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.

Зміст книги
Налаштування
Фон сторінки
Розмір шрифту
Міжрядковий інтервал
Фразові дієслова
Показати / Приховати меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 1232 з 2250