Chapter 14 Chapter Fourteen

After receiving the news from Nicholas that her brother lived with the Rostovs in Yaroslavl, Princess Marya, despite her aunt's dissuasion, immediately prepared to go there, not alone, but with her nephew. go.She didn't ask whether it was difficult or not, whether it was possible or impossible, and she didn't want to know: her responsibility was not only to stay by the side of her brother who might be dying, but also to give her son to him as much as possible. so she boarded the car and left.If it is said that Prince Andrew did not write to her himself, Princess Marya explained that either he was too weak to write, or he thought the long journey was too difficult for her and for his son. Too dangerous.

Princess Marya was ready to leave in a few days.Her vehicles consisted of the great ducal carriage in which she had traveled to Voronede, a carriage and a wagon.With her were Mademoiselle Bourienne, Nikolushka, the governess, the old nurse, the three maids, Tikhon, and a young footman and footman sent to her by her aunt. It was impossible to think of taking the usual route through Moscow, so the detour that Princess Marya had to take was via Lipetsk, Ryazan, Vladimir and Shuya.The road is long and difficult because stage horses are not everywhere, and at the same time French troops have appeared (as it is said) near Ryazan and are even dangerous.

During this difficult journey, Mademoiselle Bourienne, Desalle, and the princess's servants were all amazed at her determination and ability to deal with things.She rests later than all people, gets up earlier than all people, discusses the difference between nature and man with animals and natural functions, and believes that "the power of heaven, man, and any difficulty can't stop her. Because of her entourage Admirable ability and energy, they arrived in Yaroslavl before the end of the second week. In the last days of Voronezh, Princess Marya tasted the greatest happiness of her life.Her love for Rostov no longer tormented and disturbed her.This love filled her whole soul, it became an inalienable part of her being, and she could no longer resist it.For some time now Princess Marya had been convinced—though she never said so clearly to herself in her heart—that she was in love.She was sure of this when she saw Nicholas for the last time, when he came to tell her that her brother was with the Rostovs.Nicholas did not hint at a word that between his brother and Natasha a reconciliation was possible now (that is, while Prince Andrew was recovering from his health), but Princess Marya saw from his face that he knew and planned .But even so, not only did his attitude towards her—cautious, gentle, courteous—not change, but he seemed pleased that his relationship with Princess Marya now enabled him to express himself more freely to her. Her own friendship and love, Princess Mary sometimes thought.She knew that this was the first and last love in her life, and felt that she had enjoyed it, that she was happy, and therefore at peace.

But the happiness in the heart does not prevent her from feeling pain in missing her brother wholeheartedly. On the contrary, the peace of mind makes it more likely that she will completely fall into missing her brother.This feeling of hers was so strong in the moments before the departure from Voronezh that the people who saw her off, seeing her distressed and hopeless face, believed that she would fall ill on the way, but it was the fatigue and worries of the journey (she Coping with her dexterity), relieved her of her grief for a while and gave her strength. As is often the case when people travel, Princess Marya thought only of the journey, and forgot the object of the trip.But when she was approaching Yaroslavl, something that could make her think about it appeared in her mind again, and she didn't need to say in a few days: "Fu Lu Wang's learning, in essence, is just for the teacher's own use." And admitted that, that night, Princess Maria's uneasiness reached an extreme limit.The servant who was sent to Yaroslavl in advance to inquire about the residence of the Rostovs and Prince Andrei was shocked when he saw the princess's pale face sticking out the window when he encountered the large prince's carriage at the gate of the city. Big jump.

"I've found out everything, princess: the Rostovs live by the square, at the house of the merchant Bronnikov. Not far away, on the Volga," said the footman. Princess Marya looked into his face with frightened and questioning eyes, not understanding why he did not answer the main question: what happened to her brother?Miss Brienne raised the question for her. "How is the Duke?" she asked. "My lordship also lives there with them." "He is alive, then," thought the princess, and then asked in a low voice: "How is he?" "The servants said: He is still the same."

What does "it's the same" mean, the princess didn't ask, but she just glanced quickly and furtively at seven-year-old Nikolushka, who was sitting opposite her, looking at the city with pleasure, so she lowered her head and said nothing. Lift it up again until the big wagon bumps, bumps and rumbles to a stop.The folding pedals came down with a clang. The car door opened.On the left is the water—a great river, and on the right are the steps, on which stood the servants, a maid, and a purple-faced girl with thick black braids, who was smiling, but in an ugly way, Maria The princess has this impression (this is Sonia).The princess ran up the steps, and the girl who forced a smile said: This way, this way!So the princess walked into the antechamber and appeared in front of an old lady with an oriental face, who hurried forward with a deeply moved expression.This is the old Countess.She embraced the princess and began to kiss her.

"Monenfant!" she said, "jevousaimetvousconnaislongtemps." -------- ①My child!I love you and have known you for a long time. Although she was very excited, Princess Marya knew that she was a countess, and she should have a few words with her.But she did not know what to say, and after a few courteous French words, in the same tone as the Countess had spoken to her, she asked: "How is he now?" "The doctor says there is no danger," answered the countess, but as she spoke she sighed and looked up in an expression which contradicted her words. "Where is he? Can I see him, can I?" asked the princess.

"At once, princess, now, my friend. Is this his son?" said the countess to Nikolushka, who had entered with Dessalle. "We can all live in it, it's a big house. Oh, what a charming boy!" The countess led the princess into the drawing room.Sonya chatted with Mademoiselle Bourienne.The Countess caresses the little boy.The old count came in to welcome the princess.He had changed very much since the princess had last seen him.Back then, he was a buoyant, cheerful, confident elder who now looks pitiful and overwhelmed.While the count was talking to the princess, he kept looking at the other people, as if asking them if he was speaking properly.After Moscow and the destruction of his family fortune, once out of the routine of life, it seemed that he lost the sense of the meaning of his life and felt that there was no place for him in life.

Despite wanting to see her brother as soon as possible, despite being delayed at the moment when she only wanted to see him, and people praising her nephew, the princess noticed everything that was going on around her and felt that she had to submit to her own body for a while. A new arrangement in which to fall.She knew it was all necessary, and though she was having a hard time, she didn't blame them. "This is my niece," said the count, introducing Sonia. "You don't know her, princess?" The princess turned to her, suppressed her hostility towards the girl, and kissed her.But the emotions of these people around her were far from what she thought, and her heart was still heavy.

"Where is he?" she asked again to everyone. "He's downstairs, and Natasha is with him," answered Sonya, blushing. "An inquiry has been sent. I suppose you are tired, princess?" Tears of annoyance welled up from the princess's eyes.When she turned to ask the countess how to get to her brother, there were quick, brisk footsteps at the door, which seemed to be pleasant.The princess turned her head and saw Natasha, who had almost come running in, whom she had disliked so much when they met in Moscow long ago. But before the princess had time to see Natasha's face clearly, she understood that it was her sincere companion in sympathy, and therefore her friend.She rushed to meet her, hugged her, and cried on her shoulder.

Natasha, who was sitting at the head of Prince Andrew's bed, when she heard the news of Princess Marya's arrival, quietly left his room, and ran to see her with a step which Princess Marya found hurried and seemed to be cheerful. As she ran into the living room, there was only one expression on her excited face—an expression of love, an infinite love for him, for her, and for all that made her love dear, that is, pity, The expression of suffering for another, of the fervent desire to give her whole self to help, showed that at that moment Natasha was not thinking of herself, of her relation to him. The clever Princess Marya saw all this at a glance on Natasha's face, and wept on her shoulders with both sorrow and joy. "Let's go, let's go and see him, Marie," said Natasha, leading her into another room. The princess raised her face, wiped her eyes, and looked at Natasha.She felt that she would know everything from her. "What's wrong with him?" As soon as she asked the question, she stopped suddenly.Words, she felt, were not enough to ask nor enough to answer.Natasha's face and eyes would have said everything more clearly and more deeply. Natasha looked at her, but seemed frightened and hesitant to tell all she knew; it seemed to her that it was impossible to conceal her seeing from those bright eyes which pierced her soul. all the facts.Natasha's lips trembled suddenly, and crooked wrinkles appeared at the corners of her mouth. She covered her face and cried bitterly. Princess Marya understood everything. Still she hoped, and asked in words she did not believe: "How is his injury? Anyway, how is it?" "You, you... will see." Natasha could only say that. They sat for a while downstairs outside his room, looking at him with calm faces to stop crying. "What is the whole story? Has he deteriorated long ago? When did it begin?" asked Princess Marya. Initially, Natasha said, the situation was dangerous because of the fever and pain, but around Troitz, it passed and the doctor had only one fear - gangrene.But that danger too has passed.But in Yaroslavl the wound began to suppurate (Natasha knew all about suppuration and other things), and the doctor said that suppuration could have good results.Then there was a fever and chills.The doctor said that chills and fever are not so dangerous. "But two days ago," Natasha began, "all of a sudden it happened..." She couldn't help crying. "I don't know why, but you'll see how he is." "Weakened? Thin? . . . " asked the princess. "No, it's not that, it's worse. You'll see. Oh, Mary, he's too good, he can't, can't be saved, because..."