.andtheneverythingdispleasedher.shedidnotlikeprincessmarya.sheseemedtoherveryugly,affected,andfrigid.natashasuddenly,asitwere,shrankintoherself,andunconsciouslyassumedanon-chalantair,whichrepelledprincessmaryamoreandmore.afterfiveminutesofirksomeandconstrainedconversation,theyheardthesoundofslipperedfeetapproachingrapidly.princessmarya’sfaceexpressedterror：thedooroftheroomopened,andtheprincecamein,inawhitenight-capanddressing-gown.

“ah,madam,”hebegan,“madam,countess.…countessrostov…ifi’mnotmistaken…ibegyoutoexcuseme,toexcuseme…ididn’tknow,madam.asgod’sabove,ididn’tknowthatyouweredeigningtovisitus,andcameintomydaughterinthiscostume.ibegyoutoexcuseme…asgod’sabove,ididn’tknow,”herepeatedsounnaturally,withemphasisontheword“god,”andsounpleasantly,thatprincessmaryarosetoherfeetwithhereyesontheground,notdaringtolookeitheratherfatheroratnatasha.natasha,gettingupandcurtseying,didnotknoweitherwhatshewastodo.onlymademoisellebouriennesmiledagreeably.

“ibegyoutoexcuseme,ibegyoutoexcuseme！asgod’sabove,ididn’tknow,”mutteredtheoldman,andlookingnatashaoverfromheadtofoot,hewentout.

mademoisellebouriennewasthefirsttorecoverherselfafterthisapparition,andbegantalkingabouttheprince’sill-health.natashaandprincessmaryagazeddumblyatoneanother,andthelongertheygazeddumblyatoneanotherwithoutsayingwhattheywantedtosay,themoreunfavourablyeachfeltdisposedtotheother.

whenthecountreturned,natashashowedadiscourteousreliefatseeinghim,andmadehastetogetaway.atthatmomentshealmosthatedthatstiff,oldishprincess,whocouldputherinsuchanawkwardposition,andspendhalfanhourwithherwithoutsayingawordaboutprinceandrey.“icouldn’tbethefirsttospeakofhimbeforethatfrenchwoman,”thoughtnatasha.princessmaryameanwhilewastorturedbytheverysamefeeling.sheknewwhatshehadtosaytonatasha,butshecouldnotdoit,bothbecausemademoisellebouriennepreventedher,andbecauseshedidnotknowherselfwhy—itwasdifficultforhertobegintospeakofthemarriage.thecountwasalreadygoingoutoftheroomwhenprincessmaryamovedrapidlyuptonatasha,tookherhand,and,withaheavysigh,said：“waitamoment,iwant…”natasha’sexpressionasshelookedatprincessmaryawasironical,thoughshedidnotknowwhy.

“dearnatalie,”saidprincessmarya,“dobelievehowgladiamthatmybrotherhasfoundsuchhappiness…”shepaused,feelingshewastellingalie.natashanoticedthepause,andguessedthereasonofit.

“iimagine,princess,thatitisnotnowsuitabletospeakofthat,”saidnatasha,withexternaldignityandcoldness,thoughshefeltthetearsrisinginherthroat.

“whathaveisaid,whathaveidone？”shethoughtassoonasshehadgoneoutoftheroom.

theyhadtowaitalongwhilefornatashatocometodinnerthatday.shewassittinginherroom,cryinglikeachild,choking,andsobbing.sonyastoodoverher,andkeptkissingheronthehead.

“natasha,whatisit？”shekeptsaying.“whyneedyoumindaboutthem？itwillpass,natasha.”

“no,ifonlyyouknewhowinsultingitwas…asthoughi…”

“don’ttalkofit,natasha;it’snotyourfault,yousee,sowhatdoesitmattertoyou！kissme,”saidsonya.

natasharaisedherhead,andkissingherfriendonthelips,pressedherwetfaceagainsther.

“ican’tsay;idon’tknow.it’snoone’sfault,”saidnatasha;“it’smyfault.butit’sallawfullypainful.oh,whydoesn’thecome？…”

shewentdowntodinnerwithredeyes.maryadmitryevna,whohadheardhowtheoldprincehadreceivedtherostovs,pretendednottonoticenatasha’stroubledface,andkeptupaloud,jestingconversationattablewiththecountandtheotherguests.