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Olenin, who had joined the Caucasian Army as a cadet three months before, was quartered in one of the best houses in the village, the house of the cornet, Elias Vasilich that is to say at Granny Ulitka's.
The count, Petya, Madame Schoss, Mavra Kuzminichna, and Vasilich came into the drawing room and, having closed the doors, they all sat down and remained for some moments silently seated without looking at one another. The count was the first to rise, and with a loud sigh crossed himself before the icon. All the others did the same.
"Well, Vasilich, is everything ready?" asked the count, and stroking his bald head he looked good-naturedly at the officer and the orderly and nodded to them. "We can harness at once, your excellency." "Well, that's right. As soon as the countess wakes we'll be off, God willing! What is it, gentlemen?" he added, turning to the officer. "Are you staying in my house?"
'Just see how he's got himself up. He's put on a new coat so that you should see that he's an officer. Ah, these people, these people! Sure enough Vanyusha came in and announced that the master of the house wished to see Olenin. 'L'arjan! he remarked profoundly, to forewarn his master of the meaning of this visitation. The cornet, Elias Vasilich, was an educated Cossack.
"It's because Papa wanted to give up all the carts to the wounded," said Petya. "Vasilich told me. I consider..." "I consider," Natasha suddenly almost shouted, turning her angry face to Petya, "I consider it so horrid, so abominable, so... I don't know what. Are we despicable Germans?"
Then the count embraced Mavra Kuzminichna and Vasilich, who were to remain in Moscow, and while they caught at his hand and kissed his shoulder he patted their backs lightly with some vaguely affectionate and comforting words. The countess went into the oratory and there Sonya found her on her knees before the icons that had been left here and there hanging on the wall.
"What could we fasten this onto?" asked the servants, trying to fix a trunk on the narrow footboard behind a carriage. "We must keep at least one cart." "What's in it?" asked Natasha. "The count's books." "Leave it, Vasilich will put it away. It's not wanted." The phaeton was full of people and there was a doubt as to where Count Peter could sit. "On the box.
"I shall be very pleased, very pleased. Vasilich, you'll see to it. Just unload one or two carts. Well, what of it... do what's necessary..." said the count, muttering some indefinite order. But at the same moment an expression of warm gratitude on the officer's face had already sealed the order. The count looked around him.
However, the truth soon got about in the village, and Lukashka's mother and Maryanka, as well as Elias Vasilich and other Cossacks, when they heard of Olenin's unnecessary gift, were perplexed, and began to be on their guard against the cadet. But despite their fears his action aroused in them a great respect for his simplicity and wealth.
'Well, when Maryanka grows up she'll be marriageable too, she answers soberly and modestly. 'I'll send the matchmakers to you I'll send them! Only let me get the vineyard done and then we'll come and make our bows to you, says Lukashka's mother. 'And we'll make our bows to Elias Vasilich too. 'Elias, indeed! says the cornet's wife proudly. 'It's to me you must speak! All in its own good time.
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