Book Eight: 1811-12 - Chapter VI

by Leo Tolstoy

　　At the end of January old Count Rostov went to Moscow with Natashaand Sonya. The countess was still unwell and unable to travel but itwas impossible to wait for her recovery. Prince Andrew was expected inMoscow any day, the trousseau had to be ordered and the estate nearMoscow had to be sold, besides which the opportunity of presenting hisfuture daughter-in-law to old Prince Bolkonski while he was inMoscow could not be missed. The Rostovs' Moscow house had not beenheated that winter and, as they had come only for a short time and thecountess was not with them, the count decided to stay with MaryaDmitrievna Akhrosimova, who had long been pressing her hospitalityon them.

　　Late one evening the Rostovs' four sleighs drove into MaryaDmitrievna's courtyard in the old Konyusheny street. MaryaDmitrievna lived alone. She had already married off her daughter,and her sons were all in the service.

　　She held herself as erect, told everyone her opinion as candidly,loudly, and bluntly as ever, and her whole bearing seemed a reproachto others for any weakness, passion, or temptation- the possibility ofwhich she did not admit. From early in the morning, wearing a dressingjacket, she attended to her household affairs, and then she drove out:on holy days to church and after the service to jails and prisons onaffairs of which she never spoke to anyone. On ordinary days, afterdressing, she received petitioners of various classes, of whom therewere always some. Then she had dinner, a substantial and appetizingmeal at which there were always three or four guests; after dinner sheplayed a game of boston, and at night she had the newspapers or anew book read to her while she knitted. She rarely made an exceptionand went out to pay visits, and then only to the most importantpersons in the town.

　　She had not yet gone to bed when the Rostovs arrived and thepulley of the hall door squeaked from the cold as it let in theRostovs and their servants. Marya Dmitrievna, with her spectacleshanging down on her nose and her head flung back, stood in the halldoorway looking with a stern, grim face at the new arrivals. One mighthave thought she was angry with the travelers and would immediatelyturn them out, had she not at the same time been giving carefulinstructions to the servants for the accommodation of the visitors andtheir belongings.

　　"The count's things? Bring them here," she said, pointing to theportmanteaus and not greeting anyone. "The young ladies'? There to theleft. Now what are you dawdling for?" she cried to the maids. "Get thesamovar ready!... You've grown plumper and prettier," she remarked,drawing Natasha (whose cheeks were glowing from the cold) to her bythe hood. "Foo! You are cold! Now take off your things, quick!" sheshouted to the count who was going to kiss her hand. "You're halffrozen, I'm sure! Bring some rum for tea!... Bonjour, Sonya dear!" sheadded, turning to Sonya and indicating by this French greeting herslightly contemptuous though affectionate attitude toward her.

　　When they came in to tea, having taken off their outdoor thingsand tidied themselves up after their journey, Marya Dmitrievnakissed them all in due order.

　　"I'm heartily glad you have come and are staying with me. It washigh time," she said, giving Natasha a significant look. "The oldman is here and his son's expected any day. You'll have to make hisaquaintance. But we'll speak of that later on," she added, glancing atSonya with a look that showed she did not want to speak of it in herpresence. "Now listen," she said to the count. "What do you wanttomorrow? Whom will you send for? Shinshin?" she crooked one of herfingers. "The sniveling Anna Mikhaylovna? That's two. She's herewith her son. The son is getting married! Then Bezukhov, eh? He ishere too, with his wife. He ran away from her and she came gallopingafter him. He dined with me on Wednesday. As for them"- and shepointed to the girls- "tomorrow I'll take them first to the Iberianshrine of the Mother of God, and then we'll drive to theSuper-Rogue's. I suppose you'll have everything new. Don't judge byme: sleeves nowadays are this size! The other day young Princess IrinaVasilevna came to see me; she was an awful sight- looked as if she hadput two barrels on her arms. You know not a day passes now withoutsome new fashion.... And what have you to do yourself?" she askedthe count sternly.

　　"One thing has come on top of another: her rags to buy, and now apurchaser has turned up for the Moscow estate and for the house. Ifyou will be so kind, I'll fix a time and go down to the estate justfor a day, and leave my lassies with you."

　　"All right. All right. They'll be safe with me, as safe as inChancery! I'll take them where they must go, scold them a bit, and petthem a bit," said Marya Dmitrievna, touching her goddaughter andfavorite, Natasha, on the cheek with her large hand.

　　Next morning Marya Dmitrievna took the young ladies to the Iberianshrine of the Mother of God and to Madame Suppert-Roguet, who was soafraid of Marya Dmitrievna that she always let her have costumes ata loss merely to get rid of her. Marya Dmitrievna ordered almost thewhole trousseau. When they got home she turned everybody out of theroom except Nataisha, and then called her pet to her armchair.

　　"Well, now we'll talk. I congratulate you on your betrothed.You've hooked a fine fellow! I am glad for your sake and I've knownhim since he was so high." She held her hand a couple of feet from theground. Natasha blushed happily. "I like him and all his family. Nowlisten! You know that old Prince Nicholas much dislikes his son'smarrying. The old fellow's crotchety! Of course Prince Andrew is not achild and can shift without him, but it's not nice to enter a familyagainst 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 useyour wits. Then all will be well."

　　Natasha remained silent, from shyness Marya Dmitrievna supposed, butreally because she disliked anyone interfering in what touched herlove of Prince Andrew, which seemed to her so apart from all humanaffairs that no one could understand it. She loved and knew PrinceAndrew, he loved her only, and was to come one of these days andtake her. She wanted nothing more.

　　"You see I have known him a long time and am also fond of Mary, yourfuture sister-in-law. 'Husbands' sisters bring up blisters,' butthis one wouldn't hurt a fly. She has asked me to bring you twotogether. Tomorrow you'll go with your father to see her. Be very niceand affectionate to her: you're younger than she. When he comes, he'llfind 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.