战争与和平(上)-第116节

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iage　with　scared　faces；　ran　in　at　the　back　entrance。
“Those　are　Masha’s　God’s　folk；”　said　Prince　Andrey。　“They　took　us　for　my　father。　It’s　the　one　matter　in　which　she　does　not　obey　him。　He　orders　them　to　drive　away　these　pilgrims；　but　she　receives　them。”
“But　what　are　God’s　folk？”　asked　Pierre。
Prince　Andrey　had　not　time　to　answer　him。　The　servants　came　out　to　meet　them；　and　he　inquired　where　the　old　prince　was　and　whether　they　expected　him　home　soon。　The　old　prince　was　still　in　the　town；　and　they　were　expecting　him　every　minute。
Prince　Andrey　led　Pierre　away　to　his　own　suite　of　rooms；　which　were　always　in　perfect　readiness　for　him　in　his　father’s　house；　and　went　off　himself　to　the　nursery。
“Let　us　go　to　my　sister；”　said　Prince　Andrey；　coming　back　to　Pierre；　“I　have　not　seen　her　yet；　she　is　in　hiding　now；　sitting　with　her　God’s　folk。　Serve　her　right；　she　will　be　put　to　shame；　and　you　will　see　God’s　folk。　It’s　curious；　upon　my　word。”
“What　are　‘God’s　folk’？”　asked　Pierre。
“You　shall　see。”
Princess　Marya　certainly　was　disconcerted；　and　reddened　in　patches　when　they　went　in。　In　her　snug　room；　with　lamps　before　the　holy　picture　stand；　there　was　sitting；　behind　the　samovar；　on　the　sofa　beside　her；　a　young　lad　with　a　long　nose　and　long　hair；　wearing　a　monk’s　cassock。　In　a　low　chair　near　sat　a　wrinkled；　thin；　old　woman；　with　a　meek　expression　on　her　childlike　face。
“Andrey；　why　did　you　not　let　me　know？”　she　said　with　mild　reproach；　standing　before　her　pilgrims　like　a　hen　before　her　chickens。
“Delighted　to　see　you。　I　am　very　glad　to　see　you；”　she　said　to　Pierre；　as　he　kissed　her　hand。　She　had　known　him　as　a　child；　and　now　his　friendship　with　Andrey；　his　unhappy　marriage；　and　above　all；　his　kindly；　simple　face；　disposed　her　favourably　to　him。　She　looked　at　him　with　her　beautiful；　luminous　eyes；　and　seemed　to　say　to　him：　“I　like　you　very　much；　but；　please；　don’t　laugh　at　my　friends。”
After　the　first　phrases　of　greeting；　they　sat　down
“Oh；　and　Ivanushka’s　here；”　said　Prince　Andrey　with　a　smile；　indicating　the　young　pilgrim。
“Andryusha！”　said　Princess　Marya　imploringly。
“You　must　know；　it　is　a　woman；”　said　Andrey　to　Pierre　in　French。
“Andrey；　for　heaven’s　sake！”　repeated　Princess　Marya。
It　was　plain　that　Prince　Andrey’s　ironical　tone　to　the　pilgrims；　and　Princess　Marya’s　helpless　championship　of　them；　were　their　habitual；　long…established　attitudes　on　the　subject。
“Why；　my　dear　girl；”　said　Prince　Andrey；　“you　ought　to　be　obliged　to　me；　on　the　contrary；　for　explaining　your　intimacy　with　this　young　man　to　Pierre。”
“Indeed？”　said　Pierre；　looking　with　curiosity　and　seriousness　（for　which　Princess　Marya　felt　particularly　grateful　to　him）　at　the　face　of　Ivanushka；　who；　seeing　that　he　was　the　subject　under　discussion；　looked　at　all　of　them　with　his　crafty　eyes。
Princess　Marya　had　not　the　slightest　need　to　feel　embarrassment　on　her　friends’　account。　They　were　quite　at　their　ease。　The　old　woman　cast　down　her　eyes；　but　stole　sidelong　glances　at　the　new…comers；　and　turning　her　cup　upside　down　in　the　saucer；　and　laying　a　nibbled　lump　of　sugar　beside　it；　sat　calmly　without　stirring　in　her　chair；　waiting　to　be　offered　another　cup。　Ivanushka；　sipping　out　of　the　saucer；　peeped　from　under　his　brows　with　his　sly；　feminine　eyes　at　the　young　men。
“Where　have　you　been；　in　Kiev？”　Prince　Andrey　asked　the　old　woman。
“I　have；　good　sir；”　answered　the　old　woman；　who　was　conversationally　disposed；　“just　at　the　Holy　Birth　I　was　deemed　worthy　to　be　a　partaker　in　holy；　heavenly　mysteries　from　the　saints。　And　now；　good　sir；　from　Kolyazin　a　great　blessing　has　been　revealed。”
“And　Ivanushka　was　with　you？”
“I　go　alone　by　myself；　benefactor；”　said　Ivanushka；　trying　to　speak　in　a　bass　voice。　“It　was　only　at　Yuhnovo　I　joined　Pelageyushka　…”
Pelageyushka　interrupted　her　companion；　she　was　evidently　anxious　to　tell　of　what　she　had　seen。　“In　Kolyazin；　good　sir；　great　is　the　blessing　revealed。”
“What；　new　relics？”　asked　Prince　Andrey。
“Hush；　Andrey；”　said　Princess　Marya。　“Don’t　tell　us　about　it；　Pelageyushka。”
“Not　…　nay；　ma’am；　why　not　tell　him？　I　like　him。　He’s　a　good　gentleman；　chosen　of　God；　he’s　my　benefactor；　he　gave　me　ten　roubles；　I　remember。　When　I　was　in　Kiev；　Kiryusha；　the　crazy　pilgrim；　tells　me—verily　a　man　of　God；　winter　and　summer　he　goes　barefoot—why　are　you　not　going　to　your　right　place；　says　he；　go　to　Kolyazin；　there　a　wonder…working　ikon；　a　holy　Mother　of　God　has　been　revealed。　On　these　words　I　said　good…bye　to　the　holy　folk　and　off　I　went　…”
All　were　silent；　only　the　pilgrim　woman　talked　on　in　her　measured　voice；　drawing　her　breath　regularly。　“I　came；　good　sir；　and　folks　say　to　me：　a　great　blessing　has　been　vouchsafed；　drops　of　myrrh　trickle　from　the　cheeks　of　the　Holy　Mother　of　God　…”
“Come；　that　will　do；　that　will　do；　you　shall　tell　me　later；”　said　Princess　Marya；　flushing。
“Let　me　ask　her　a　question；”　said　Pierre。　“Did　you　see　it　yourself？”　he　asked。
“To　be　sure；　good　sir；　I　myself　was　found　worthy。　Such　a　brightness　overspread　the　face；　like　the　light　of　heaven；　and　from　the　Holy　Mother’s　cheeks　drops　like　this　and　like　this　…”
“Why；　but　it　must　be　a　trick；”　said　Pierre　na？vely；　after　listening　attentively　to　the　old　woman。
“Oh；　sir；　what　a　thing　to　say！”　said　Pelageyushka　with　horror；　turning　to　Princess　Marya　for　support。
“They　impose　upon　the　people；”　he　repeated。
“Lord　Jesus　Christ！”　said　the　pilgrim　woman；　crossing　herself。　“Oh；　don’t　speak　so；　sir。　There　was　a　general　did　not　believe　like　that；　said　‘the　monks　cheat；’　and　as　he　said　it；　he　was　struck　blind。　And　he　dreamed　a　dream；　the　holy　mother　of　Petchersky　comes　to　him　and　says：　‘Believe　in　me　and　I　will　heal　thee。’　And　so　he　kept　beseeching　them：　‘Take　me　to　her；　take　me　to　her。’　It’s　the　holy　truth　I’m　telling　you；　I’ve　seen　it　myself。　They　carried　him；　blind　as　he　was；　to　her；　he　went　up；　fell　down；　and　said：　‘Heal　me！　I　will　give　thee；’　says　he；　‘what　the　Tsar　bestowed　on　me。’　I　saw　it　myself—a　sort　of　star　carved　in　it。　Well—he　regained　his　sight！　It’s　a　sin　to　speak　so。　God　will　punish　you；”　she　said　admonishingly　to　Pierre。
“How？　Was　the　star　in　the　holy　image？”　asked　Pierre。
“And　didn’t　they　make　the　holy　mother　a　general？”　said　Prince　Andrey；　smiling。
Pelageyushka　turned　suddenly　pale　and　flung　up　her　hands。
“Sir；　sir；　it’s　a　sin　of　you；　you’ve　a　son！”　she　said；　suddenly　turning　from　white　to　dark　red。　“Sir；　for　what　you　have　said；　God　forgive　you。”　She　crossed　herself。　“Lord；　forgive　him。　Lady；　what’s　this？　…”　she　turned　to　Princess　Marya。　She　got　up；　and　almost　crying　began　gathering　up　her　wallet。　Plainly　she　was　both　frightened　and　ashamed　at　having　accepted　bounty　in　a　house　where　they　could　say　such　things；　and　sorry　that　she　must　henceforth　deprive　herself　of　the　bounty　of　that　house。
“What　did　you　want　to　do　this　for？”　said　Princess　Marya。　“Why　did　you　come　to　me？　…”
“No；　I　was　joking　really；　Pelageyushka；”　said　Pierre。　“Princess；　ma　parole；　je　n’ai　pas　voulu　l’offenser。　I　said　it；　meaning　nothing。　Don’t　think　of　it；　I　was　joking；”　he　said；　smiling　timidly　and　trying　to　smooth　over　his　crime。　“It　was　all　my　fault；　but　he　didn’t　mean　it；　he　was　joking。”
Pelageyushka　remained　distrustful；　but　Pierre’s　face　wore　a　look　of　such　genuine　penitence；　and　Prince　Andrey　looked　so　mildly　from　Pelageyushka　to　Pierre；　that　she　was　gradually　reassured。


Chapter　14
THE　PILGRIM　WOMAN　was　appeased；　and　being　drawn　into　conversation　again；　told　them　a　long　story　again　of　Father　Amfilohey；　who　was　of　so　holy　a　life　that　his　hands　smelt　of　incense；　and　how　some　monks　of　her　acquaintance　had；　on　her　last　pilgrimage　to　Kiev；　given　her　the　keys　of　the　catacombs；　and　how　taking　with　her　some　dry　bread　she　had　spent　two　days　and　nights　in　the　catacombs　with　the　saints。　“I　pray　a　bit　in　one；　chant　a　hymn；　and　go　into　another。　I　fall　asleep；　again　I　go　and　kiss　the　holy　relics；　and　such　peace；　ma’am；　such　blessedness；　that　one　has　no　wish　to　come　out　into　God’s　world　again。”
Pierre　listened　to　her　attentively　and　seriously。　Prince　Andrey　went　out　of　the　room。　And　leaving　God’s　folk　to　finish　their　tea；　Princess　Marya　followed　him　with　Pierre　to　the　drawing…room。　“You　are　very　kind；”　she　said　to　him。
“Ah；　I　really　didn’t　mean　to　hurt　her　feelings；　I　so　well　understand　those　feelings；　and　prize　them　so　highly。”
Princess　Marya　looked　mutely　at　him；　and　smiled　affectionately。
“I　have　known　you　for　a　long　time；　you　see；　and　I　love　you　like　a　brother；”　she　said。　“How　do　you　think　Andrey　is　looking？”　she　asked　hurriedly；　not　letting　him　have　time　to　say　anything　in　reply　to　her　affectionate　words。　“He　makes　me　very　uneasy。　His　health　was　better　in　the　winter；　but　last　spring　the　wound　reopened；　and　the　doctor　says　he　ought　to　go　away　for　proper　treatment。　And　I　feel　afraid　for　him　morally。　He　has　not　a　character　like　us　women；　to　suffer　and　find　relief　for　sorrow　in　tears。　He　keeps　it　all　within　him。　To…day　he　is　lively　and　in　good　spirits。　But　that’s　the　effect　of　your　being　with　him；　he　is　not　often　like　this。　If　only　you　could　persuade　him　to　go　abroad。　He　needs　activity；　and　this　quiet；　regular　life　is　b