第164章

第164章“verywelcome.iknowyou,iknowyou,”saidthecount,kissingandembracingdenisov.“nikolenkawrotetous…natasha,vera,hereheis,denisov.”

thesamehappy,ecstaticfacesturnedtothetousledfigureofdenisovandsurroundedhim.

“darlingdenisov,”squealednatasha,and,besideherselfwithdelightshedarteduptohim,ingandkissinghim.everyonewasdisconcertedbynatasha’sbehaviour.denisovtooreddened.buthesmiled,tooknatasha’shandandkissedit.

denisovwasconductedtotheroomassignedhim,whiletherostovsallgatheredaboutnikolenkainthedivan-room.

theoldcountesssatbesidehim,keepingtightholdofhishand,whichshewaseveryminutekissing.theothersthrongedroundthem,gloatingovereverymovement,everyglance,everywordheuttered,andnevertakingtheirenthusiasticandlovingeyesoffhim.hisbrotherandsistersquarrelledandsnatchedfromoneanothertheplacenearesthimanddisputedoverwhichwastobringhimtea,ahandkerchief,apipe.

rostovwasveryhappyinthelovetheyshowedhim.butthefirstminuteofmeetingthemhadbeensoblissfulthathishappinessnowseemedalittlething,andhekeptexpectingsomethingmoreandmoreandmore.

nextmorningafterhisjourneyhesleptontillteno’clock.

theadjoiningroomwaslitteredwithswords,bags,sabretaches,opentrunks,anddirtyboots.twopairsofcleanedbootswithspurshadjustbeenstoodagainstthewall.theservantsbroughtinwash-handbasins,hotwaterforshaving,andtheirclotheswellbrushed.theroomwasfullofamasculineodourandreekedofo.

“hi,grishka,apipe！”shoutedthehuskyvoiceofvaskadenisov.“rostov,getup！”

rostov,rubbinghiseyelidsthatseemedgluedtogether,liftedhistousledheadfromthewarmpillow.

“why,isitlate？”

“itislate,nearlyten,”answerednatasha’svoice,andinthenextroomtheyheardtherustleofstarchedskirtsandgirlishlaughter.thedoorwasopenedacrack,andtherewasaglimpseofsomethingblue,ofribbons,blackhairandmerryfaces.natashawithsonyaandpetyahadcometoseeifhewerenotgettingup.

“nikolenka,getup！”natasha’svoicewasheardagainatthedoor.

“atonce！”meanwhileintheouterroompetyahadcaughtsightoftheswordsandseizeduponthemwiththerapturesmallboysfeelatthesightofasoldierbrother,andregardlessofitsnotbeingtheproperthingforhissisterstoseetheyoungmenundressed,heopenedthebedroomdoor.

“isthisyoursword？”heshouted.

thegirlsskippedaway.denisovhidhishairylegsunderthebed-clothes,lookingwithascaredfacetohiscomradeforassistance.thedooradmittedpetyaandclosedafterhim.alewasheardfromoutside.

“nikolenka,comeoutinyourdressing-gown,”criednatasha’svoice.

“isthisyoursword？”askedpetya,“orisityours？”heturnedwithdeferentialrespecttotheswarthy,whiskereddenisov.

rostovmadehastetogetonhisshoesandstockings,putonhisdressing-gownandwentout.natashahadputononespurredbootandwasjustgettingintotheother.sonyawas“makingcheeses,”andhadjustwhirledherskirtintoaballoonandwasduckingdown,whenhecamein.theyweredressedalikeinnewbluefrocks,bothfresh,rosy,andgood-humoured.sonyaranaway,butnatasha,takingherbrother’sarm,ledhimintothedivan-room,andaconversationbeganbetweenthem.theyhadnottimetoaskandanswerallthequestionsaboutthethousandtriflingmatterswhichcouldonlybeofinteresttothem.natashalaughedateverywordhesaidandateverywordshesaid,notbecausewhattheysaidwasamusing,butbecauseshewasinhighspiritsandunabletocontainherjoy,whichbrimmedoverinlaughter.

“ah,isn’titnice,isn’titsplendid！”shekeptsayingeverymoment.undertheinfluenceofthewarmsunshineoflove,rostovfeltthatforthefirsttimeforayearandahalfhissoulandhisfacewereexpandinginthatchildishsmile,hehadnotoncesmiledsincehelefthome.

“no,isay,”shesaid,“you’requiteamannow,eh？i’mawfullygladyou’remybrother.”shetouchedhismoustache.“idowanttoknowwhatsortofcreaturesyoumenare.justlikeus？no.”

“whydidsonyarunaway？”askedrostov.

“oh,there’salottosayaboutthat！howareyougoingtospeaktosonya？shallyoucallher‘thou’or‘you’？”

“asithappens,”saidrostov.

“callher‘you,’please;i’lltellyouwhyafterwards.”

“butwhy？”

“well,i’lltellyounow.youknowthatsonya’smyfriend,suchafriendthatiburntmyarmforhersake.here,look.”shepulleduphermuslinsleeveandshowedhimonherlong,thin,softarmabovetheelbowneartheshoulder（onthepartwhichiscoveredeveninaball-dress）aredmark.

“iburntthattoshowhermylove.isimplyheatedarulerinthefireandpresseditonit.”