战争与和平(上)-第195节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ger；　no；　even　Ilyin　here；　who’s　nothing　to　me　but　a　good…natured　lad；　I　would　do　my　best　to　keep　safe　and　sheltered；”　Rostov　mused；　as　he　listened　to　Zdrzhinsky。　But　he　did　not　give　utterance　to　his　thoughts；　he　had　experience　of　that　too。　He　knew　that　this　tale　redounded　to　the　glory　of　our　arms；　and　therefore　one　must　appear　not　to　doubt　its　truth：　and　he　acted　accordingly。
“I　can’t　stand　this；　though；”　said　Ilyin；　noticing　that　Rostov　did　not　care　for　Zdrzhinsky’s　story；　“stockings　and　shirt；　and　all—I’m　wet　through。　I’m　going　to　look　for　shelter。　I　fancy　the　rain’s　not　so　heavy。”　Ilyin　ran　out　and　Zdrzhinsky　rode　away。
Five　minutes　later　Ilyin　came　splashing　through　the　mud　to　the　shanty。
“Hurrah！　Rostov；　make　haste　and　come　along。　I　have　found　an　inn；　two　hundred　paces　or　so　from　here；　a　lot　of　our　fellows　are　there　already。　We　can　get　dry　anyway；　and　Marya　Hendrihovna’s　there。”
Marya　Hendrihovna　was　the　wife　of　the　regimental　doctor；　a　pretty　young　German　woman；　whom　he　had　married　in　Poland。　Either　from　lack　of　means　or　disinclination　to　part　from　his　young　wife　in　the　early　days　of　their　marriage；　the　doctor　had　brought　her　with　him　in　the　regiment；　and　his　jealousy　was　a　favourite　subject　for　the　jibes　of　the　hussars。
Rostov　flung　on　a　cape；　shouted　to　Lavrushka　to　follow　them　with　their　things；　and　went　off　with　Ilyin；　slipping　in　the　mud；　and　splashing　through　the　pools　in　the　drizzling　rain　and　the　darkness；　which　was　rent　at　intervals　by　distant　lightning。
“Rostov；　where　are　you？”
“Here。　What　a　flash！”　they　called　to　one　another　as　they　went。


Chapter　13
IN　THE　INN；　before　which　was　standing　the　doctor’s　covered　cart；　there　were　already　some　half…dozen　officers。　Marya　Hendrihovna；　a　plump；　flaxen…headed　little　German　in　a　dressing…jacket　and　nightcap；　was　sitting　on　a　board　bench　in　the　foremost　corner。　Her　husband；　the　doctor；　lay　asleep　behind　her。　Rostov　and　Ilyin　entered　the　room；　welcomed　with　merry　shouts　and　laughter。
“I　say！　You　are　having　a　jolly　time　here！”　said　Rostov；　laughing。
“And　what　are　you　yawning　over？”
“Pretty　figures　you　look！　There’s　a　perfect　waterfall　from　them！　Don’t　swamp　our　drawing…room。”
“Mind　you　don’t　spatter　Marya　Hendrihovna’s　dress；”　chimed　in　voices。
Rostov　and　Ilyin　made　haste　to　look　for　a　retreat　where；　without　offence　to　the　modesty　of　Marya　Hendrihovna；　they　might　change　their　wet　clothes。　They　went　behind　a　partition　wall　to　change；　but　in　the　little　recess　were　three　officers；　who　completely　filled　it　up。　They　were　sitting　playing　cards　by　the　light　of　a　single　candle　on　an　empty　box；　and　nothing　would　induce　them　to　budge　from　their　places。　Marya　Hendrihovna　lent　them　her　petticoat　to　be　hung　by　way　of　a　curtain；　and　screened　by　it；　Rostov　and　Ilyin　took　off　their　wet　things　and　put　on　dry　clothes；　with　the　aid　of　Lavrushka；　who　had　brought　their　packages。
They　made　up　a　fire　in　the　broken…down　stove。　They　got　hold　of　a　board；　propped　it　on　two　saddles；　and　covered　it　with　a　horse…cloth；　then　brought　out　a　little　samovar；　a　case　of　wine；　and　half　a　bottle　of　rum。　All　crowded　round　Marya　Hendrihovna；　begging　her　to　preside。　One　offered　her　a　clean　handkerchief；　to　wipe　her　charming　hands；　another　put　his　tunic　under　her　little　feet；　to　keep　them　from　the　damp　floor；　a　third　hung　a　cape　over　the　window；　to　screen　her　from　the　draught；　while　a　fourth　brushed　the　flies　off　her　husband’s　face；　to　prevent　their　waking　him。
“Let　him　alone；”　said　Marya　Hendrihovna；　with　a　timid　and　happy　smile；　“he　will　sleep　well　anyhow　after　being　up　all　night。”
“Oh　no；　Marya　Hendrihovna；”　answered　the　officer；　“one　must　look　after　the　doctor　well！　Anything　may　happen；　and　he　will　be　kind　to　me；　I　dare　say；　when　he　has　to　cut　off　my　leg　or　my　arm。”
There　were　only　three　glasses；　the　water　was　so　dirty　that　there　was　no　telling　whether　the　tea　were　strong　or　weak；　and　the　samovar　would　only　hold　water　enough　for　six　glasses。　But　that　made　it　all　the　more　fun　to　take　turns　in　order　of　seniority　to　receive　a　glass　from　the　plump；　short…nailed；　and　not　over　clean　fingers　of　Marya　Hendrihovna。　All　the　officers　seemed　indeed　to　be　genuinely　in　love　for　that　evening　with　Marya　Hendrihovna。　Even　the　officers　who　had　been　playing　cards　behind　the　screen　soon　threw　up　their　game；　and　gathered　round　the　samovar；　catching　the　general　mood；　and　joining　in　the　homage　paid　to　Marya　Hendrihovna。　The　latter；　seeing　herself　surrounded　by　these　splendid　and　devoted　young　men；　beamed　with　delight；　which　she　sought　in　vain　to　conceal；　though　she　was　unmistakably　alarmed　at　every　movement　made　by　her　husband；　who　was　slumbering　behind　her。　There　was　only　one　spoon；　sugar　there　was　in　plenty；　but　it　took　so　long　for　all　to　stir　their　glasses；　that　it　was　settled　that　Marya　Hendrihovna　must　stir　the　sugar　for　each　in　turn。　Rostov　took　his　glass　of　tea；　and　adding　rum　to　it；　begged　Marya　Hendrihovna　to　stir　it　for　him。
“But　you　take　it　without　sugar？”　she　said；　smiling　all　the　while；　as　though　whatever　she　said　or　the　others　said　had　a　quite　different　and　very　amusing　meaning。
“I　don’t　care　about　sugar；　all　I　want　is　for　you　to　stir　it　with　your　little　hand。”
Marya　Hendrihovna　began　looking　for　the　spoon；　which　some　one　had　pounced　upon。
“Use　your　little　finger；　Marya　Hendrihovna；”　said　Rostov；　“it　will　be　all　the　sweeter。”
“It’s　hot；”　said　Marya　Hendrihovna；　blushing　with　pleasure。
Ilyin　took　the　bucket　of　water；　and　pouring　a　few　drops　of　rum　in　it；　went　up　to　Marya　Hendrihovna；　begging　her　to　stir　it　with　her　finger。
“This　is　my　cup；”　he　said。　“Only　dip　your　finger　in　and　I’ll　drink　it　all　up。”
When　the　samovar　was　empty；　Rostov　took　up　the　cards　and　proposed　a　game　of　“Kings”　with　Marya　Hendrihovna。　They　tossed　to　decide　which　was　to　have　the　lady　for　a　partner。　Rostov　proposed　as　a　rule　of　the　game　that　the　one　who　was　“king”　should　have　the　right　to　kiss　Marya　Hendrihovna’s　hand；　and　the　one　who　was　left　knave　should　have　to　fetch　another　samovar　for　the　doctor；　when　he　waked。
“Well；　but　what　if　Marya　Hendrihovna　is　king？”　asked　Ilyin。
“She　is　our　queen　already！　And　her　commands　are　law。”
The　game　was　just　beginning　when　the　doctor’s　dishevelled　head　popped　up　behind　his　wife。　He　had　been　awake　for　some　time　and　listening　to　the　conversation；　and　apparently　he　saw　nothing　agreeable；　funny；　or　amusing　in　what　was　being　said　and　done。　His　face　looked　depressed　and　weary。　He　did　not　greet　the　officers；　but　scratching　himself；　he　asked　them　to　move　to　let　him　pass。　As　soon　as　he　had　left　the　room；　all　the　officers　broke　into　loud　peals　of　laughter；　and　Marya　Hendrihovna　blushed　till　the　tears　came；　making　her　even　more　charming　in　the　eyes　of　the　officers。　Coming　in　again　from　the　yard；　the　doctor　told　his　wife　（who　had　lost　her　radiant　smile；　and　looked　at　him　in　dismay　in　expectation　of　the　sentence　in　store　for　her）　that　the　rain　was　over　and　they　must　spend　the　night　in　their　covered　cart；　or　they　would　have　all　their　things　stolen。
“But　I’ll　put　an　orderly　on　guard　…　two；　indeed！”　said　Rostov。　“That’s　nonsense；　doctor。”
“I’ll　be　sentinel　myself！”　said　Ilyin。
“No；　gentlemen；　you　have　had　plenty　of　sleep；　but　I　have　been　up　these　two　nights；”　said　the　doctor；　and　he　sat　gloomily　by　his　wife’s　side；　waiting　for　the　end　of　the　game。
Looking　at　the　doctor’s　gloomy　face　and　sidelong　glances　at　his　wife；　the　officers　grew　even　more　lively；　and　many　of　them　could　not　suppress　their　laughter；　for　which　they　hastily　sought　presentable　pretexts。　When　the　doctor　had　led　his　wife　away；　and　settled　himself　with　her　in　their　cart；　the　officers　lay　down　in　the　inn；　covering　themselves　with　their　wet　overcoats。　But　for　a　long　while　they　stayed　awake；　chatting；　recalling　the　dismay　of　the　doctor；　and　the　delight　of　the　doctor’s　wife；　or　running　out　on　to　the　steps　to　report　on　what　was　going　on　in　the　cart。　Several　times　Rostov　muffled　his　head　up　and　tried　to　go　to　sleep。　But　again　some　remark　roused　him；　again　a　conversation　sprang　up；　and　again　there　were　peals　of　causeless；　merry；　childish　laughter。


Chapter　14
IT　was　past　two　o’clock；　no　one　was　yet　asleep；　when　the　quartermaster　appeared；　bringing　a　command　to　advance　upon　a　little　place　called　Ostrovna。　Still　with　the　same　chatter　and　laughter　the　officers　began　hurriedly　getting　ready；　again　the　samovar　was　filled　up　with　dirty　water。　But　Rostov；　without　waiting　for　tea；　went　off　to　his　squadron。　It　was　already　light；　the　rain　had　ceased；　and　the　clouds　were　parting。　It　was　chill　and　damp；　especially　in　their　still　wet　clothes。　As　they　came　out　of　the　inn；　in　the　twilight　of　the　dawn；　Rostov　and　Ilyin　both　glanced　at　the　leather　cover　of　the　doctor’s　cart；　still　glistening　from　the　rain。　The　doctor’s　feet　were　sticking　out　from　under　the　cover；　and　in　the　middle　of　the　cart　they　caught　a　glimpse　of　his　wife’s　nightcap；　and　heard　sleepy　breathing。
“She’s　really　very　charming；”　said　Rostov　to　Ilyin。
“An　exquisite　woman！”　responded　Ilyin；　with　all　the　gravity　of　a　boy　of　sixteen。
Half　an　hour　later　the　squadron　stood　drawn　up　on　the　road。　The　word　of　command　was　heard；　“Mount！”　and　the　soldiers　crossed　themselves　and　got　on　their　horses。　Rostov；　ridin