战争与和平(上)-第86部分

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n　he　parted　from　her　and　from　Liza　with　his　tender　and　at　the　same　time　haughty　expression。　She　saw　him　at　the　moment　when　tenderly　and　ironically　he　had　put　the　image　on。　“Did　he　believe　now？　Had　he　repented　of　his　unbelief？　Was　he　there　now？　There　in　the　realm　of　eternal　peace　and　blessedness？”　she　wondered。　“Father；　tell　me　how　it　was；”　she　asked　through　her　tears。
“Go　away；　go；—killed　in　a　defeat　into　which　they　led　the　best　men　of　Russia　and　the　glory　of　Russia　to　ruin。　Go　away；　Princess　Marya。　Go　and　tell　Liza。　I　will　come。”　When　Princess　Marya　went　back　from　her　father；　the　little　princess　was　sitting　at　her　work；　and　she　looked　up　with　that　special　inward　look　of　happy　calm　that　is　peculiar　to　women　with　child。　It　was　clear　that　her　eyes　were　not　seeing　Princess　Marya；　but　looking　deep　within　herself；　at　some　happy　mystery　that　was　being　accomplished　within　her。
“Marie；”　she　said；　moving　away　from　the　embroidery　frame　and　leaning　back；　“give　me　your　hand。”　She　took　her　sister…in…law’s　hand　and　laid　it　below　her　waist。　Her　eyes　smiled；　expectant；　her　little　dewy　lip　was　lifted　and　stayed　so　in　childlike　rapture。　Princess　Marya　knelt　down　before　her；　and　hid　her　face　in　the　folds　of　her　sister…in…law’s　dress。　“There—there—do　you　feel　it？　I　feel　so　strange。　And　do　you　know；　Marie；　I　am　going　to　love　him　very　much；”　said　Liza；　looking　at　her　sister…in…law　with　shining；　happy　eyes。　Princess　Marya　could　not　lift　her　head；　she　was　crying。
“What’s　the　matter　with　you；　Marie？”
“Nothing　…　only　I　felt　sad　…　sad　about　Andrey；”　she　said；　brushing　away　the　tears　on　the　folds　of　her　sister…in…law’s　dress。　Several　times　in　the　course　of　the　morning　Princess　Marya　began　trying　to　prepare　her　sister…in…law’s　mind；　and　every　time　she　began　to　weep。　These　tears；　which　the　little　princess　could　not　account　for；　agitated　her；　little　as　she　was　observant　in　general。　She　said　nothing；　but　looked　about　her　uneasily；　as　though　seeking　for　something。　Before　dinner　the　old　prince；　of　whom　she　was　always　afraid；　came　into　her　room；　with　a　particularly　restless　and　malignant　expression；　and　went　out　without　uttering　a　word。　She　looked　at　Princess　Marya　with　that　expression　of　attention　concentrated　within　herself　that　is　only　seen　in　women　with　child；　and　suddenly　she　burst　into　tears。
“Have　you　heard　news　from　Andrey？”　she　said。
“No；　you　know　news　could　not　come　yet；　but　father　is　uneasy；　and　I　feel　frightened。”
“Then　you　have　heard　nothing？”
“Nothing；”　said　Princess　Marya；　looking　resolutely　at　her　with　her　luminous　eyes。　She　had　made　up　her　mind　not　to　tell　her；　and　had　persuaded　her　father　to　conceal　the　dreadful　news　from　her　till　her　confinement；　which　was　expected　before　many　days。　Princess　Marya　and　the　old　prince；　in　their　different　ways；　bore　and　hid　their　grief。　The　old　prince　refused　to　hope；　he　made　up　his　mind　that　Prince　Andrey　had　been　killed；　and　though　he　sent　a　clerk　to　Austria　to　seek　for　traces　of　his　son；　he　ordered　a　monument　for　him　in　Moscow　and　intended　to　put　it　up　in　his　garden；　and　he　told　every　one　that　his　son　was　dead。　He　tried　to　keep　up　his　old　manner　of　life　unchanged；　but　his　strength　was　failing　him：　he　walked　less；　ate　less；　slept　less；　and　every　day　he　grew　weaker。　Princess　Marya　went　on　hoping。　She　prayed　for　her　brother；　as　living；　and　every　moment　she　expected　news　of　his　return。


Chapter　8
“Ma　bonne　amie；”　said　the　little　princess；　after　breakfast；　on　the　morning　of　the　19th　of　March；　and　her　little　downy　lip　was　lifted　as　of　old；　but　as　in　that　house　since　the　terrible　news　had　come；　smiles；　tones　of　voice；　movements　even　bore　the　stamp　of　mourning；　so　now　the　smile　of　the　little　princess；　who　was　influenced　by　the　general　temper　without　knowing　its　cause；　was　such　that　more　than　all　else　it　was　eloquent　of　the　common　burden　of　sorrow。
“My　dear；　I　am　afraid　that　this　morning’s　fruschtique　（as　Foka　calls　it）　has　disagreed　with　me。”
“What　is　the　matter　with　you；　my　darling？　You　look　pale。　Oh；　you　are　very　pale；”　said　Princess　Marya　in　alarm；　running　with　her　soft；　ponderous　tread　up　to　her　sister…in…law。
“Shouldn’t　we　send　for　Marya　Bogdanovna；　your　excellency？”　said　one　of　the　maids　who　was　present。　Marya　Bogdanovna　was　a　midwife　from　a　district　town；　who　had　been　for　the　last　fortnight　at　Bleak　Hills。
“Yes；　truly；”　assented　Princess　Marya；　“perhaps　it　is　really　that。　I’ll　go　and　get　her。　Courage；　my　angel。”　She　kissed　Liza　and　was　going　out　of　the　room。
“Oh；　no；　no！”　And　besides　her　pallor；　the　face　of　the　little　princess　expressed　a　childish　terror　at　the　inevitable　physical　suffering　before　her。
“No；　it　is　indigestion；　say　it　is　indigestion；　say　so；　Marie；　say　so！”　And　the　little　princess　began　to　cry；　wringing　her　little　hands　with　childish　misery　and　capriciousness　and　affected　exaggeration　too。　Princess　Marya　ran　out　of　the　room　to　fetch　Marya　Bogdanovna。
“Mon　Dieu！　mon　Dieu！　Oh！”　she　heard　behind　her。　The　midwife　was　already　on　her　way　to　meet　her；　rubbing　her　plump；　small　white　hands；　with　a　face　of　significant　composure。
“Marya　Bogdanovna！　I　think　it　has　begun；”　said　Princess　Marya；　looking　with　wide…open；　frightened　eyes　at　the　midwife。
“Well；　I　thank　God　for　it；”　said　Marya　Bogdanovna；　not　hastening　her　step。　“You　young　ladies　have　no　need　to　know　anything　about　it。”
“But　how　is　it　the　doctor　has　not　come　from　Moscow　yet？”　said　the　princess。　（In　accordance　with　the　wishes　of　Liza　and　Prince　Andrey；　they　had　sent　to　Moscow　for　a　doctor；　and　were　expecting　him　every　minute。）
“It’s　no　matter；　princess；　don’t　be　uneasy；”　said　Marya　Bogdanovna；　“we　shall　do　very　well　without　the　doctor。”
Five　minutes　later　the　princess　from　her　room　heard　something　heavy　being　carried　by。　She　peeped　out；　the　footmen　were　for　some　reason　moving　into　the　bedroom　the　leather　sofa　which　stood　in　Prince　Andrey’s　study。　There　was　a　solemn　and　subdued　look　on　the　men’s　faces。
Princess　Marya　sat　alone　in　her　room；　listening　to　the　sounds　of　the　house；　now　and　then　opening　the　door　when　any　one　passed　by　and　looking　at　what　was　taking　place　in　the　corridor。　Several　women　passed　to　and　fro　treading　softly；　they　glanced　at　the　princess　and　turned　away　from　her。　She　did　not　venture　to　ask　questions；　and　going　back　to　her　room　closed　the　door　and　sat　still　in　an　armchair；　or　took　up　her　prayer…book；　or　knelt　down　before　the　shrine。　To　her　distress　and　astonishment　she　felt　that　prayer　did　not　soothe　her　emotion。　All　at　once　the　door　of　her　room　was　softly　opened；　and　she　saw　on　the　threshold　her　old　nurse；　Praskovya　Savvishna；　with　a　kerchief　over　her　head。　The　old　woman　hardly　ever；　owing　to　the　old　prince’s　prohibition；　came　into　her　room。
“I’ve　come　to　sit　a　bit　with　thee；　Mashenka；”　said　the　nurse；　“and　here　I’ve　brought　the　prince’s　wedding　candles　to　light　before　his　saint；　my　angel；”　she　said；　sighing。
“Ah；　how　glad　I　am；　nurse！”
“God　is　merciful；　my　darling。”　The　nurse　lighted　the　gilt　candles　before　the　shrine；　and　sat　down　with　her　stocking　near　the　door。　Princess　Marya　took　a　book　and　began　reading。　Only　when　they　heard　steps　or　voices；　the　princess　and　the　nurse　looked　at　one　another；　one　with　alarmed　inquiry；　the　other　with　soothing　reassurance　in　her　face。　The　feeling　that　Princess　Marya　was　experiencing　as　she　sat　in　her　room　had　overpowered　the　whole　house　and　taken　possession　of　every　one。　Owing　to　the　belief　that　the　fewer　people　know　of　the　sufferings　of　a　woman　in　labour；　the　less　she　suffers；　every　one　tried　to　affect　to　know　nothing　of　it；　no　one　talked　about　it；　but　over　and　above　the　habitual　staidness　and　respectfulness　of　good　manners　that　always　reigned　in　the　prince’s　household；　there　was　apparent　in　all　a　sort　of　anxiety；　a　softening　of　the　heart；　and　a　consciousness　of　some　great；　unfathomable　mystery　being　accomplished　at　that　moment。　There　was　no　sound　of　laughter　in　the　big　room　where　the　maids　sat。　In　the　waiting…room　the　men　all　sat　in　silence；　as　it　were　on　the　alert。　Torches　and　candles　were　burning　in　the　serfs’　quarters；　and　no　one　slept。　The　old　prince　walked　about　his　study；　treading　on　his　heels；　and　sent　Tihon　to　Marya　Bogdanovna　to　ask　what　news。
“Only　say：　the　prince　has　sent　to　ask；　what　news　and　come　and　tell　me　what　she　says。”
“Inform　the　prince　that　the　labour　has　commenced；”　said　Marya　Bogdanovna；　looking　significantly　at　the　messenger。　Tihon　went　and　gave　the　prince　that　information。
“Very　good；”　said　the　prince；　closing　the　door　behind　him；　and　Tihon　heard　not　the　slightest　sound　in　the　study　after　that。　After　a　short　interval　Tihon　went　into　the　study；　as　though　to　attend　to　the　candles。　Seeing　the　prince　lying　on　the　couch；　Tihon　looked　at　him；　looked　at　his　perturbed　face；　shook　his　head；　and　went　up　to　him　dumbly　and　kissed　him　on　the　shoulder；　then　went　out　without　touching　the　candles　or　saying　why　he　had　come。　The　most　solemn　mystery　in　the　world　was　being　accomplished。　Evening　passed；　night　came　on。　And　the　feeling　of　suspense　and　softening　of　the　heart　before　the　unfathomable　did　not　wane；　but　grew　more　intense。　No　one　slept。
It　was　one　of　those　March　nights　when　winter　seems　to　regain　its　sway；　and　flings　its　last　snows　and　storms　with　malignant　desperation。　A　relay　of　horses　had　been　sent　to　the　high…road　for　the　German　doctor　who　was　expected　every　minute；　and　men　were　despatched　on　horseback　with　lanterns　to　the　turning　at　the　cross…roads　to　guide　him　over　the　holes　and　treacherous　places　in　the　ice。
Princess　Marya　had　long　abandoned　her　book；　she　sat　in　silence；　her　luminous　eyes　fixed　on　the　wrinkled　face　of　her　old　nurse　（so　familiar　to　her　in　the　minutest　detail）；　on　the　lock　of　grey　hair　that　had　escaped　from　the　kerchief；　on　the　baggy　looseness　of　the　skin　under　her　chin。
The　old　nurse；　with　her　stocking　in　her　hand；　talked　away　in　a　soft　voice；　not　hearing　it　herself　nor　following　the　meaning　of　her　own　words；　telling；　as　she　had　told　hundreds　of　times　before；　how　the　late　princess　had　been　brought　to　bed　of　Princess　Marya　at　Kishinyov；　and　had　only　a　Moldavian　peasant　woman　instead　of　a　midwife。
“God　is　merciful；　doctors　are　never　wanted；”　she　said。
Suddenly　a　gust　of　wind　blew　on　one　of　the　window…frames　（by　the　prince’s　decree　the　double　frame