第260章

第260章natashahadnothadafreemomentallthatday，andhadnotoncehadtimetothinkofwhatlaybeforeher.

inthedamp，chillair，intheclosenessandhalfdarkoftheswayingcarriage，shepicturedtoherselfforthefirsttimewhatwasinstoreforherthere，attheball，inthebrightlylightedhalls—music，flowers，dancing，thetsar，allthebrilliantyoungpeopleofpetersburg.theprospectbeforeherwassosplendidthatshecouldnotevenbelievethatitwouldcometopass：soincongruousitseemedwiththechilliness，darkness，andclosenessofthecarriage.shecouldonlygraspallthatawaitedherwhen，walkingovertheredcloth，shewentintothevestibule，tookoffhercloak，andwalkedbesidesonyainfrontofhermotherbetweentheflowersupthelightedstaircase.onlythensherememberedhowshemustbehaveataball，andtriedtoassumethemajesticmannerthatsheconsideredindispensableforagirlataball.butluckilyshefeltthattherewasamistbeforehereyes；shecouldseenothingclearly，herpulsebeatahundredtimesaminute，andthebloodthrobbedatherheart.shewasunabletoassumethemannerthatwouldhavemadeherabsurd；andmovedon，thrillingwithexcitement，andtryingwithallhermightsimplytoconcealit.anditwasjustinthismoodthatshelookedherbest.infrontandbehindthemwalkedguestsdressedinsimilarball-dressesandconversinginsimilarlysubduedtones.thelooking-glassesonthestair-casesreflectedladiesinwhite，blue，andpinkdresses，withdiamondsandpearlsontheirbarearmsandnecks.

natashalookedintothelooking-glassesandcouldnotdistinguishherselffromtherest.allwasmingledintoonebrilliantprocession.attheentranceintothefirstroom，theregularhumofvoices，footsteps，greetings，deafenednatasha；thelightandbrilliancedazzledherstillmore.thehostandhostesswhohadbeenalreadystandingatthedoorforhalfanhour，sayingexactlythesamewordstoeveryguestonarrival，charmédevousvoir，gavethesamegreetingtotherostovsandmadameperonsky.thetwoyounggirlsintheirwhitedresses，withrosesalikeintheirblackhair，madecurtsiesjustalike，butunconsciouslythehostess’seyesrestedlongerontheslenderfigureofnatasha.shelookedather，andsmiledatherasmilethatwassomethingmorethanthesmileofwelcomeshehadforall.lookingather，thehostesswasremindedperhapsofhergoldendaysofgirlhood，gonenevertoreturn，ofherownfirstball.thehosttoofollowednatashawithhiseyes，andaskedthecountwhichofthegirlswashisdaughter.

“charming！”hesaid，kissinghisownfinger-tips.

intheballroom，guestsstoodcrowdingabouttheentryinexpectationofthetsar.thecountesstookupherpositioninthefrontrowofthiscrowd.natashaheardandfeltthatseveralvoiceswereaskingwhoshewas，thatmanypairsofeyeswerefixedonher.sheknewthatshewasmakingagoodimpressiononthosewhonoticedher，andthisobservationcalmedhersomewhat.

“therearesomelikeourselves，andsomenotasgood，”shethought.