登陆注册
14908100000121

第121章

The old prince was dressing deliberately in his room, scowling and ruminating on what he was to do. The arrival of these visitors angered him. “What’s Prince Vassily to me, he and his son? Prince Vassily is a braggart, an empty-headed fool, and a nice fellow the son is, I expect,” he growled to himself. What angered him was that this visit revived in his mind the unsettled question, continually thrust aside, the question in regard to which the old prince always deceived himself. That question was whether he would ever bring himself to part with his daughter and give her to a husband. The prince could never bring himself to put this question directly to himself, knowing beforehand that if he did he would have to answer it justly, but against justice in this case was ranged more than feeling, the very possibility of life. Life without Princess Marya was unthinkable to the old prince, little as in appearance he prized her. “And what is she to be married for?” he thought; “to be unhappy, beyond a doubt. Look at Liza with Andrey (and a better husband, I should fancy, it would be difficult to find nowadays), but she’s not satisfied with her lot.

And who would marry her for love? She’s plain and ungraceful. She’d be married for her connections, her wealth. And don’t old maids get on well enough? They are happier really!” So Prince Nikolay Andreivitch mused, as he dressed, yet the question constantly deferred demanded an immediate decision. Prince Vassily had brought his son obviously with the intention of making an offer, and probably that day or the next he would ask for a direct answer. The name, the position in the world, was suitable. “Well, I’m not against it,” the prince kept saying to himself, “only let him be worthy of her. That’s what we shall see. That’s what we shall see,” he said aloud, “that’s what we shall see,” and with his usual alert step he walked into the drawing-room, taking in the whole company in a rapid glance. He noticed the change in the dress of the little princess and Mademoiselle Bourienne’s ribbon, and the hideous way in which Princess Marya’s hair was done, and the smiles of the Frenchwoman and Anatole, and the isolation of his daughter in the general talk. “She’s decked herself out like a fool!” he thought, glancing vindictively at his daughter. “No shame in her; while he doesn’t care to speak to her!”

He went up to Prince Vassily.

“Well, how d’ye do, how d’ye do, glad to see you.”

“For a friend that one loves seven versts is close by,” said Prince Vassily, quoting the Russian proverb, and speaking in his usual rapid, self-confident, and familiar tone. “This is my second, I beg you to love him and welcome him, as they say.”

Prince Nikolay Andreivitch scrutinised Anatole.

“A fine fellow, a fine fellow!” he said. “Well, come and give me a kiss,” and he offered him his cheek. Anatole kissed the old man, and looked at him with curiosity and perfect composure, waiting for some instance of the eccentricity his father had told him to expect.

The old prince sat down in his customary place in the corner of the sofa, moved up an armchair for Prince Vassily, pointed to it, and began questioning him about political affairs and news. He seemed to be listening with attention to what Prince Vassily was saying, but glanced continually at Princess Marya.

“So they’re writing from Potsdam already?” He repeated Prince Vassily’s last words, and suddenly getting up, he went up to his daughter.

“So it was for visitors you dressed yourself up like this, eh?” he said. “Nice of you, very nice. You do your hair up in some new fashion before visitors, and before visitors, I tell you, never dare in future to change your dress without my leave.”

“It was my fault…” stammered the little princess, flushing.

“You are quite at liberty,” said the old prince, with a scrape before his daughter-in-law, “but she has no need to disfigure herself—she’s ugly enough without that.” And he sat down again in his place, taking no further notice of his daughter, whom he had reduced to tears.

“On the contrary, that coiffure is extremely becoming to the princess,” said Prince Vassily.

“Well, my young prince, what’s your name?” said the old prince, turning to Anatole. “Come here, let us talk to you a little and make your acquaintance.”

“Now the fun’s beginning,” thought Anatole, and with a smile he sat down by the old prince.

“That’s it; they tell me, my dear boy, you have been educated abroad. Not taught to read and write by the deacon, like your father and me. Tell me, are you serving now in the Horse Guards?” asked the old man, looking closely and intently at Anatole.

“No, I have transferred into the line,” answered Anatole, with difficulty restraining his laughter.

“Ah! a good thing. So you want to serve your Tsar and your country, do you? These are times of war. Such a fine young fellow ought to be on service, he ought to be on service. Ordered to the front, eh?”

“No, prince, our regiment has gone to the front. But I’m attached. What is it I’m attached to, papa?” Anatole turned to his father with a laugh.

“He is a credit to the service, a credit. What is it I’m attached to! Ha-ha-ha!” laughed the old prince, and Anatole laughed still louder. Suddenly the old prince frowned. “Well, you can go,” he said to Anatole. With a smile Anatole returned to the ladies.

“So you had him educated abroad, Prince Vassily? Eh?” said the old prince to Prince Vassily.

“I did what I could, and I assure you the education there is far better than ours.”

“Yes, nowadays everything’s different, everything’s new-fashioned. A fine fellow! a fine fellow! Well, come to my room.” He took Prince Vassily’s arm and led him away to his study.

Left alone with the old prince, Prince Vassily promptly made known to him his wishes and his hopes.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 恐怖校园惊魂案

    恐怖校园惊魂案

    七月半到了,鬼节来了,校园中发生了一件又一件令人恐惧,害怕的闹鬼事件,校园里究竟藏有着什么秘密?为了真正搞清楚闹鬼的原因‘他们’究竟能不能探清校园的里的秘密?
  • 别再拖错拍

    别再拖错拍

    我清楚的记得那天雨好大,打在身上很疼,我就像断了线的风筝离你而去,你好像在挽留却又好像在放手…之前的我很懦弱一旦感情有了分裂我就会像个逃兵,而你口口声声说爱我,却像在爱一个陌生人,可是由爱生恨,有多爱或许就有多恨吧…
  • 恶魔独宠:丫头,不许跑

    恶魔独宠:丫头,不许跑

    一次醉酒,她被恶魔少爷带到家里,醒来的时候恶魔递给她一张签了字的合约,告诉她从今往后他们就要同居了!小丫头想尽一切办法逃跑,却屡屡失败。恶魔总是拿五百万违约金来堵她,不准她逃跑,不准她不听话,不准她喜欢上其他男生。从此恶魔独宠她一人,天天把她护在手心!【男女主1v1身心干净绝对专情】
  • 不懂笑的女孩

    不懂笑的女孩

    故事里的主人公是一个平平凡凡的女孩,她不爱笑,也从来不懂得笑,在校园里她不受人家瞩目,没有什么朋友天天一个人孤孤单单的做事情,每次爱躲在教室里的一个角落里,静静的看着书写着作业.........直到有一天,她遇见了她......
  • 都市异形

    都市异形

    三月同天,祸降世间,众人因此获得不同寻常的能力,然而封印千年尸王的封印也因此削弱,令尸王墨染冲破封印,令天下大乱…
  • 半路修仙

    半路修仙

    修仙世界,唯我独准,你说修仙要积年累月,我却偏能一步登天,兄弟有难要帮,兄弟的女人有难,豁出命去帮,哈哈原来修仙之人也喜欢吟诗作赋,我这异界穿越之人不是占了大便宜,随口一句就是历代名家的千古绝句,不把你们这些土包子吓得一愣一愣,我易小星的名字倒过来写,路有奇遇人难知,情途多舛熟能料,修仙界我来了。
  • 吸氧的麻雀

    吸氧的麻雀

    一部个人诗歌集,大多是个人对生活的感悟,愿用诗歌走进你我的生活。
  • 恶魔少爷请远离我

    恶魔少爷请远离我

    “娘子,回家了”男子微笑着说“谁···谁是你娘子啊!别乱叫”“我哪有,我俩不是成亲了吗?”“什么,你成亲了。那还来相亲啊!”一个男子生气的说······························我是平凡的人可老天喜欢和平凡的人开玩笑,什么公主,什么复仇都去死吧。
  • 无敌灾星

    无敌灾星

    “灾星,茅哥所到”……鸡飞狗跳!“道友,还请留步”……倒霉没跑!“仙子,身材真好”……最后推到!“神佛,我们有缘”……府塌庙倒!“天骄,天运加身”……任尔紫气东来气太骄……“茅哥,晦气霉照”……不小心把你一屁熏倒……“对不起啊!对不起!”……遇见茅哥!尔等运气不好……
  • 明月为何向黑夜

    明月为何向黑夜

    是明月爱黑夜,还是黑夜爱明月?也许其实他们并不相爱,但他们却是最合适伴侣。当你看着明月从东方缓缓升起时,其实黑夜已在你身后。当你遥望天际时,就会发现,明月的升起只为照亮黑夜,而黑夜的出现也只为守护明月。他们是如此深爱着对方,可是他们却从未给过对方一个深情的怀抱。你也许会觉得他们爱的如此凄凉,但在这个世界上,这其实是最美的结局。