第238章

第238章princeandrey’sdutiesastrusteeofhisson’sryazanestatesnecessitatedaninterviewwiththemarshalofthedistrict.thismarshalwascountilyaandreivitchrostov,andinthemiddleofmayprinceandreywenttoseehim.

itwasbynowthehotperiodofspring.theforestwasalreadyinfullleaf.itwasdusty,andsohotthatatthesightofwateronelongedtobathe.

princeandreydrovealongtheavenueleadingtotherostovs’houseatotradnoe,depressedandabsorbedinconsideringwhatquestionshemustaskthemarshalabouthisbusiness.behindsometreesontherightheheardmerrygirlishcries,andcaughtsightofapartyofgirlsrunningacrosstheavenuealongwhichhiscoachwasdriving.infrontofalltherestthererantowardsthecoachablack-haired,veryslender,strangelyslender,black-eyedgirlinayellowcottongown.onherheadwasawhitepocket-handkerchief,fromunderwhichstrayedlocksofherloosehair.thegirlwasshoutingsomething,butperceivingastranger,sheranbacklaughing,withoutglancingathim.

princeandreyforsomereasonfeltasuddenpang.thedaywassolovely,thesunsobright,everythingaroundhimsogay,andthatslimandprettygirlknewnothingofhisexistence,andcaredtoknownothing,andwascontentandhappyinherownlife—foolishdoubtless—butgayandhappyandremotefromhim.whatwasshesogladabout？whatwasshethinkingof？notofarmyregulations;notoftheorganisationoftheryazanrent-payingpeasants.“whatisshethinkingabout,andwhyisshesohappy？”princeandreycouldnothelpwonderingwithinterest.

countilyaandreivitchwaslivingintheyear1809atotradnoe,exactlyashehadalwaysdoneinpreviousyears;thatistosay,entertainingalmostthewholeprovincewithhunts,theatricals,dinnerpartiesandconcerts.hewasdelightedtoseeprinceandrey,ashealwayswastoseeanynewguest,andquiteforcedhimtostaythenight.

princeandreyspentatediousday,entertainedbyhiselderlyhostandhostessandthemorehonouredamongtheguests,ofwhomthecount’shousewasfullinhonourofanapproachingname-day.severaltimesinthecourseofit,bolkonskyglancedatnatasha,continuallylaughingandfullofgaietyamongtheyoungermembersofthecompany,andaskedhimselfeachtime,“whatisshethinkingof？whatisshesogladabout？”

intheevening,aloneinanewplace,hewasforalongwhileunabletosleep.hereadforatime,thenputouthiscandle,andafterwardslighteditagain.itwashotinthebedroomwiththeshuttersclosedontheinside.hefeltirritatedwiththisfoolisholdgentleman（sohementallycalledcountrostov）whohaddetainedhim,declaringthatthenecessarydeedshadnotyetcomefromthetown,andhewasvexedwithhimselfforstaying.

princeandreygotupandwenttothewindowtoopenit.assoonasheopenedtheshutter,themoonlightbrokeintotheroomasthoughithadbeenwaitingalongwhileoutsideonthewatchforthischance.heopenedthewindow.thenightwasfreshandbrightandstill.justinfrontofthewindowstoodarowofpollard-trees,blackononeside,silverybrightontheother.underthetreeswererank,moist,bushy,growingplantsofsomekind,withleavesandstemstouchedhereandtherewithsilver.furtheraway,beyondtheblacktrees,wastheroofofsomethingglisteningwithdew;totherightwasagreat,leafytree,withitstrunkandbranchesbrilliantlywhite,andaboveitthemoon,almostfull,inaclear,almoststarless,springsky.princeandreyleanedhiselbowonthewindow,andhiseyesrestedonthatsky.

hisroomwasonthesecondstory;therewerepeopleintheroomoverhishead,andawaketoo.heheardgirls’chatteroverhead.

“onlythisoncemore,”saidagirlishvoice,whichprinceandreyrecognisedatonce.

“butwhenareyoucomingtobed？”answeredanothervoice.

“i’mnotcoming！ican’tsleep;what’stheuse？come,forthelasttime.…”

twofemininevoicessangamusicalphrase,thefinaleofsomesong.

“oh,it’sexquisite！well,nowgotosleep,andthere’sanendofit.”

“yougotosleep,butican’t,”respondedthefirstvoice,comingnearertothewindow.shewasevidentlyleaningrightoutofthewindow,forhecouldheartherustleofhergarmentsandevenherbreathing.allwashushedandstonilystill,likethemoonanditslightsandshadows.princeandreydarednotstirforfearofbetrayinghisunintentionalpresence.

“sonya！sonya！”heheardthefirstvoiceagain.“oh,howcanyousleep！dolookhowexquisite！oh,howexquisite！dowakeup,sonya！”shesaid,almostwithtearsinhervoice.“doyouknowsuchanexquisitenighthasnever,neverbeenbefore.”

sonyamadesomereluctantreply.

“no,dolookwhatamoon！…oh,howlovelyitis！docomehere.darling,precious,docomehere.there,doyousee？onehasonlytosquatonone’sheelslikethis—see—andtoholdone’sknees—astight,astightasonecan—giveagreatspringandonewouldflyaway.…likethis—see！”

“mind,you’llfall.”

heheardsoundsofascuffleandsonya’svoiceinatoneofvexation：“why,it’spastoneo’clock.”

“oh,youonlyspoilitallforme.well,gotobedthen,goalong.”

allwashushedagain;butprinceandreyknewshewasstillsittingthere.heheardattimesasoftrustle,andattimesasigh.

“omygod！mygod！whatdoesitmean？”shecriedsuddenly.“tobedthen,ifitmustbeso！”andsheclosedthewindowwithaslam.

“andnothingtodowithmyexistence！”thoughtprinceandreywhilehehadbeenlisteningtohertalk,forsomereasonhopinganddreadingshemightsaysomethingabouthim.“andsheagain！asthoughitwereonpurpose！”hethought.allatoncetherestirredwithinhissoulsuchawhollyunexpectedmedleyofyouthfulhopesandideas,runningcountertothewholetenorofhislife,thathemadehastetofallasleep,feelingincapableofseeingclearlyintohisownstateofmind.