第302章

第302章christmascameandexceptforthehighmass,thesolemnandwearisomecongratulationstoneighboursandhouse-serfs,andthenewgownsdonnedbyeveryone,nothingspecialhappenedtomarktheholidays,thoughthestillweatherwithtwentydegreesoffrost,thedazzlingsunshinebydayandthebright,starlitskyatnightseemedtocallforsomespecialcelebrationoftheseason.

onthethirddayofchristmasweek,afterdinner,allthemembersofthehouseholdhadseparatedandgonetotheirrespectiverooms.itwasthedullesttimeoftheday.nikolay,whohadbeencallingonneighboursinthemorning,wasasleepinthedivan-room.theoldcountwasrestinginhisownroom.inthedrawing-roomsonyawassittingataroundtablecopyingadesignforembroidery.thecountesswasplayingpatience.nastasyaivanovna,thebuffoon,withadejectedcountenance,wassittinginthewindowwithtwooldladies.natashacameintotheroom,wentuptosonya,lookedatwhatshewasdoing,thenwentuptohermotherandstoodtheremutely.

“whyareyouwanderingaboutlikeanunquietspirit？”saidhermother.“whatdoyouwant？”

“iwanthim…iwanthimatonce,thisminute,”saidnatasha,withagleaminhereyesandnosmileonherlips.thecountessraisedherheadandlookedintentlyatherdaughter.

“don’tlookatme,mamma;don’tlookatmelikethat;ishallcryinaminute.”

“sitdown;comeandsitbyme,”saidthecountess.

“mamma,iwanthim.whyshouldibewastingtimelikethis,mamma？”…hervoicebroke,tearsgushedintohereyes,andtohidethem,sheturnedquicklyandwentoutoftheroom.shewentintothedivan-room,stoodthere,thoughtamomentandwenttothemaids’room.thereanoldmaid-servantwasscoldingayounggirlwhohadruninbreathlessfromthecoldoutside.

“giveoverplaying,”saidtheoldwoman;“thereisatimeforeverything.”

“letheroff,kondratyevna,”saidnatasha.“runalong,mavrusha,runalong.”

andafterreleasingmavrusha,natashacrossedthebighallandwenttothevestibule.anoldfootmanandtwoyoungoneswereplayingcards.theybrokeoffandroseattheentranceoftheiryoungmistress.“whatamitodowiththem？”natashawondered.

“yes,nikita,goout,please…whereamitosendhim？…yes,gototheyardandbringmeacock,please;andyou,misha,bringmesomeoats.”

“justafewoats,ifyouplease？”saidmisha,withcheerfulreadiness.

“runalong;makehaste,”theoldmanurgedhim.

“fyodor,yougetmesomechalk.”

asshepassedthebuffetsheorderedthesamovar,thoughitwasnottherighttimeforit.

thebuffet-waiter,foka,wasthemostill-temperedpersoninthehouse.natashalikedtotryherpoweroverhim.hedidnotbelieveinherorder,andwenttoinquireifitwerereallywanted.

“ah,you’reaniceyounglady！”saidfoka,pretendingtofrownatnatasha.

nooneinthehousesentpeopleonerrandsandgavetheservantssomuchworkasnatasha.shecouldnotseepeoplewithoutwantingtosendthemforsomething.sheseemedtobetryingtoseewhetheroneofthemwouldnotbecrossorsulkywithher;butnoone’sordersweresoreadilyobeyedbytheservantsasnatasha’s.“whatamitodo？whereamitogo？”natashawondered,strollingslowlyalongthecorridor.

“nastasyaivanovna,whatwillmychildrenbe？”sheaskedthebuffoon,whocametowardsherinhiswoman’sjacket.

“fleas,anddragon-flies,andgrasshoppers,”answeredthebuffoon.