第31章

第31章pierrearrivedjustatdinner-time,andawkwardlysatdowninthemiddleofthedrawing-roominthefirsteasy-chairhecameacross,blockingupthewayforeveryone.thecountesstriedtomakehimtalk,buthelookedna？velyroundhimoverhisspectaclesasthoughhewerelookingforsomeone,andrepliedinmonosyllablestoallthecountess’squestions.hewasintheway,andwastheonlypersonunawareofit.thegreaternumberoftheguests,knowingthestoryofthebear,lookedinquisitivelyatthisbig,stout,inoffensive-lookingperson,puzzledtothinkhowsuchaspiritlessandstaidyoungmancouldhaveplayedsuchaprank.

“youhaveonlylatelyarrived？”thecountessaskedhim.

“oui,madame.”

“youhavenotseenmyhusband？”

“non,madame.”hesmiledveryinappropriately.

“youhavelatelybeeninparis,ibelieve？isupposeit’sveryinteresting.”

“veryinteresting.”

thecountessexchangedglanceswithannamihalovna.annamihalovnasawthatshewasaskedtoundertaketheyoungman,andsittingdownbyhimshebegantalkingofhisfather.buttoherastothecountessherepliedonlyinmonosyllables.theotherguestswereallbusilyengagedtogether.“therazumovskys…itwasverycharming…youaresokind…countessapraxin…”roseinmurmursonallsides.thecountessgotupandwentintothereceptionhall.

“maryadmitryevna？”hervoicewasheardaskingfromthere.

“herself,”aroughvoicewasheardinreply,andimmediatelyafter,maryadmitryevnawalkedintotheroom.allthegirlsandeventheladies,excepttheveryoldones,gotup.maryadmitryevna,astoutwomanoffifty,stoppedinthedoorway,andholdingherheadwithitsgreycurlserect,shelookeddownattheguestsandasthoughtuckinguphercuffs,shedeliberatelyarrangedthewidesleevesofhergown.maryadmitryevnaalwaysspokerussian.

“healthandhappinesstotheladywhosename-daywearekeepingandtoherchildren,”shesaidinherloud,richvoicethatdominatedallothersounds.“well,youoldsinner,”sheturnedtothecountwhowaskissingherhand.“isupposeyouaretiredofmoscow—nowheretogooutwiththedogs？well,mygoodman,what’stobedone？thesenestlingswillgrowup.…”shepointedtothegirls.“willy-nilly,youmustlookoutforyoungmenforthem.”

“well,mycossack？”（maryadmitryevnausedtocallnatashaacossack）shesaid,strokingthehandofnatasha,whocameuptokissherhandgailywithoutshyness.“iknowyou’reawickedgirl,butilikeyou.”

shetookoutofherhugereticulesomeamberearringswithdrops,andgivingthemtonatasha,whosebeamingbirthdayfaceflushedrosyred,sheturnedawayimmediatelyandaddressedpierre.

“ay,ay！comehere,sir！”shesaidinanintentionallyquietandgentlevoice.“comehere,sir…”andshetuckedhersleeveuphigherinanominousmanner.

pierrewentup,lookinginnocentlyatheroverhisspectacles.

“comealong,comealong,sir！iwastheonlypersonthattoldyourfatherthetruthwhenhewasinhighfavour,andinyourcaseitisasacredduty.”shepaused.everyonewasmutelyexpectantofwhatwastofollow,feelingthatthiswasmerelyaprelude.“aprettyfellow,there’snodenying！aprettyfellow！…hisfatherislyingonhisdeathbed,andhe’samusinghimself,settingapolice-constableastrideonabear！forshame,sir,forshame！youhadbetterhavegonetothewar.”

sheturnedawayandgaveherhandtothecount,whocouldhardlykeepfromlaughing.