第275章

第275章“it’salongwhilesincewehavehadthepleasure…”thecountesswasbeginning,butprinceandreycuthershort,answeringherimpliedquestion,andobviouslyinhastetosaywhathehadtosay.

“ihavenotbeentoseeyouallthistimebecauseihavebeentoseemyfather;ihadtotalkoveraveryimportantmatterwithhim.ionlyreturnedlastnight,”hesaid,glancingatnatasha.“iwanttohaveatalkwithyou,countess,”headdedafteramoment’ssilence.

thecountessdroppedhereyes,sighingheavily.

“iamatyourdisposal,”shebroughtout.

natashaknewsheoughttogo,butshewasunabletodoso：somethingseemedgrippingherthroat,and,regardlessofcivility,shestaredstraightatprinceandreywithwide-openeyes.

“atonce？…thisminute？…no,itcannotbe！”shewasthinking.

heglancedatheragain,andthatglanceconvincedherthatshewasnotmistaken.yes,atonce,thisveryminuteherfatewastobedecided.

“runaway,natasha;iwillcallyou,”thecountesswhispered.

withfrightenedandimploringeyesnatashaglancedatprinceandreyandathermother,andwentout.

“ihavecome,countess,toaskforyourdaughter’shand,”saidprinceandrey.

thecountess’sfaceflushedhotly,butshesaidnothing.

“youroffer…”thecountessbeganatlast,sedately.hesatsilent,lookingintoherface.“youroffer”…（shehesitatedinconfusion）“isagreeabletous,and…iacceptyouroffer.iamgladofit.andmyhusband…ihope…butitmustrestwithherself…”

“iwillspeaktoher,whenihavereceivedyourconsent.…doyougiveitme？”saidprinceandrey.

“yes,”saidthecountess,andsheheldoutherhandtohim,andwithmingledfeelingsofaversionandtendernessshepressedherlipstohisforeheadashebenttokissherhand.herwishwastolovehimasason;butshefeltthathewasamanalientoher,andthatshewasafraidofhim.

“iamsuremyhusbandwillconsent,”saidthecountess;“butyourfather…”

“myfather,whomihaveinformedofmyplans,hasmadeitanexpressconditionthatthemarriageshouldnottakeplaceforayear.thattoo,imeanttospeakoftoyou,”saidprinceandrey.

“itistruethatnatashaisveryyoung,but—solongasthat？”

“itcouldnotbehelped,”saidprinceandreywithasigh.

“iwillsendhertoyou,”saidthecountess,andshewentoutoftheroom.

“lord,havemercyuponus！”shekeptrepeatingasshelookedforherdaughter.

sonyatoldherthatnatashawasinherbedroom.shewassittingonherbed,withapalefaceanddryeyes;shewasgazingattheholypicture,andmurmuringsomethingtoherselfassherapidlycrossedherself.seeinghermothersheleapedupandflewtowardsher.

“well,mamma,…well？”

“go,gotohim.heasksyourhand,”saidthecountess,coldlyitseemedtonatasha.…“yes…go…”themothermurmuredmournfullyandreproachfullywithadeepsighasherdaughterranoff.

natashacouldnothavesaidhowshereachedthedrawing-room.assheenteredthedoorandcaughtsightofhim,shestoppedshort：“isitpossiblethatthisstrangerhasnowbecomeeverythingtome？”sheaskedherself,andinstantlyanswered：“yes,everything：healoneisdearertomenowthaneverythingintheworld.”princeandreyapproachedherwithdowncasteyes.

“ihavelovedyoufromthefirstminuteisawyou.canihope？”