。 But that lasted only one second。 “I mustn’t think； I mustn’t dare to think about that；” she said to herself； and smiling； she sat down again near the uncle； begging him to play them something more。
The uncle played another song and waltz。 Then； after a pause； he cleared his throat and began to sing his favourite hunting song：—
“When there fall at evening glow
The first flakes of winter snow。”…
The uncle sang； as peasants sing； in full and naive conviction that in a song the whole value rests in the words； that the tune comes of itself and that a tune apart is nothing； that the tune is only for the sake of the verse。 And this gave the uncle’s unself…conscious singing a peculiar charm； like the song of birds。 Natasha was in ecstasies over the uncle’s singing。 She made up her mind not to learn the harp any longer； but to play only on the guitar。 She asked the uncle for the guitar and at once struck the chords of the song。
At ten o’clock there arrived the wagonette； a trap； and three men on horseback； who had been sent to look for Natasha and Petya。 The count and countess did not know where they were and were very anxious； so said one of the men。
Petya was carried out and laid in the wagonette as though he had been a corpse。 Natasha and Nikolay got into the trap。 The uncle wrapped Natasha up； and said good…bye to her with quite a new tenderness。 He accompanied them on foot as far as the bridge which they had to ride round； fording the stream； and bade his huntsmen ride in front with lanterns。
“Farewell； dear little niece！” they heard called in the darkness by his voice； not the one Natasha had been familiar with before； but the voice that had sung “When there fall at evening glow。”
There were red lights in the village they drove through and a cheerful smell of smoke。
“What a darling that uncle is！” said Natasha as they drove out into the highroad。
“Yes；” said Nikolay。 “You’re not cold？”
“No； I’m very comfortable； very。 I am so happy；” said Natasha； positively perplexed at her own well…being。 They were silent for a long while。
The night was dark and damp。 They could not see the horses； but could only hear them splashing through the unseen mud。
What was passing in that childlike； responsive soul； that so eagerly caught and made its own all the varied impressions of life？ How were they all stored away in her heart？ But she was very happy。 They were getting near home when she suddenly hummed the air of “When there fall at evening glow；” which she had been trying to get all the way； and had only just succeeded in catching。
“Have you caught it？” said Nikolay。
“What are you thinking of just now； Nikolay？” asked Natasha。 They were fond of asking each other that question。
“I？” said Nikolay； trying to recall。 “Well； you see； at first I was thinking that Rugay； the red dog； is like the uncle； and that if he were a man he would keep uncle always in the house with him； if not for racing； for music he’d keep him anyway。 How jolly uncle is！ Isn’t he？ Well； and you？”
“I？ Wait a minute； wait a minute！ Oh； I was thinking at first that here we are driving and supposing that we are going home； but God knows where we are going in this darkness； and all of a sudden we shall arrive and see we are not at Otradnoe but in fairyland。 And then I thought； too … no； nothing more。”
“I know； of course； you thought of him；” said Nikolay； smiling； as Natasha could tell by his voice。
“No；” Natasha answered； though she really had been thinking at the same time of Prince Andrey and how he would like the uncle。 “And I keep repeating； too； all the way I keep repeating： how nicely Anisyushka walked； how nicely…” said Natasha。 And Nikolay heard her musical； causeless； happy laugh。
“And do you know？” she said suddenly。 “I know I shall never be as happy； as peaceful as I am now…”
“What nonsense； idiocy； rubbish！” said Nikolay； and he thought： “What a darling this Natasha of mine is！ I have never had； and never shall have； another friend like her。 Why should she be married？ I could drive like this with her for ever！”
“What a darling this Nikolay of mine is！” Natasha was thinking。
“Ah！ Still a light in the drawing…room；” she said； pointing to the windows of their house gleaming attractively in the wet； velvety darkness of the night。
Chapter 8
COUNT ILYA ANDREITCH had given up being a marshal of nobility； because that position involved too heavy an expenditure。 But his difficulties were not removed by that。 Often Natasha and Nikolay knew of uneasy； private consultations between their parents； and heard talk of selling the sumptuous ancestral house of the Rostovs and the estate near Moscow。 When the count was no longer marshal it was not necessary to entertain on such a large scale； and they led a quieter life at Otradnoe than in former years。 But the immense house and the lodges were still full of people； more than twenty persons still sat down to table with them。 These were all their own people； time…honoured inmates of their household； almost members of the family； or persons who must； it seemed； inevitably live in the count’s house。 Such were Dimmler； the music…master； and his wife； Vogel the dancing…master； with his family； an old Madame Byelov； and many others besides； Petya’s tutors； the girls’ old governess； and persons who simply found it better or more profitable to live at the count’s than in a house of their own。 They did not entertain so many guests as before； but they still lived in that manner； apart from which the count and countess could not have conceived of life at all。 There was still the same hunting establishment； increased indeed by Nikolay。 There were still the same fifty horses and fifteen grooms in the stables； the same costly presents on name…days； and ceremonial dinners to the whole neighbourhood。 There were still the count’s games of whist and boston； at which； letting every one see his cards； he allowed himself to be plundered every day of hundreds by his neighbours； who looked upon the privilege of making up a rubber with Count Ilya Andreitch as a profitable investment。
The count went into his affairs as though walking into a huge net； trying not to believe that he was entangled； and at every step getting more and more entangled； and feeling too feeble either to tear the nets that held him fast； or with care and patience to set about disentangling them。 The countess with her loving heart felt that her children were being ruined； that the count was not to blame； that he could not help being what he was； that he was distressed himself （though he tried to conceal it） at the consciousness of his own and his children’s ruin； and was seeking means to improve their position。 To her feminine mind only one way of doing so occurred—that was； to marry Nikolay to a wealthy heiress。 She felt that this was their last hope； and that if Nikolay were to refuse the match she had found for him she must bid farewell for ever to all chance of improving their position。 This match was Julie Karagin； the daughter of excellent and virtuous parents； known to the Rostovs from childhood； and now left a wealthy heiress by the death of her last surviving brother。
The countess wrote directly to Madame Karagin in Moscow； suggesting to her the marriage of her daughter to her own son； and received a favourable reply from her。 Madame Karagin replied that she was quite ready for her part to consent to the match； but everything must depend on her daughter’s inclinations。 Madame Karagin invited Nikolay to come to Moscow。 Several times the countess； with tears in her eyes； had told her son that now that both her daughters were settled； her only wish was to see him married。 She said that she could rest quietly in her grave if this were settled。 Then she would say that she had an excellent girl in her eye； and would try and get from him his views on matrimony。
On other occasions she praised Julie and advised Nikolay to go to Moscow for the holidays to amuse himself a little。 Nikolay guessed what his mother’s hints were aiming at； and on one such occasion he forced her to complete frankness。 She told him plainly that all hope of improving their position rested now on his marrying Julie Karagin。
“What； if I loved a girl with no fortune would you really desire me； mamma； to sacrifice my feeling and my honour for the sake of money？” he asked his mother； with no notion of the cruelty of his question； but simply wishing to show his noble sentiments。
“No； you misunderstand me；” said his mother； not knowing how to retrieve her mistake。 “You misunderstand me； Nikolenka。 It is your happiness I wish for；” she added； and she felt she was speaking falsely； that she was blundering。 She burst into tears。
“Mamma； don’t cry； and only tell me that you wish it； and you know that I would give my whole life； everything for your peace of mind；” said Nikolay； “I will sacrifice everything for you； even my feelings。”
But the countess did not want the question put like that； she did not want to receive sacrifices from her son； she would have liked to sacrifice herself to him。
“No； you don’t understand me； don’t let us talk of it；” she said； wiping away her tears。
“Yes； perhaps I really do love a poor girl；” Nikolay said to himself； “what； am I to sacrifice my feeling and my honour for fortune？ I wonder how mamma could say such a thing。 Because Sonya is poor I must not love her；” he thought； “I must not respond to her faithful； devoted love。 And it is certain I should be happier with her than with any doll of a Julie。 To sacrifice my feelings for the welfare of my family I can always do；” he said to himself； “but I can’t control my feelings。 If I love Sonya； that feeling is more than anything and above anything for me。”
Nikolay did not go to Moscow； the countess did not renew her conversations with him about matrimony； and with grief； and sometimes with exasperation； saw symptoms of a growing attachment between her son and the portionless Sonya。 She blamed herself for it； yet could not refrain from scolding and upbraiding Sonya； often reproving her without cause and addressing her as “my good girl。” What irritated the kind…hearted countess more than anything was that this poor； dark…eyed niece w