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Chapter 6 - The Rostóvs stay with Márya Dmiítrievna
At the end of January old Count Rostov went to Moscow with Natasha and Sonya. The countess was still unwell and unable to travel but it was impossible to wait for her recovery. Prince Andrey was expected in Moscow any day, the trousseau had to be ordered and the estate near Moscow had to be sold, besides which the opportunity of presenting his future daughter-in-law to old Prince Bolkonsky while he was in Moscow could not be missed. The Rostovs’ Moscow house had not been heated that winter and, as they had come only for a short time and the countess was not with them, the count decided1 to stay with Marya Dmitrievna Akhrosimova, who had long been pressing her hospitality on them.
Late one evening the Rostovs’ four sleighs drove into Marya Dmitrievna’s courtyard in the old Konyusheny street. Marya Dmitrievna lived alone. She had already married off her daughter, and her sons were all in the service.
She held herself as erect2, told everyone her opinion as candidly3, loudly, and bluntly as ever, and her whole bearing seemed a reproach to others for any weakness, passion, or temptation — the possibility of which she did not admit. From early in the morning, wearing a dressing4 jacket, she attended to her household affairs, and then she drove out: on holy days to church and after the service to jails and prisons on affairs of which she never spoke5 to anyone. On ordinary days, after dressing, she received petitioners6 of various classes, of whom there were always some. Then she had dinner, a substantial and appetizing meal at which there were always three or four guests; after dinner she played a game of boston, and at night she had the newspapers or a new book read to her while she knitted. She rarely made an exception and went out to pay visits, and then only to the most important persons in the town.
She had not yet gone to bed when the Rostovs arrived and the pulley of the hall door squeaked7 from the cold as it let in the Rostovs and their servants. Marya Dmitrievna, with her spectacles hanging down on her nose and her head flung back, stood in the hall doorway8 looking with a stern, grim face at the new arrivals. One might have thought she was angry with the travelers and would immediately turn them out, had she not at the same time been giving careful instructions to the servants for the accommodation of the visitors and their belongings9.
“The count’s things? Bring them here,” she said, pointing to the portmanteaus and not greeting anyone. “The young ladies’? There to the left. Now what are you dawdling10 for?” she cried to the maids. “Get the samovar ready! . . . You’ve grown plumper and prettier,” she remarked, drawing Natasha (whose cheeks were glowing from the cold) to her by the hood11. “Foo! You are cold! Now take off your things, quick!” she shouted to the count who was going to kiss her hand. “You’re half frozen, I’m sure! Bring some rum for tea! . . . Bonjour, Sonya dear!” she added, turning to Sonya and indicating by this French greeting her slightly contemptuous though affectionate attitude toward her.
When they came in to tea, having taken off their outdoor things and tidied themselves up after their journey, Marya Dmitrievna kissed them all in due order.
“I’m heartily12 glad you have come and are staying with me. It was high time,” she said, giving Natasha a significant look. “The old man is here and his son’s expected any day. You’ll have to make his aquaintance. But we’ll speak of that later on,” she added, glancing at Sonya with a look that showed she did not want to speak of it in her presence. “Now listen,” she said to the count. “What do you want tomorrow? Whom will you send for? Shinshin?” she crooked13 one of her fingers. “The sniveling Anna Mikhaylovna? That’s two. She’s here with her son. The son is getting married! Then Bezukhov, eh? He is here too, with his wife. He ran away from her and she came galloping14 after him. He dined with me on Wednesday. As for them”— and she pointed15 to the girls — “tomorrow I’ll take them first to the Iberian shrine16 of the Mother of God, and then we’ll drive to the Super-Rogue’s. I suppose you’ll have everything new. Don’t judge by me: sleeves nowadays are this size! The other day young Princess Irina Vasilevna came to see me; she was an awful sight — looked as if she had put two barrels on her arms. You know not a day passes now without some new fashion. . . . And what have you to do yourself?” she asked the count sternly.
“One thing has come on top of another: her rags to buy, and now a purchaser has turned up for the Moscow estate and for the house. If you will be so kind, I’ll fix a time and go down to the estate just for a day, and leave my lassies with you.”
“All right. All right. They’ll be safe with me, as safe as in Chancery! I’ll take them where they must go, scold them a bit, and pet them a bit,” said Marya Dmitrievna, touching17 her goddaughter and favorite, Natasha, on the cheek with her large hand.
Next morning Marya Dmitrievna took the young ladies to the Iberian shrine of the Mother of God and to Madame Suppert-Roguet, who was so afraid of Marya Dmitrievna that she always let her have costumes at a loss merely to get rid of her. Marya Dmitrievna ordered almost the whole trousseau. When they got home she turned everybody out of the room except Nataisha, and then called her pet to her armchair.
“Well, now we’ll talk. I congratulate you on your betrothed18. You’ve hooked a fine fellow! I am glad for your sake and I’ve known him since he was so high.” She held her hand a couple of feet from the ground. Natasha blushed happily. “I like him and all his family. Now listen! You know that old Prince Nikolai much dislikes his son’s marrying. The old fellow’s crotchety! Of course Prince Andrey is not a child and can shift without him, but it’s not nice to enter a family against a father’s will. One wants to do it peacefully and lovingly. You’re a clever girl and you’ll know how to manage. Be kind, and use your wits. Then all will be well.”
Natasha remained silent, from shyness Marya Dmitrievna supposed, but really because she disliked anyone interfering19 in what touched her love of Prince Andrey, which seemed to her so apart from all human affairs that no one could understand it. She loved and knew Prince Andrey, he loved her only, and was to come one of these days and take her. She wanted nothing more.
“You see I have known him a long time and am also fond of Marya, your future sister-in-law. ‘Husbands’ sisters bring up blisters,’ but this one wouldn’t hurt a fly. She has asked me to bring you two together. Tomorrow you’ll go with your father to see her. Be very nice and affectionate to her: you’re younger than she. When he comes, he’ll find you already know his sister and father and are liked by them. Am I right or not? Won’t that be best?”
“Yes, it will,” Natasha answered reluctantly.
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1
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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2
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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3
candidly
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| adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地 | |
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4
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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5
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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6
petitioners
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| n.请求人，请愿人( petitioner的名词复数 )；离婚案原告 | |
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7
squeaked
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的过去式和过去分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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8
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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9
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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10
dawdling
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| adj.闲逛的，懒散的v.混（时间）( dawdle的现在分词 ) | |
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11
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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12
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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13
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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14
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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15
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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16
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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17
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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18
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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19
interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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