第20章

第20章oftheyoungpeople，notreckoningthecountess’selderdaughter（whowasfouryearsolderthanhersisterandbehavedquitelikeagrown-upperson）andtheyoungladyvisitor，therewereleftinthedrawing-roomnikolayandsonya，theniece.sonyawasaslender，miniaturebrunette，withsofteyesshadedbylonglashes，thickblackhairtwistedintwocoilsroundherhead，andaskinofasomewhatsallowtint，particularlymarkedonherbare，thin，butshapely，musculararmsandneck.thesmoothnessofhermovements，thesoftnessandflexibilityofherlittlelimbs，andsomethingofslynessandreserveinhermanner，estedalovelyhalf-grownkitten，whichwouldonedaybeacharmingcat.apparentlyshethoughtitonlypropertoshowaninterestinthegeneralconversationandtosmile.butagainstherownwill，hereyesturnedundertheirthick，longlashestohercousin，whowasgoingawayintothearmy，withsuchgirlish，passionateadoration，thathersmilecouldnotforonemomentimposeuponanyone，anditwasclearthatthekittenhadonlyperchedtheretoskipoffmoreenergeticallythaneverandtoplaywithhercousinassoonastheycould，likeborisandnatasha，getoutofthedrawing-room.

“yes，machère，”saidtheoldcount，addressingthevisitorandpointingtohisnikolay；“herehisfriendborishasreceivedhiscommissionasanofficer，andhe’ssofondofhimhedoesn’twanttobeleftbehind，andisgivinguptheuniversityandhispooroldfathertogointothearmy，machère.andtherewasaplaceallreadyforhiminthearchivesdepartment，andall.isn’tthatfriendshipnow？”saidthecountinterrogatively.

“buttheydosaythatwarhasbeendeclared，youknow，”saidthevisitor.

“they’vebeensayingsoalongwhile，”saidthecount.“they’llsaysoagainandagain，andsoitwillremain.there’sfriendshipforyou，machère！”herepeated.“he’sgoingintothehussars.”

thevisitor，notknowingwhattosay，shookherhead.

“it’snotfromfriendshipatall，”answerednikolay，flushinghotly，anddenyingitasthoughitweresomedisgracefulimputation.“notfriendshipatall，butsimplyifeeldrawntothemilitaryservice.”

helookedroundathiscousinandtheyoungladyvisitor；bothlookedathimwithasmileofapproval.

“schubert’sdiningwithusto-night，thecolonelofthepavologradskyregimentofhussars.hehasbeenhereonleave，andistakinghimwithhim.there’snohelpforit，”saidthecount，inghisshoulderandspeakingplayfullyofwhatevidentlywasasourceofmuchdistresstohim.

“i’vetoldyoualready，papa，”saidhisson，“thatifyou’reunwillingtoletmego，i’llstay.butiknowi’mnogoodforanythingexceptinthearmy.i’mnotadiplomatist，oragovernmentclerk.i’mnotcleveratdisguisingmyfeelings，”hesaid，glancingrepeatedlywiththecoquetryofhandsomeyouthatsonyaandtheyounglady.

thekitten，hereyesrivetedonhim，seemedonthepointofbreakingintofrolic，andshowinghercat-likenature.

“well，well，it’sall-right！”saidtheoldcount；“healwaysgetssohot.bonaparte’sturnedalltheirheads；they’realldreamingofhowherosefromalieutenanttobeanemperor.well，andsomayitturnoutagain，pleasegod，”headded，notnoticingthevisitor’ssarcasticsmile.

whiletheireldersbegantalkingaboutbonaparte，julie，madamekaragin’sdaughter，turnedtoyoungrostov.