第42章

第42章pierreknewwellthatgreatroom,dividedbycolumnsandanarch,andcarpetedwithpersianrugs.thepartoftheroombehindthecolumns,whereononesidetherestoodahighmahoganybedsteadwithsilkenhangings,andontheotherahugecaseofholypictures,wasbrightlyanddecorativelylightedup,aschurchesarelightedforeveningservice.underthegleamingornamentationofthecasestoodalonginvalidchair,andinthechair,onsnow-white,uncrumpled,freshlychangedpillows,coveredtothewaistwithabrightgreenquilt,pierrerecognisedthemajesticfigureofhisfather,countbezuhov,withthegreyshockofhairlikealion’smaneoverhisbroadforehead,andthecharacteristicallyaristocratic,deeplinesonhishandsome,reddish-yellowface.hewaslyingdirectlyundertheholypictures：bothhisgreatstoutarmswerelyingonthequilt.inhisrighthand,whichlaywiththepalmdownwards,awaxcandlehadbeenthrustbetweenthethumbandforefinger,andanoldservantbendingdownoverthechairhelditinit.aboutthechairstoodtheclergyintheirshiningceremonialvestments,withtheirlonghairpulledoutoverthem.theyheldlightedcandlesintheirhands,andwereperformingtheservicewithdeliberatesolemnity.alittlebehindthemstoodthetwoyoungerprincessesholdinghandkerchiefstotheireyes,andinfrontofthemtheeldest,katish,stoodwithavindictiveanddeterminedair,neverforaninstanttakinghereyesofftheholyimage,asthoughsheweredeclaringtoallthatshewouldnotanswerforherself,ifsheweretolookaround.annamihalovnawithacountenanceofmeeksorrowandforgivenessstoodatthedoorwiththeunknownlady.princevassilywasstandingclosetotheinvalidchairontheothersideofthedoor.hehaddrawnacarved,velvetchairuptohim,andwasleaningonthebackofitwithhislefthand,inwhichheheldacandle,whilewithhisrighthecrossedhimself,turninghiseyesupwardseverytimeasheputhisfingertohisforehead.hisfaceexpressedquietpietyandsubmissiontothewillofgod.“ifyoudon’tunderstandsuchfeelings,somuchtheworseforyou,”hisfaceseemedtosay.

behindhimstoodtheadjutant,thedoctors,andthemen-servants;themenandthewomenhadseparatedasthoughtheywereinchurch.allweresilentlycrossingthemselves,nothingwasaudiblebutthereadingoftheservice,thesubdued,deepbasssinging,andintheintervalsofsilencesighscouldbeheardandtheshufflingoffeet.withasignificantair,whichshowedsheknewwhatshewasabout,annamihalovnawalkedrightacrosstheroomtopierreandgavehimacandle.helightedit,andabsorbedinwatchingthepeoplearoundhim,heabsent-mindedlycrossedhimselfwiththehandinwhichheheldthecandle.theyoungestprincess,sophie,therosy,laughingonewiththemole,waslookingathim.shesmiled,hidherfaceinherhandkerchief,andforalongwhiledidnotuncoverit.butlookingatpierreagain,againshelaughed.shewasapparentlyunabletolookathimwithoutlaughing,butcouldnotresistlookingathim,andtobeoutoftemptation,shesoftlymovedbehindacolumn.inthemiddleoftheservicethevoicesofthepriestssuddenlyceased,andtheywhisperedsomethingtooneanother.theoldservant,whowasholdingthecount’shand,gotupandturnedtotheladies.annamihalovnasteppedforwardand,stoopingoverthesickman,shebeckonedbehindherbacktolorrain.thefrenchdoctorhadbeenleaningagainstthecolumnwithoutacandle,intherespectfulattitudeoftheforeigner,whowouldshowthatinspiteofthedifferenceofreligionhecomprehendsallthesolemnityoftheceremonyandevenapprovesofit.withthenoiselessstepsofamaninfullvigourofhisage,hewentuptothesickman.hisdelicate,whitefingersliftedhisdisengagedhandfromthequilt,andturningaway,thedoctorbeganfeelingthepulseinabsorbedattention.theygavethesickmansomedrink;therewasaslightbustlearoundhim,thenallwentbacktotheirplacesandtheservicewascontinued.duringthisbreakintheproceedingspierrenoticedthatprincevassilymovedawayfromhischair-back,andwiththatsameairofbeingquitesureofwhathewasabout,andofitsbeingsomuchtheworseforothers,iftheyfailedtounderstandit,hedidnotgouptothesickman,butpassedbyhimandjoinedtheeldestprincess.thentogethertheywentawaytothefurtherendoftheroomtothehighbedsteadunderthesilkcanopy.whentheymovedawayfromthebedtheprinceandprincessdisappearedtogetherbythefurtherdoor,butbeforetheendoftheservicetheyreturnedoneaftertheothertotheirplaces.pierrepaidnomoreattentiontothiscircumstancethantoalltherest,havingonceforallmadeuphismindthatallthathesawtakingplacethateveningmustinevitablybeasitwas.