"You'veseenalotoftrouble, sir, eh?" thelittlemansuddenlysaid.
AndtherewassomuchkindlinessandsimplicityinhissingsongvoicethatPierretriedtoreply, , givingPierrenotimetobetrayhisconfusion, instantlycontinuedinthesamepleasanttones:
"Eh, lad, don'tfret!" saidhe, inthetendersingsongcaressingvoiceoldRussianpeasantwomenemploy."Don'tfret, friend—'sufferanhour, liveforanage!' that'showitis, , thankheaven, , too, therearegoodmenaswellasbad," saidhe, andstillspeaking, heturnedonhiskneeswithasupplemovement, gotup, coughed, andwentofftoanotherpartoftheshed.
"Eh, yourascal!" Pierreheardthesamekindvoicesayingattheotherendoftheshed."Soyou'vecome, yourascal? Sheremembers...Now, now, that'lldo!"
Andthesoldier, pushingawayalittledogthatwasjumpingupathim, .
"Here, eatabit, sir," saidhe, resuminghisformerrespectfultoneasheunwrappedandofferedPierresomebakedpotatoes."Wehadsoupfordinnerandthepotatoesaregrand!"
.
"Well, aretheyallright?" saidthesoldierwithasmile."Youshoulddolikethis."
Hetookapotato, drewouthisclaspknife, cutthepotatointotwoequalhalvesonthepalmofhishand, sprinkledsomesaltonitfromtherag, andhandedittoPierre.
"Thepotatoesaregrand!" hesaidoncemore."Eatsomelikethat!"
Pierrethoughthehadnevereatenanythingthattastedbetter.
"Oh, I'mallright," saidhe, "butwhydidtheyshootthosepoorfellows? Thelastonewashardlytwenty."
"Tss, tt...!" saidthelittleman."Ah, whatasin...whatasin!" headdedquickly, andasifhiswordswerealwayswaitingreadyinhismouthandflewoutinvoluntarilyhewenton: "Howwasit, sir, thatyoustayedinMoscow?"
