War and Peace

Chapter 4

[seven]

Prince Vasile fulfilled his promise to Princess Talubinskoya at the party of Aina, recommended Blitz to the emperor, and the emperor made an exception and appointed Blitz to the Semyonov Guard Corps Warrant Officer, but Blitz failed to get his wish.Not long after the evening at Ina's, Princess Talubinskoya went to Moscow again, and went straight back to the house of her rich relatives, the Lostavs.When she was in Moscow she lived with the Rustavs, and her lovely son had been educated at the Rustavs' for several years, and had recently joined the army.

The Rosettaffers were celebrating the name-days of two Nates, mother and daughter, both named Nates.Since the morning, carriages carrying guests have been passing in front of the big house of Countess Borostava in an endless stream. The countess and her beautiful eldest daughter are receiving constant guests in the living room.

The countess has a pair of oriental thick eyebrows and big eyes. She is about 45 years old, and her complexion is very haggard due to multiple births (she has given birth to twelve children).Princess Talubinskaya, who seemed like a family, also sat there and helped welcome the guests.Young people think that receiving guests is the business of adults, so they all stay in the back room.The count greeted and sent off busy, and invited all the guests to the dinner. "Thank you very, very much, on behalf of myself and our family. Please come to dinner. On behalf of the family, I welcome you again." Old Earl Lowstaff said no exception to all The person called "you" and repeated the same words to everyone without exception, with a very happy expression on his fat, clean-shaven face, he shook the hand of the guest and kept nodding and bowing .After seeing off a group of guests, the count returned to the living room to entertain the remaining guests.

In the living room, the female guests were talking about the latest news of the city, about the current illness of the millionaire and handsome man of the Ekaterina era, old Count Binzokhov, and by the way, about his illegitimate son Bin Ayr .

"When he was studying abroad, this young man was not taken care of," said a female guest. "Now, in this city, it is said that he did something terrible and was expelled by the police."

"What is the matter?" asked the countess. "His friends have troubled him," interrupted Princess Talubinskaya, "Prince Vohile's dishonorable son, and a man named Rukot, who knows that they have done some shameful things." Rukot was demoted to the rank of soldier, Binzokhov was driven to the capital, Unladourie was driven out of Petersburg."

"So, what bad things have they done?" the countess continued to ask.

"They're nothing but thieves," said the lady guest. "Think about it! Some of them got a bear from nowhere, put it in the carriage, and went to find the actress. The police chief ran out to stop it." , They didn’t listen to the advice, but tied the branch chief and the bear back to back and threw them into the Moika River. The bear swam in the river, and the branch chief lay on his back.” “Great! It must look very pretty," cried the Count with a smile.

"Oh, what a fright! You still laugh, count!" But the ladies could not help laughing themselves.Afterwards, the ladies began to talk about old Count Binzokhov, how much he loved Bin-Air, and how Duke Vohiel and Bin-Air would distribute the estate left by the old count in the future.

"This joke is very funny." Earl Lowstaff was still imagining the scene, and he imitated the policeman waving his hands, which again aroused the joyful laughter of the guests.

[eight]

The people in the living room fell silent for a moment.At this moment, the sound of mixed footsteps of men and women and the sound of chairs being tripped suddenly came from the next room. Then, a girl wearing a short gauze dress, who was hiding something, ran into the room. Suddenly froze in the middle of the room.Obviously, she came here unconsciously.At this time, a college student in checkered clothes came to the door, followed by a Janissary officer, a 15-year-old girl, and a slightly fat boy with a red face.

The count immediately got up and walked over, staggeringly opened his arms, and hugged the girl who ran into the house.

"Ah, that's her!" he cried, laughing. "The name-day girl! My little birthday girl!"

This little girl has dark eyes and a big mouth, not striking, not beautiful, but very lively and lovely, because she ran so fast that her shawl fell off, revealing the little girl's shoulders, and her black curly hair was combed back Her thin arms are white and delicate, her legs are wrapped in a silk skirt, and her two little feet are wearing a pair of big red leather shoes without laces. She is at the moment when she is saying that a girl is not a girl, and a child is no longer a child.She hastily broke free from her father's arms, and ran to her mother again. Regardless of her mother's stern reprimand, she put her face into her mother's lace shawl and laughed.Laughing, she reluctantly took out a doll from under her skirt.

"Did you see clearly?...Doll...Mimi...Look." Nates couldn't go on anymore, she found everything very funny.

She hugged her mother's dress, and laughed so sweetly that all the guests, even the prim lady, couldn't help laughing.

At this time, all the children in the family, Princess Talubinskaya's son Brits, the count's eldest son Maral, the count's 15-year-old niece Martha, and the count's youngest son Brad were in the living room. They sat down inside, obviously trying to keep the excitement and pleasure on their faces from going beyond the bounds of politeness.The two boys have been good friends since they were young. They are the same age and very handsome, but they are different from each other. Blitz is a tall, thin, blond boy with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a calm face with well-proportioned and delicate lines.Malal was a curly-haired youth of short stature, with fine features and a straightforward expression.His upper lip had already grown black vellus hair, and his entire face was full of youthful vigor.Blitz looked at Nates, who was joking about her doll, Mimi.Nates turned her head away and looked at her younger brother, who was squinting and shaking with silent laughter. Nates could no longer control herself, she jumped up, stretched her flexible legs, He jumped and ran out of the living room.

[Nine]

Of the children, only Maral and Martha remained in the living room.Martha is a slender, petite, black-haired girl, with a pair of beautiful big eyes flashing under her long eyelashes, and her long black and thick braids are coiled twice on her head. The complexion of the thin, toned arms and neck on the outside is a little yellowish.Her calm movements, flexible and soft limbs, and her somewhat sincere and reserved expression make people associate her with the pretty little cat.Apparently, she thought it was polite to show concern for everyone's conversation with a smile, but she didn't. Her eyes, full of girlish yearning, were looking through the long and thick eyelashes at the expression of the soldier who was going to be a soldier. Brother, her smile could not deceive anyone, and it could be seen that she wanted to rush out of the drawing room like Britz and Nadice, and play with her cousin.

"Yes, my dear boy," said the old count to his guests, pointing to his son, "now that his friend Blitz is an officer, he does not want to be separated from him for friendship. He does not want to go to school again." He's leaving me, an old man, and going to serve as a soldier."

"It's not because of brotherhood at all," Malal said in denial, blushing, "I just think it's my responsibility to go to the army."

The old count talked of Maral soon leaving home, and then the old man talked of Napoleon.At this moment, Sorin, daughter of a guest named Karagina, said to Malar: "It's a pity you didn't come to the Arharovs' house on Thursday. It would have been more interesting to me if you had been there. ’ She gave Malal a friendly smile.

The flattered boy leaned towards Suo Lin with a youthful smile, and started talking with Suo Lin alone. He didn't realize at all that his unintentional smile was like a sharp knife, piercing into his heart. Martha's face turned red and she forced a smile. She glanced at Malar angrily. She couldn't control the tears in her eyes. She tried her best to put on a smile, lowered her head, stood up and walked out of the room.The lively look of Marathon disappeared completely.No sooner had they reached a point in their conversation than he immediately went out to look for Martha with a disturbed expression on his face.

"These young people's thoughts are all on the outside." Princess Talubinskoya said, pointing to Malal who was going out, and she added, "Cousin is indeed dangerous."

"Natiss seems to be in love with Britz! Do you think she can do it?" The countess glanced at Britz's mother, "Do you know, if I don't say more, stop them, God knows what they will do secretly Something (by which she meant they would kiss), I might be giving her a little indulgence, but it seems to be okay."

[ten]

Nates ran out of the living room into the yard and waited for Britz to come out.She was getting impatient with waiting. At this time, she heard the sound of the young man's footsteps on the ground.Nates quickly ran to hide among the flowers.Blitz stood in the middle of the yard, looked around, walked to the water pipe, washed his face, and walked out the door.Natess tried to call him back, but changed her mind. "Let him find it." She thought in her heart.At this moment, Martha and Maral ran in one after the other.

"Martha, why on earth are you?" Maral ran to Martha. "It's nothing, it's nothing, just ignore me!" Martha cried. "I know what's going on." "You know, it's all right, you go to her." "Martha! Listen to me, you can't torture me and yourself based on your imagination, can you?" Mara Al took her hand.Martha didn't take her hand away, and there were no tears in her eyes.

Natess didn't move or make a sound, she peeked out through the cracks in the flowers.

"Okay, I won't say anything, as long as you forgive me." Malar pulled Martha in front of him, and kissed her.

"Oh, how interesting!" thought Natsès.After they walked out, Nates found Britz.She took him to her previous hiding place. "Would you like to kiss me?" she whispered, putting her mouth in Britz's ear.

Blitz blushed. "You can do it!" He lowered his head at this moment, his face became even more red, but he didn't do anything to her, just looked at her.She jumped suddenly onto a flowerpot so that she was taller than he was, put her arms around him, curled her slender arms over his neck, threw back her hair, and kissed his cheek. lips.

"Natiss," said Britz, "do you understand that I really love you..."

"Are you really in love with me?" Natess interrupted him. "It's true, I'm in love with you, but I have a request. We must exercise restraint... In another four years, I will propose to you directly." Natess pondered for a moment.

"13 years old, 14 years old, 15 years old, 16 years old..." She counted with her slender fingers, "Okay! It's a deal."

"It's a deal!" said Blitz. "Is the sea dry and stone rotten?" said the little girl, "until death?" So she took his arm and walked slowly towards the living room side by side.

[eleven]

The countess was very tired from the long reception, and she gave orders that no one should be received.All she wanted was to talk to Princess Tarubinskoya, the companion of her youth, with whom she had not had a serious conversation since Tarubinskoya returned from Petersburg.

"If there is no separation between us," said Princess Talubinskaya, "our old friends are few and far between! That's why I appreciate our friendship very much."

"Oh, my dear, I often find it strange that at such an advanced age you go by yourself to the capital, to Petersburg, to see the high officials there, all the important people, and to know how to deal with all of them. Then , how was this arranged?"

"Ah, my dear!" said Princess Talubinskaya, "God has not shown you how difficult it is for a widow for many years to bring up a son whom she loves so dearly, without means of income. .You have to learn to do everything.”

"Then, have you begged many people for the matter of Brits?" "Prince Vasilee. He is very kind. He agreed immediately and reported it to the emperor." Princess Talubinskaya Said proudly, completely forgetting the grievances she suffered for doing this.

But after a while, she whispered again: "But I really don't have any money here." She took out her handkerchief and wiped her tears, "I need five hundred rubles to buy clothes for Blitz, but now I only have Twenty-five rubles. My only hope now rests on Count Binzokhov. He presided over the baptism of Blitz. If he is not willing to help the child, all my hopes will be lost." "He I will take care of Blitz," said the Countess. "Who knows, my dear friend! These rich and important people are selfish people. But I need to take Blitz to him quickly, and I need to be frank and clear what is the matter, let them say what they want Me. It's two o'clock, you don't eat until four o'clock, I still have time to go."

Accordingly, Princess Tarubinskaya, with her punctuality and public manners, sent for Blitz at once, and took him to Count Binzokhov's.

[twelve]
The mother and son walked into Count Binzokhov's house together.In the hall they met the Duke of Vauchille, who was escorting out a handsome male guest.The dark-haired man was Roland, a well-known physician in Petersburg.Prince Vashiley sent the doctor away with a bow, and then, quietly and curiously, he approached Countess Tarubinskaya and Brits.

"Oh, what a sad occasion we meet again, the prince... Oh, how is the sick man?" said Princess Talubinskaya, seeming not to have caught that indifferent, icy look.

Prince Vauchille looked at her questioningly and perplexedly, and then at Blitz.Britz saluted respectfully, but Prince Vauchille did not return the salute. "Believe me, duke, I, a mother, will never forget your kindness. This is my son, and he wants to come to thank you."

"It's a pleasure to do something for you." Duke Vauchile said as he straightened his scarf. At home and in Moscow, he showed more self-esteem than at the banquet at Aina Chareo's house.

"You have to work hard, learn from others humbly, and not be arrogant." He turned to Blitz and said sternly.

"Blitz and I want to see the count, we haven't seen him for a long time. My son is the count's godson," said Princess Talubinskaya.

"Will this meeting make him angry?" Duke Vauchile said, he was afraid that she would also compete with him for inheritance. "See you at night, the doctor said it would be dangerous."

The door of the earl's room opened, and one of the earl's niece came out, with a grim face, expressing her dissatisfaction with the noise outside the door.

"Oh, my dear, I don't know you, madam," said Princess Talubinskaya with a cheerful smile, walking briskly towards the count's niece, "I have just come to help you look after me. Uncle, I know that you have worked very hard." She said calmly with her eyes wide open.

(End of this chapter)