第256章

第256章oneeveningtheoldcountessinherbed-jacket,withoutherfalsecurlsandwithonlyonepoorwispofhairpeepingoutfromunderherwhitecottonnightcap,wasbowingdownonthecarpet,sighingandmoaningassherepeatedhereveningprayers.herdoorcreaked,andnatasha,alsoinabed-jacket,ranin,bare-ed,withherfeetinslippers,andherhairincurlpapers.thecountesslookedroundandfrowned.shewasrepeatingherlastprayer.“canitbethiscouchwillbemybier？”herdevotionalmoodwasdispelled.natasha,flushedandeager,stoppedsuddenlyshortinherrapidmovementasshesawhermotheratherprayers.shehalf-satdownandunconsciouslyputouthertongueatherself.

seeingthathermotherwasstillpraying,sheranontiptoetothebed;andrapidlyslippingonelittlefootagainsttheother,pushedoffherslippersandsprangontothatcouchwhichthecountessinherprayerfearedmightbecomeherbier.thatcouchwasahighfeather-bed,withfivepillows,eachsmallerthantheonebelow.natashaskippedin,sankintothefeather-bed,rolledovertowardstheside,andbeganlingupunderthequilt,tuckingherselfup,bendingherkneesuptoherchin,kickingoutandgivingafaintlyaudibleleasshealternatelyhidherfaceunderthequiltandpeepedoutathermother.thecountesshadfinishedherprayers,andwasapproachingherbedwithasternface,butseeingthatnatashawasplayingbo-peepwithhershesmiledhergood-natured,weaksmile.

“come,come,come！”saidthemother.

“mamma,mayispeak;yes？”saidnatasha.“come,underthechin,one,andnowanother,andenough.”andsheclutchedathermother’sneckandkissedherfavouriteplaceonherchin.innatasha’sbehaviourtohermothertherewasasuperficialroughnessofmanner,butshehadanaturaltactandknackofdoingthings,sothat,howevershesnatchedhermotherinherarms,shealwaysmanagedsothatshewasnothurt,noruncomfortable,nordispleasedbyit.

“well,whatisitto-night？”saidhermother,settlingherselfinthepillowsandwaitingfornatasha,whohadalreadyrolledovertwice,toliedownbyhersideunderthebedclothes,toputoutherarmsandassumeaseriousexpression.

thesevisitsofnatashatohermotheratnightbeforethecountcamehomefromtheclubwereoneofthegreatestpleasuresbothofmotheranddaughter.

“whatisitto-night？andiwanttotalktoyou…”natashaputherhandonhermother’slips.

“aboutboris…iknow,”shesaidseriously;“that’swhatihavecomeabout.don’tsayit;iknow.no,dosayit！”shetookherhandaway.“sayit,mamma！he’snice,eh？”

“natasha,youaresixteen！atyourageiwasmarried.yousayborisisnice.heisverynice,andilovehimlikeason！butwhatdoyouwant？…whatareyouthinkingabout？youhavequiteturnedhishead,icanseethat…”

asshesaidthis,thecountesslookedroundatherdaughter.natashawaslying,lookingsteadilystraightbeforeheratoneofthemahoganysphinxescarvedonacornerofthebedstead,sothatthecountesscouldonlyseeherdaughter’sfaceinprofile.herfaceimpressedthecountessbyitsstrikinglyseriousandconcentratedexpression.

natashawaslisteningandconsidering.

“well,sowhatthen？”shesaid.

“youhavecompletelyturnedhishead,andwhatfor？whatdoyouwantofhim？youknowyoucan’tmarryhim.”

“whynot？”saidnatasha,withnochangeinherattitude.

“becausehe’ssoyoung,becausehe’spoor,becausehe’sarelation…becauseyoudon’tcareforhimyourself.”

“howdoyouknowthat？”

“iknow.it’snotright,mydarling.”

“butifiwantto…”saidnatasha.

“leaveofftalkingnonsense,”saidthecountess.

“butifiwantto…”

“natasha,iamserious…”