第220章

第220章itwasdarkbythetimeprinceandreyandpierredroveuptotheprincipalentranceofthehouseatbleakhills.whiletheyweredrivingin,princeandreywithasmiledrewpierre’sattentiontoacommotionthatwastakingplaceatthebackentrance.abentlittleoldwomanwithawalletonherback,andashortmanwithlonghair,inablackgarment,ranbacktothegateonseeingthecarriagedrivingup.twowomenranoutafterthem,andallthefour,lookingroundatthecarriagewithscaredfaces,raninatthebackentrance.

“thosearemasha’sgod’sfolk,”saidprinceandrey.“theytookusformyfather.it’stheonematterinwhichshedoesnotobeyhim.heordersthemtodriveawaythesepilgrims,butshereceivesthem.”

“butwhataregod’sfolk？”askedpierre.

princeandreyhadnottimetoanswerhim.theservantscameouttomeetthem,andheinquiredwheretheoldprincewasandwhethertheyexpectedhimhomesoon.theoldprincewasstillinthetown,andtheywereexpectinghimeveryminute.

princeandreyledpierreawaytohisownsuiteofrooms,whichwerealwaysinperfectreadinessforhiminhisfather’shouse,andwentoffhimselftothenursery.

“letusgotomysister,”saidprinceandrey,comingbacktopierre;“ihavenotseenheryet,sheisinhidingnow,sittingwithhergod’sfolk.serveherright;shewillbeputtoshame,andyouwillseegod’sfolk.it’scurious,uponmyword.”

“whatare‘god’sfolk’？”askedpierre.

“youshallsee.”

princessmaryacertainlywasdisconcerted,andreddenedinpatcheswhentheywentin.inhersnugroom,withlampsbeforetheholypicturestand,therewassitting,behindthesamovar,onthesofabesideher,ayoungladwithalongnoseandlonghair,wearingamonk’scassock.inalowchairnearsatawrinkled,thin,oldwoman,withameekexpressiononherchildlikeface.

“andrey,whydidyounotletmeknow？”shesaidwithmildreproach,standingbeforeherpilgrimslikeahenbeforeherchickens.

“delightedtoseeyou.iamverygladtoseeyou,”shesaidtopierre,ashekissedherhand.shehadknownhimasachild,andnowhisfriendshipwithandrey,hisunhappymarriage,andaboveall,hiskindly,simpleface,disposedherfavourablytohim.shelookedathimwithherbeautiful,luminouseyes,andseemedtosaytohim：“ilikeyouverymuch,but,please,don’tlaughatmyfriends.”

afterthefirstphrasesofgreeting,theysatdown

“oh,andivanushka’shere,”saidprinceandreywithasmile,indicatingtheyoungpilgrim.

“andryusha！”saidprincessmaryaimploringly.

“youmustknow,itisawoman,”saidandreytopierreinfrench.

“andrey,forheaven’ssake！”repeatedprincessmarya.

itwasplainthatprinceandrey’sironicaltonetothepilgrims,andprincessmarya’shelplesschampionshipofthem,weretheirhabitual,long-establishedattitudesonthesubject.

“why,mydeargirl,”saidprinceandrey,“yououghttobeobligedtome,onthecontrary,forexplainingyourintimacywiththisyoungmantopierre.”

“indeed？”saidpierre,lookingwithcuriosityandseriousness（forwhichprincessmaryafeltparticularlygratefultohim）atthefaceofivanushka,who,seeingthathewasthesubjectunderdiscussion,lookedatallofthemwithhiscraftyeyes.

princessmaryahadnottheslightestneedtofeelembarrassmentonherfriends’account.theywerequiteattheirease.theoldwomancastdownhereyes,butstolesidelongglancesatthenew-comers,andturninghercupupsidedowninthesaucer,andlayinganibbledlumpofsugarbesideit,satcalmlywithoutstirringinherchair,waitingtobeofferedanothercup.ivanushka,sippingoutofthesaucer,peepedfromunderhisbrowswithhissly,feminineeyesattheyoungmen.

“wherehaveyoubeen,inkiev？”princeandreyaskedtheoldwoman.