复活 Resurrection 26

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复活Resurrection26
THEHOUSEOFKORCHAGIN.
"Pleatowalkin,yourexcellency,"saidthefriendly,fatdoorkeeperoftheKorchagins'bighou,openingthedoor,whichmovednoilesslyonitspatentEnglishhinges;"youareexpected.Theyareatdinner.Myordersweretoadmitonlyyou."Thedoorkeeperwentasfarasthestaircaandrang.
"Arethereanystrangers?"askedNekhludoff,takingoffhisovercoat.
"Mr.KolosoffandMichaelSergeivitchonly,besidesthefamily."
Averyhandsomefootmanwithwhiskers,inaswallowtailcoatandwhitegloves,lookeddownfromthelanding.
"Pleatowalkup,yourexcellency,"hesaid."Youareexpected."
Nekhludoffwentupandpasdthroughthesplendidlargedancingroom,whichheknewsowell,intothediningroom.TherethewholeKorchaginfamilyexceptthemother,SophiaVasilievna,whoneverlefthercabinetweresittingroundthetable.AttheheadofthetablesatoldKorchagin;onhisleftthedoctor,andonhisright,avisitor,IvanIvanovitchKolosoff,aformerMarechaldeNobles,nowabankdirector,Korchagin'sfriendandaLiberal.NextontheleftsidesatMissRayner,thegovernessofMissy'slittlesister,andthefouryearoldgirlherlf.Oppositethem,Missy'sbrother,Petia,theonlysonoftheKorchagins,apublicschoolboyoftheSixthClass.Itwasbecauofhixaminationsthatthewholefamilywerestillintown.NexttohimsataUniversitystudentwhowascoachinghim,andMissy'scousin,MichaelSergeivitchTelegin,generallycalledMisha;oppositehim,KaterinaAlexeevna,a40yearoldmaidenlady,aSlavophil;andatthefootofthetablesatMissyherlf,withanemptyplacebyherside.
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"Ah!that'sright!Sitdown.Wearestillatthefish,"saidoldKorchaginwithdifficulty,chewingcarefullywithhisfalteeth,andliftinghisbloodshoteyes(whichhadnovisiblelidstothem)toNekhludoff.
"Stephen!"hesaid,withhismouthfull,addressingthestout,dignifiedbutler,andpointingwithhiyestotheemptyplace.ThoughNekhludoffknewKorchaginverywell,andhadoftenenhimatdinner,todaythisredfacewiththensualsmackinglips,thefatneckabovethenapkinstuckintohiswaistcoat,andthewholeoverfedmilitaryfigure,struckhimverydisagreeably.ThenNekhludoffremembered,withoutwishingto,whatheknewofthecrueltyofthisman,who,whenincommand,udtohavemenflogged,andevenhanged,withoutrhymeorreason,simplybecauhewasrichandhadnoneedtocurryfavour.
"Immediately,yourexcellency,"saidStephen,gettingalargesoupladleoutofthesideboard,whichwasdecoratedwithanumberofsilvervas.Hemadeasignwithhisheadtothehandsomefootman,whobeganatoncetoarrangetheuntouchedknivesandforksandthenapkin,elaboratelyfoldedwiththeembroideredfamilycrestuppermost,infrontoftheemptyplacenexttoMissy.Nekhludoffwentroundshakinghandswitheveryone,andall,exceptoldKorchaginandtheladies,rowhenheapproached.Andthiswalkroundthetable,thisshakingthehandsofpeople,withmanyofwhomhenevertalked,emedunpleasantandodd.Heexcudhimlfforbeinglate,andwasabouttositdownbetweenMissyandKaterinaAlexeevna,butoldKorchagininsistedthatifhewouldnottakeaglassofvodkaheshouldatleasttakeabitofsomethingtowhethisappetite,atthesidetable,onwhichstoodsmalldishesoflobster,caviare,chee,andsaltherrings.Nekhludoffdidnotknowhowhungryhewasuntilhebegantoeat,andthen,havingtakensomebreadandchee,hewentoneatingeagerly.
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"Well,haveyousucceededinunderminingthebasisofsociety?"askedKolosoff,ironicallyquotinganexpressionudbyaretrogradenewspaperinattackingtrialbyjury."Acquittedtheculpritsandcondemnedtheinnocent,haveyou?"
"Underminingthebasisunderminingthebasis,"repeatedPrinceKorchagin,laughing.Hehadafirmfaithinthewisdomandlearningofhischonfriendandcompanion.
Attheriskofemingrude,NekhludoffleftKolosoff'squestionunanswered,andsittingdowntohissteamingsoup,wentoneating.
"Dolethimeat,"saidMissy,withasmile.ThepronounhimsheudasareminderofherintimacywithNekhludoff.Kolosoffwentoninaloudvoiceandlivelymannertogivethecontentsofthearticleagainsttrialbyjurywhichhadaroudhisindignation.Missy'scousin,MichaelSergeivitch,endordallhisstatements,andrelatedthecontentsofanotherarticleinthesamepaper.Missywas,asusual,verydistinguee,andwell,unobtrusivelywell,dresd.
"Youmustbeterriblytired,"shesaid,afterwaitinguntilNekhludoffhadswallowedwhatwasinhismouth.
"Notparticularly.Andyou?Haveyoubeentolookatthepictures?"heasked.
"No,weputthatoff.WehavebeenplayingtennisattheSalamatoffs'.Itisquitetrue,Mr.Crooksplaysremarkablywell."
Nekhludoffhadcomehereinordertodistracthisthoughts,forheudtolikebeinginthishou,bothbecauitsrefinedluxuryhadapleasanteffectonhimandbecauoftheatmosphereoftenderflatterythatunobtrusivelysurroundedhim.Buttodayeverythinginthehouwasrepulsivetohimeverything:beginningwiththedoorkeeper,thebroadstairca,theflowers,thefootman,thetabledecorations,uptoMissyherlf,whotodayemedunattractiveandaffected.Kolosoff'slfassured,trivialtoneofliberalismwasunpleasant,aswasalsothensual,lfsatisfied,bulllikeappearanceofoldKorchagin,andtheFrenchphrasofKaterinaAlexeevna,theSlavophil.Theconstrainedlooksofthegovernessandthestudentwereunpleasant,too,butmostunpleasantofallwasthepronoun_him_thatMissyhadud.NekhludoffhadlongbeenwaveringbetweentwowaysofregardingMissy;sometimeshelookedatherasifbymoonlight,andcouldeinhernothingbutwhatwasbeautiful,fresh,pretty,cleverandnatural;thensuddenly,asifthebrightsunshoneonher,hesawherdefectsandcouldnothelpeingthem.Thiswassuchadayforhim.Todayhesawallthewrinklesofherface,knewwhichofherteethwerefal,sawthewayherhairwascrimped,thesharpnessofherelbows,and,aboveall,howlargeherthumbnailwasandhowlikeherfather's.
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"Tennisisadullgame,"saidKolosoff;"weudtoplaylaptawhenwewerechildren.Thatwasmuchmoreamusing."
"Oh,no,younevertriedit;it'sawfullyinteresting,"saidMissy,laying,itemedtoNekhludoff,averyaffectedstressontheword"awfully."ThenadisputearoinwhichMichaelSergeivitch,KaterinaAlexeevnaandalltheotherstookpart,exceptthegoverness,thestudentandthechildren,whosatsilentandwearied.
"Oh,theeverlastingdisputes!"saidoldKorchagin,laughing,andhepulledthenapkinoutofhiswaistcoat,noisilypushedbackhischair,whichthefootmaninstantlycaughtholdof,andleftthetable.
Everybodyroafterhim,andwentuptoanothertableonwhichstoodglassofscentedwater.Theyrindtheirmouths,thenresumedtheconversation,interestingtonoone.
"Don'tyouthinkso?"saidMissytoNekhludoff,callingforaconfirmationofthestatementthatnothingshowsupaman'scharacterlikeagame.Shenoticedthatpreoccupiedand,asitemedtoher,dissatisfiedlookwhichshefeared,andshewantedtofindoutwhathadcaudit.
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"Really,Ican'ttell;Ihaveneverthoughtaboutit,"Nekhludoffanswered.
"Willyoucometomamma?"askedMissy.
"Yes,yes,"hesaid,inatonewhichplainlyprovedthathedidnotwanttogo,andtookoutacigarette.
Shelookedathiminsilence,withaquestioninglook,andhefeltashamed."Tocomeintoahouandgivethepeoplethedumps,"hethoughtabouthimlf;then,tryingtobeamiable,saidthathewouldgowithpleasureiftheprincesswouldadmithim.
"Oh,yes!Mammawillbeplead.Youmaysmokethere;andIvanIvanovitchisalsothere."
Themistressofthehou,PrincessSophiaVasilievna,wasarecumbentlady.Itwastheeighthyearthat,whenvisitorswereprent,shelayinlaceandribbons,surroundedwithvelvet,gilding,ivory,bronze,lacquerandflowers,nevergoingout,andonly,assheputit,receivingintimatefriends,i.e.,thowhoaccordingtoherideastoodoutfromthecommonherd.
Nekhludoffwasadmittedintothenumberofthefriendsbecauhewasconsideredclever,becauhismotherhadbeenanintimatefriendofthefamily,andbecauitwasdesirablethatMissyshouldmarryhim.
SophiaVasilievna'sroomlaybeyondthelargeandthesmalldrawingrooms.Inthelargedrawingroom,Missy,whowasinfrontofNekhludoff,stoppedresolutely,andtakingholdofthebackofasmallgreenchair,facedhim.
Missywasveryanxioustogetmarried,andashewasasuitablematchandshealsolikedhim,shehadaccustomedherlftothethoughtthatheshouldbehers(notshehis).Tolohimwouldbeverymortifying.Shenowbegantalkingtohiminordertogethimtoexplainhisintentions.
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"Iesomethinghashappened,"shesaid."Tellme,whatisthematterwithyou?"
Herememberedthemeetinginthelawcourt,andfrownedandblushed.
"Yes,somethinghashappened,"hesaid,wishingtobetruthful;"averyunusualandriouvent."
"Whatisit,then?Canyounottellmewhatitis?"Shewaspursuingheraimwiththatunconsciousyetobstinatecunningoftenobrvableinthementallydiad.
"Notnow.Pleadonotaskmetotellyou.Ihavenotyethadtimefullytoconsiderit,"andheblushedstillmore.
"Andsoyouwillnottellme?"Amuscletwitchedinherfaceandshepushedbackthechairshewasholding."Wellthen,come!"Sheshookherheadasiftoexpelulessthoughts,and,fasterthanusual,wentoninfrontofhim.
Hefanciedthathermouthwasunnaturallycompresdinordertokeepbackthetears.Hewasashamedofhavinghurther,andyetheknewthattheleastweaknessonhispartwouldmeandisaster,i.e.,wouldbindhimtoher.Andtodayhefearedthismorethananything,andsilentlyfollowedhertotheprincess'scabinet.
“老爷,请进,都在等您呢,”柯察金家那个和蔼可亲的胖门房一面说,一面拉开装有英国饺链、开时没有声音的麻栎大门。“他们已经入席了,但关照过,您一到就请进。”
门房走到楼梯口,拉了拉通到楼上的铃。
“有客人吗?”聂赫留朵夫一面***服,一面问。“柯洛索夫先生,还有米哈伊尔少爷,其余都是家里人,”
门房回答。
一个穿燕尾服、戴白手套的漂亮侍仆从楼梯顶上往下看了看。
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“您请,老爷,”他说。“关照过了,请您上来。”
聂赫留朵夫上了楼,穿过熟识的华丽宽敞的大客厅,走进餐厅。餐厅里,一家人都已围坐在饭桌旁,除了母亲沙斐雅公爵夫人之外。她是从来不出房门一步的。饭桌上首坐着柯察金老头;他的左边坐着医生,右边坐着客人柯洛索夫,柯洛索夫当过省首席贵族,如今是银行董事,又是柯察金的具有自由派思想的朋友;左边再下去是米西的小妹的家庭教师蓝德小姐,还有就是才四岁的小妹;她们对面,右边再下去是米西的哥哥,柯察金的独生子,六年级中学生彼嘉,一家人就是因为等他考试而留在城里没有走;彼嘉旁边是那个担任补****教师的大学生;左边再下去是斯拉夫派信徒,四十岁的老姑娘卡吉琳娜;她对面是米哈伊尔,或者叫米沙,他是米西的表哥。饭桌下首是米西本人,她旁边放着一份没有动用过的餐具。
“哦,这就好了。请坐,我们刚开始吃鱼,”柯察金老头费力地用假牙小心咀嚼着,说道,抬起看不出眼皮的充血眼睛望望聂赫留朵夫。“斯吉邦,”他嘴里塞满食物,用眼睛示意那副没有用过的餐具,转身对那个神情庄重的餐厅胖侍仆说。
聂赫留朵夫同柯察金老头虽然很熟,同他一起吃过多次饭,可是今天聂赫留朵夫不知怎的特别讨厌他那张红脸、他那被背心上掖着的餐巾衬托着的两片吃得津津有味的贪婪嘴唇、他那粗大的脖子,尤其是他那吃得大腹便便的将军式身躯。聂赫留朵夫不由得想起这个老头的残酷。他在任地区长官的时候,常常无缘无故把人鞭笞一顿,甚至把人绞死,其实他既有钱又有势,根本没有必要这样来邀功请赏。
“马上就来,老爷,”斯吉邦一面说,一面从摆满银餐具的酒橱里拿出一个大汤勺,又向那个蓄络腮胡子的漂亮侍仆点点头。那个侍仆就把米西旁边那副没有用过的餐具摆摆正。那副餐具上原来盖着一块折叠得整整齐齐的浆过的餐巾,餐巾上面绣着家徽。
聂赫留朵夫绕饭桌一周,同大家一一握手。他走过的时候,除了柯察金老头和太太小姐们,一个个都站起来。聂赫留朵夫跟多数人虽然从没交谈过,但还是一一握手问好。这种应酬他今天觉得特别嫌恶,特别无聊。他为自己的迟到表示了歉意,正想在米西和卡吉琳娜之间的空位上坐下,但柯察金老头要他即使不喝酒,也先到那张摆着龙虾、鱼子酱、干酪和咸青鱼的冷菜桌上去吃一点。聂赫留朵夫自己也没想到肚子那么饿,一吃干酪面包就放不下,竟狼吞虎咽地吃起来。
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“哦,怎么样,把是非彻底颠倒了?”柯洛索夫借用反动报纸抨击陪审制度的用语挖苦说。“把有罪的判成无罪,把无罪的判成有罪,是不是?”
“把是非彻底颠倒了……把是非彻底颠倒了……”老公爵笑着连声说,他无限信任这位自由派和朋友的博学多才。
聂赫留朵夫不顾是否失礼,没有答理柯洛索夫,却坐到一盘刚端上来的热气腾腾的汤旁边,继续吃着。
“您让他先吃吧,”米西笑眯眯地说,用他这个代词表示他们之间的亲密关系。
这时柯洛索夫情绪激动,大声讲到那篇使他生气的反对陪审制的文章。公爵的表侄米哈伊尔附和他的看法,介绍了那家报纸另一篇文章的内容。
米西打扮得象平时一样雅致,她衣着讲究,但讲究得并不刺眼。
“您一定累坏了,饿坏了,是不是?”她等聂赫留朵夫咽下食物,说。
“不,还好。那么您呢?去看过画展吗?”聂赫留朵夫问。
“不,我们改期了。我们在萨拉玛托夫家打草地网球①。说实在的,密丝脱克鲁克斯打得真漂亮。”
①原文是英语。
聂赫留朵夫到这里来是为了散散心。平时他在这座房子里总感到很愉快,不仅因为这种豪华的气派使他觉得舒服,而且周围那种亲切奉承的气氛使他高兴。今天呢,说也奇怪,这座房子里的一切,从门房、宽阔的楼梯、鲜花、侍仆、桌上的摆设起,直到米西本人,什么都使他嫌恶。他觉得米西今天并不可爱,装腔作势,很不自然。他讨厌柯洛索夫那种妄自尊大的自由派论调,讨厌柯察金老头那种得意扬扬的好色的公牛般身材,讨厌斯拉夫派信徒卡吉琳娜的满口法国话,讨厌家庭女教师和补****教师那种拘谨的样子,尤其讨厌米西说到他时单用代词他……聂赫留朵夫对米西的态度常常摇摆不定:有时他仿佛眯细眼睛或者在月光底下瞅她,看到了她身上的种种优点,他觉得她又娇嫩,又美丽,又聪明,又大方……有时他仿佛在灿烂的阳光下瞧她,这样就不能不看到她身上的种种缺点。今天对他来说就是这样的日子。今天他看见她脸上的每道皱纹,看见她头发蓬乱,看见她的臂肘尖得难看,尤其是看见她大拇指上宽大的指甲,简直同她父亲的手指甲一模一样。
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“那玩意儿没意思,”柯洛索夫谈到网球说,“我们小时候玩的棒球要有趣多了。”
“不,您没有尝到那个乐趣。那种球好玩极了,”米西不同意他的话,但聂赫留朵夫觉得她说好玩极了几个字有点装腔作势,怪不自然的。
于是展开了一场争论,米哈伊尔和卡吉琳娜也都参加进去。只有家庭女教师、补****教师和孩子们没作声,显然不感兴趣。
“老是吵嘴!”柯察金老头哈哈大笑,从背心上拉下餐巾,哗啦啦地推开椅子,从桌旁站起来。仆人把他的椅子接过去。其余的人也跟着他纷纷起立,走到放有漱口杯和香喷喷温水的小桌旁,漱了一下口,继续那种谁也不感兴趣的谈话。
“您说是吗?”米西转身对聂赫留朵夫说,要他赞成她的意见,她认为,人的性格再没有比在运动中暴露得更清楚的了。可她在他脸上却看到那种心事重重而且——她觉得——
愤愤不平的神色。她感到害怕,很想知道那是什么缘故。
“说实话,我不知道。这问题我从来没有考虑过,”聂赫留朵夫回答。
“您去看看妈妈,好吗?”米西问。
“好,好,”他一面说,一面拿出香烟,但他的口气分明表示他不愿意去。
她不作声,困惑地对他瞧瞧。他感到有点不好意思。“不错,既然来看人家,可不能弄得人家扫兴啊,”他暗自想,就竭力做出亲切的样子说,要是公爵夫人肯接见,他是高兴去的。
“当然,当然,您去,妈妈会高兴的。烟到那边也可以抽。
伊凡·伊凡内奇也在那里。”
这家的女主人沙斐雅公爵夫人长期卧病在床。她躺着会客已经有八年了,身上穿的满是花边、缎带和丝绒,周围都是镀金、象牙、青铜摆件和漆器,还有各种花草。她从不出门,一向只接见她所谓“自己的朋友”,其实就是她认为出类拔萃的人物。聂赫留朵夫属于这种被接见的“朋友”之列,因为她认为他是个聪明的年轻人,又