第22章

第22章whennatasharanoutofthedrawing-roomsheonlyranasfarastheconservatory.thereshestoppedlisteningtothetalkinthedrawing-room,andwaitingforboristocomeout.shewasbeginningtogetimpatient,andstampingherfootwasalmostreadytocryathisnotcomingatonce,whensheheardtheyoungman’sfootstepscomingoutdiscreetly,nottooslowlynortooquickly.natashadartedswiftlyawayandhidamongthetubsofshrubs.

borisstoodstillinthemiddleoftheroom,lookedroundhim,brushedaspeckofdirtoffthesleeveofhisuniform,andgoinguptothelooking-glassexaminedhishandsomeface.natasha,keepingquiet,peepedoutofherhiding-place,waitingtoseewhathewoulddo.hestoodalittlewhilebeforetheglass,smiledathisreflection,andwalkedtowardstheotherdoor.natashawasonthepointofcallingtohim,butshechangedhermind.“lethimlookforme,”shesaidtoherself.borishadonlyjustgoneout,whenattheotherdoorsonyacamein,flushedandmutteringsomethingangrilythroughhertears.natashacheckedherfirstimpulsetorunouttoher,andremainedinherhiding-place,asitwereundertheinvisiblecap,lookingonatwhatwasgoingonintheworld.shebegantofeelapeculiarnovelsortofenjoymentinit.sonyawasmurmuringsomethingasshelookedtowardsthedrawing-roomdoor.thedooropenedandnikolaycamein.

“sonya！whatisthematter？howcanyou？”saidnikolay,runninguptoher.

“nothing,nothing,leavemealone！”sonyawassobbing.

“no,iknowwhatitis.”

“verywell,youdo,somuchthebetterthen,andyoucangobacktoher.”

“so-o-onya！oneword！howcanyoutorturemeandyourselfforamerefancy？”saidnikolay,takingherhand.sonyadidnotpullherhandaway,andleftoffcrying.

natasha,notstirringandhardlybreathing,lookedwithshiningeyesfromherhiding-place.“what’scomingnow？”shethought.

“sonya！icarefornothinginthewholeworld！you’reeverythingtome,”saidnikolay.“i’llproveittoyou.”

“idon’tlikeyoutotalklikethat.”

“well,iwon’tthen;come,forgiveme,sonya.”hedrewhertohimandkissedher.

“oh,that’snice,”thoughtnatasha,andwhensonyaandnikolayhadgoneoutoftheroomshefollowedthemandcalledboristoher.

“boris,comehere,”shesaidwithaslyandsignificantlook.“i’vesomethingiwanttotellyou.here,here,”shesaid,andsheledhimintotheconservatory,totheplacewhereshehadhiddenbetweenthetubs.borisfollowedher,smiling.

“whatisthesomething？”heinquired.shewasalittleembarrassed;shelookedroundher,andseeingherdollflungdownonatubshepickeditup.

“kissthedoll,”shesaid.borislookedwithobservant,affectionateeyesathereagerfaceandmadenoanswer.“don’tyouwantto？well,thencomehere,”shesaid,andwentfurtherinamongtheshrubsandtossedawaythedoll.“closer,closer！”shewhispered.shecaughtholdoftheyoungofficer’sarmsabovethecuff,andherflushedfacehadalookofsolemnityandawe.

“wouldyouliketokissme？”shewhispered,hardlyaudibly,peepingupathimfromunderhereyelids,smilingandalmostcryingwithexcitement.

borisreddened.“howabsurdyouare！”hesaid,bendingdowntoher,flushingredderstill,butdoingnothing,waitingwhatwouldcomenext.suddenlyshejumpedontoatub,sothatasshestoodshewastallerthanhe,flungbotharmsroundhimsothatherslender,barearmsclaspedhimabovehisneck,andflingingbackherhairwithatossofherhead,shekissedhimjustonhislips.

sheslippedawayamongtheflower-potsontheotherside,andstoodwithhanginghead.

“natasha,”hesaid,“youknowiloveyou,but—”

“you’reinlovewithme,”natashabrokein.

“yesiam,but,please,don’tletusdolikethat.…inanotherfouryears…thenishallaskforyourhand.”natashaponderedamoment.

“thirteen,fourteen,fifteen,sixteen…”shesaid,countingonherthinlittlefingers.

“verywell.thenit’ssettled？”andherexcitedfacebeamedwithasmileofdelightandrelief.

“settled！”saidboris.

“forever？”saidthelittlegirl.“tilldeath？”andtakinghisarm,withahappyfaceshewalkedquietlybesidehimintothenextroom.