Chapter 21

           

           Afterthedefiniterefusalhehadreceived,Pétyawenttohisroomandtherelockedhimselfinandweptbitterly.Whenhecameintotea,silent,morose,andwithtear-stainedface,everybodypretendednottonoticeanything.

           NextdaytheEmperorarrivedinMoscow,andseveraloftheRostóvs’domesticserfsbeggedpermissiontogotohavealookathim.ThatmorningPétyawasalongtimedressingandarranginghishairandcollartolooklikeagrown-upman.Hefrownedbeforehislookingglass,gesticulated,shruggedhisshoulders,andfinally,withoutsayingawordtoanyone,tookhiscapandleftthehousebythebackdoor,tryingtoavoidnotice.PétyadecidedtogostraighttowheretheEmperorwasandtoexplainfranklytosomegentleman-in-waiting(heimaginedtheEmperortobealwayssurroundedbygentlemen-in-waiting)thathe,CountRostóv,inspiteofhisyouthwishedtoservehiscountry;thatyouthcouldbenohindrancetoloyalty,andthathewasreadyto...Whiledressing,Pétyahadpreparedmanyfinethingshemeanttosaytothegentleman-in-waiting.

           ItwasontheveryfactofbeingsoyoungthatPétyacountedforsuccessinreachingtheEmperor—heeventhoughthowsurprisedeveryonewouldbeathisyouthfulness—andyetinthearrangementofhiscollarandhairandbyhissedatedeliberatewalkhewishedtoappearagrown-upman.Butthefartherhewentandthemorehisattentionwasdivertedbytheever-increasingcrowdsmovingtowardtheKrémlin,thelessherememberedtowalkwiththesedatenessanddeliberationofaman.

Содержание книги
Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 1232 из 2250