ChristmascameandexceptfortheceremonialMass, thesolemnandwearisomeChristmascongratulationsfromneighborsandservants, andthenewdresseseveryoneputon, therewerenospecialfestivities, thoughthecalmfrostoftwentydegreesReaumur, thedazzlingsunshinebyday, andthestarlightofthewinternightsseemedtocallforsomespecialcelebrationoftheseason.
OnthethirddayofChristmasweek, afterthemiddaydinner, , whohadbeenvisitingsomeneighborsthatmorning, , , wentuptoSonya, glancedatwhatshewasdoing, andthenwentuptohermotherandstoodwithoutspeaking.
"Whyareyouwanderingaboutlikeanoutcast?" askedhermother."Whatdoyouwant?"
"Him...Iwanthim...now, thisminute! Iwanthim!" saidNatasha, withglitteringeyesandnosignofasmile.
Thecountessliftedherheadandlookedattentivelyatherdaughter.
"Don'tlookatme, Mamma! Don'tlook; Ishallcrydirectly."
"Sitdownwithmealittle," saidthecountess.
"Mamma, , Mamma?"
Hervoicebroke, tearsgushedfromhereyes, andsheturnedquicklytohidethemandlefttheroom.
Shepassedintothesittingroom, stoodtherethinkingawhile, andthenwentintothemaids' , havingjustruninthroughthecoldfromtheserfs' quarters.
"Stopplaying—there'satimeforeverything," saidtheoldwoman.
"Letheralone, Kondratevna," saidNatasha."Go, Mavrushka, go."
HavingreleasedMavrushka, .
"WhatcanIdowiththem?" thoughtNatasha.
"Oh, Nikita, pleasego...wherecanIsendhim?...Yes, gototheyardandfetchafowl, please, acock, andyou, Misha, bringmesomeoats."
"Justafewoats?" saidMisha, cheerfullyandreadily.
"Go, goquickly," theoldmanurgedhim.
"Andyou, Theodore, getmeapieceofchalk."
