War and Peace

Chapter 29

[seven]

The next day, under Ahrosimova's persuasion, the old Earl Lostav took Nadice to see the old Duke Malar.The count felt a little apprehensive about the visit, while Natès, on the contrary, put on her most beautiful dress and was in the happiest of spirits. "It is impossible for them not to love me," she thought, "they are his kin, and there is no reason for them not to love me!"

They went into the old prince's porch, the servant announced their visit, and after a moment of confusion the servant came out and said: The old prince cannot see visitors, but the princess invites them in.As soon as she entered the living room, she saw the princess running out to meet the distinguished guests with heavy steps. She looked excited and panicked. She tried her best to appear calm and happy, but she couldn't do it anyway.Princess Molière didn't like Natess at first sight, she thought she was dressed too flashily, making her appear superficial and hypocritical.In fact, Princess Molier didn't realize that long before she saw her future sister-in-law, she had no love for Nates because she was jealous of Nates' beauty, youth and beauty, and her brother's love for Nates. favor.Apart from this irresistible dislike, the reason for Princess Molière's agitation at this time was also that, after hearing the news of the visit of the Lostaffs, the old prince exclaimed that he did not want to see them, If the Princesse Moliere is willing to receive them, let her receive them, but don't let them come to him.Princess Molier agreed to meet the father and daughter Rostaff, but she was always worried that the old prince would do something out of the ordinary. She was almost excited by the arrival of the father and daughter Rostaff.

The old count was a little panic-stricken, and left Natssy on the pretext of going to visit a friend.Nates began to feel an insult.She sat opposite Moliye, but they didn't talk to each other.At this moment the old prince entered in his pajamas and nightcap. "Ah, Countess, Countess Lowstaff... Please forgive me, I'm sorry, God knows, I didn't know you came to the humble house, I came to see my daughter in this dress, please forgive me..." the old man whispered Then, he looked at Natisse from head to toe carefully, and went out again.

After that, the atmosphere became more awkward.The two girls never mentioned André.A sense of boredom and remorse arose in Nates.When the old earl came back, she immediately asked to leave.

Back at the residence, she sat in her room, covered her nose, and cried for a long time like a child.The family waited for her to eat, and they waited for a long time.

[eight]

In the evening, Ahrosimova invited the Lostavs to a play.Nates didn't want to go, but she didn't want to disappoint the nurse's kindness, so the whole family drove to the theater together.

In the theater, the box waiter respectfully opens the door of the box for the ladies.In the box, you can hear the sound of the music more clearly, and you can see other boxes with colorful lights. In the box, there are ladies and ladies with bare shoulders and backs.A woman who entered the next box cast a feminine, envious glance at Natès.The curtain has not yet opened, and the band is playing music.Nates tidied her clothes, walked into the box with Martha, and sat down.Hundreds of eyes were on her exposed arms and neck, and a long-lost feeling suddenly possessed her, both happy and unhappy, calling up a train of memories, hopes, and excitements associated with that feeling.

Nates and Masha, two especially beautiful girls, and the old count, who had not been seen in Moscow for a long time, attracted everyone's attention.In addition, everyone also knew about the marriage contract between Natess and Duke Andrele, so they looked at the heroine in the best marriage in Russia in amazement.

Natès was beautiful at home, everyone thought so, and she was even more beautiful that night because of her happiness.What astonishes her is her vibrant charm and her nonchalant attitude towards her surroundings.Her piercing eyes watched everyone, but she was not looking for any one target.

Also at the play were Hanley, Blitz and his fiancée, and Rucourt, who had just returned from Persia.

[Nine]

The show is going on.Nates, who had lived in her hometown for a while, now concealed a solemn mood, and therefore felt that everything on the stage was rude.She couldn't concentrate on watching the play, and she couldn't even listen to the music. She could only see the dazzling props, and only the men and women in costumes talking, singing, and acting strangely under the lights. That's acting, but it's all so ridiculous, so pretentious, that she can't help being ashamed of the actors at times and laughing at herself at times.Looking around, she found that every face was concentrated, showing the same falsehood and artificiality. "It must be so!" Nates thought.She sometimes looked at the rows of oiled heads in the pool seat, and sometimes at the bare-chested women in the box, especially Hanli, who was sitting next to her, almost topless, taking a bath. With a quiet, peaceful smile, staring wholeheartedly at the stage under the blinding lights and the rising air due to the heat of the audience.Gradually, Nates also entered the state of intoxication that she hadn't experienced for a long time. She had already forgotten who she was, where she was, and what was happening right now.

Immediately the singing of the aria began, and the stage was completely silent, when the door of the stall next to the box of Lostav's house opened, and in came a late-comer man, Unladury Kuragin.Hanli smiled and turned to the people who came in. Nates followed Hanli's eyes and saw a particularly handsome adjutant walking towards the box with confidence and polite steps. Nates found that , this was Unladuli whom I had seen at the ball in Petersburg and who had attracted her attention.Angladuli, in the uniform of an adjutant with epaulettes, walks with a beaming gait that would have been ridiculed if he hadn't been handsome and had an expression of radiance on his face. .Even while the show was in progress, he walked casually across the hall, spurs and sabers clattering slightly, his perfumed head in high spirits.He glanced at Natess, then walked up to his sister, put his gloved hands on the railing in front of the box, nodded to his sister, then bent down, pointed at Natess to ask her what talk.Then, after taking his seat in the pool, Unladuuri kept looking at Natsie throughout the performance, and Natsy noticed his gaze, and she knew that he was fascinated by her, She felt very happy, and she didn't feel that there was anything strange about this matter.

During the intermission after the first act, Blitz came to the Lostaff's box and accepted the congratulations very briefly.During the intermission after the second act, Hanli called the Lostaffs into her box, praised Nates, and left Nates in her box to watch the third scene with her. screen.

[ten]

During the intermission, a cool breeze blew in Hanli's box, the door was opened, and Angladuri walked in.Hanli introduced her brother to Nates.Angladuuri was as handsome up close as he was from afar, and he was far more intelligent and at ease with women than he was with men.Nates was surprised and delighted that this man who had been spoken of so much was not only nothing to fear, but on the contrary, his smile was the purest and loveliest.Even she didn't know why, after 6 minutes, she felt that she and this man were getting very close.When she turned her face away, she worried that he would wrap his arms around her bare arms from behind and kiss her neck.They discussed some unimportant things, but she felt that they were quite close, which was a feeling she had never felt when she was with other men.

The curtain opened again, Unladuli walked out of the box calmly and happily, and Nates returned to her father's side, fully adapting to the environment she was in now.Everything that happened before her eyes was taken for granted.When the play was over, Angladuli went up to their family, called a carriage for them, and helped them into the carriage.When he helped Natess get into the car, he squeezed her arm. Natess blushed and turned to glance at him. He looked at her brightly and showed a gentle smile.

After returning home, Natssie recalled clearly what had happened to her. She suddenly thought of Duke Andryl, and couldn't help being terrified. When everyone was sitting around the table drinking tea, she suddenly yelled and ran away. go out. "My God! I'm done! How could I be like this?" She sat for a long time with her flushed face in her hands, trying to figure out what had happened, and everything seemed to her to be dark, vague, and dreadful. . "Have I lost the love of the Duke d'Andrew?" she asked herself. "I am so stupid! Why should I ask this question? Has anything happened? Nothing happened, and I did nothing. Say so Come on, there is nothing to regret, the Duc d'Andrew can love someone like me. But why should I say 'someone like me'? Oh, my God, my God! Why is he not here now? Natsès calmed down for a while, and then her nature told her that, although nothing had really happened, the simplicity of her love for Duke d'Andrele was no longer there.So she went back to the conversation she had had with Angladuri, and thought of the gentle smile that handsome, bold man had shown as he helped her up.

[eleven]

Unladuli lived in Moscow, but his father sent him out of Petersburg because he was worried about him borrowing money.In Moscow, his father won him the position of governor's adjutant and asked him to find ways to form a good relationship.Unladuli had been staying with Bin-Air in Moscow, and Bin-Air accepted him reluctantly at first, but later he took him for granted.

Unladourie has always been content with his situation, with himself and with others.In his own opinion, no other life was possible for him.He thinks that he has not done any bad things in his life, and he will not think about the impact his actions will have on others and the consequences they will cause.His only hobbies are fun and women, and he believes that there is nothing ungodly about such a hobby, and he doesn't think about the consequences of his gratification on others, so he thinks in his heart that he is A flawless human being.

After a perilous journey through wanderings and Persia, Reukot arrived in Moscow again this year.He lived a life of eating, drinking, whoring and gambling, and had close contacts with his old friend Unladuli in Petersburg, and wanted to use Unladuli to achieve his own goals.

Angladuli valued the intelligence of Dolukot, and Lukot needed Angladuli Kuragin's fame, status and contacts to lure rich children to participate in his gambling game.In addition, controlling other people's minds is originally a kind of sharing, hobby and need for Reukot.

Nates made a deep impression on Unladuli. At the dinner after the show, Angladuuri praised Natesi's elegant hands, shoulders and hair in front of Roucourt in an expert tone, and said: He made up his mind to woo her.Angladuli would not think about the consequences of this pursuit, as if he had never known the consequences of his every action.

[twelve]
On the second day of the theatre, none of the Rosestuffers went out.Nates found herself more disturbed than she had been in the first few days of her arrival in Moscow.She could no longer think of Andrée calmly, for long, alone, as she had done before.As soon as she began to think of him, memories of the old prince, of the Duchess Molière, of the theatre, and of Unladury would come to her mind together, and all kinds of thoughts would be in a mess.In the eyes of her family, Nates was almost more lively than usual, but in fact she was far less quiet and happy than before.

Natess was trying on a wedding gown from the tailor, when Hanli came in, wearing a crimson high-necked velvet dress, with a kind and intimate smile on her face.She praised Nates' charms, and every dress of hers.

A happy smile was always on Nates' face.To be praised by the amiable Countess Bezukhova, Natess felt very happy, almost like a blooming flower, even because she used to think that this countess was so noble and difficult to get close to , but now she is so kind to herself.Natès grew more and more delighted, and felt that she was almost in love with this pretty, loving woman.Angladuli begged Hanli to send a message to Nates, because Hanli came to Rostaff's house here, and the idea of ​​matching up for her brother and Nates made her very happy.Although she had complained to Nates before, because Nates had taken her blitz in Petersburg, she no longer cared about it at this time, and she was devoted to Nates in her own way. Tess does good deeds.When she left the Lostaffs, she called Nadès aside, and said to her:

"My brother dined at my house yesterday, and we were very happy, because he ate nothing but kept looking down at you, my charming girl, he loves you madly."

Nates blushed when she heard this.Hanli invites Nates to a dance at her house.

[Thirteen]
The old earl took Natess to the ball at Hanley's house.There were many people at the ball, but almost all of them were people whom Natess did not know.The old earl noticed with dissatisfaction that almost all the people gathered here were men and women with famous and corrupt behaviors.Everyone is watching a performance by a French actress.After the performance, Hanli deliberately persuaded the earl to stay, begging him not to affect the impromptu ball she held.Angladury danced with his arms around Natès, clasped her waist and hands, and told her that she was charming and that he was madly in love with her.Nates was very happy, but at the same time uneasy, she looked around with surprise eyes, completely unable to understand what happened tonight.After the dance, her father sent her home, but she begged to play a little longer.No matter where she was, no matter who she was talking to, she could feel him looking at her.Later, she told her father that she was going to the dressing room to fix her clothes, followed by Hanli, smiling and talking about her brother's love.In that small living room, Natess saw Unladuli, and Hanli did not know where to hide at this moment, leaving only Natesy with Unladuli, and Unladuli held Nadi Tess's hand, said tenderly:
"I can't go to you, but don't tell me I won't see you again? I love you madly, is this the way to part?..." He blocked Nates' way and leaned his face towards her past.

"Natiss?!" His heavy voice had a questioning tone, and he held Natess's hand tightly, making it painful to pinch her hand.

"I don't know anything, I have nothing to say." Her eyes almost said.

Unladuuri's hot lips pressed against hers, and for a split second she felt relieved.The sound of Hanli's footsteps was heard in the room. Nates turned around and saw Hanli. She couldn't help but blushed and trembled all over. She looked at him in surprise and doubt, and then ran to the door.

(End of this chapter)