 CHAPTER XXV There were seventeen officers in all riding in this race. The race course was a large three-mile ring of the form of an ellipse in front of the pavilion. On this course nine obstacles had been arranged. The stream, a big and solid barrier five feet high just before the pavilion, a dry ditch, a ditch full of water, a precipitous slope, an Irish barricade, one of the most difficult obstacles, consisting of a mound fenced with brushwood beyond which was a ditch out of sight for the horses so that the horse had to clear both obstacles or might be killed. Then two more ditches filled with water and one dry one, and the end of the race was just facing the pavilion. But the race began not in the ring but two hundred yards away from it, and in that part of the course was the first obstacle, a damned upstream seven feet in breadth which the racers could leap or wade through as they preferred. Three times they were ranged ready to start, but each time some horse thrust itself out of line and they had to begin again. The umpire who was starting them, Colonel Cestrin, was beginning to lose his temper when at last for the fourth time he shouted, away, and the racers started. Every eye, every opera glass was turned on the brightly colored group of riders at the moment they were in line to start. Before off their starting was heard on all sides after the hush of expectation. And little groups and solitary figures among the public began running from place to place to get a better view. In the very first minute the close group of horsemen drew out, and it could be seen that they were approaching the stream in twos and threes and one behind another. To the spectators it seemed as though they had all started simultaneously, but to the racers there were seconds of difference that had great value to them. Fru Fru, excited and over nervous, had lost the first moment, and several horses had started before her. But before reaching the stream, Vronsky, who was holding in the mare with all his force as she tugged at the bridle, easily overtook three, and there were left in front of him Mahouten's chestnut gladiator, whose hindquarters were moving lightly and rhythmically up and down exactly in front of Vronsky. And in front of all the dainty mare Diana, bearing Kuzovlev, more dead than alive. For the first instant Vronsky was not master either of himself or his mare. Up to the first obstacle, the stream, he could not guide the motions of his mare. Gladiator and Diana came up to it together and almost at the same instant. Simultaneously they rose above the stream and flew across to the other side. Fru darted after them as if flying, but at the very moment when Vronsky felt himself in the air, he suddenly saw, almost under his mare's hoofs, Kuzovlev, who was floundering with Diana on the further side of the stream. Kuzovlev had let go the reins as he took the leap, and the mare had sent him flying over her head. Those details Vronsky learned later. At the moment all he saw was that just under him, where Fru Fru must alight, Diana's legs or head might be in the way. But Fru Fru drew up her legs and back in the very act of leaping, like a falling cat, and clearing the other mare alighted beyond her. Oh, the darling, thought Vronsky. After crossing the stream, Vronsky had complete control of his mare and began holding her in, intending to cross the great barrier behind Mahoten and to try to overtake him in the clear ground of about five hundred yards that followed it. The great barrier stood just in front of the imperial pavilion. The czar and the whole court and crowds of people were all gazing at them. At him and Mahoten, a link the head of him, as they drew near the devil as the solid barrier was called. Vronsky was aware of those eyes fastened upon him from all sides, but he saw nothing except the ears and neck of his own mare, the ground racing to meet him, and the back and white legs of gladiator beating time swiftly before him, and keeping always the same distance ahead. Gladiator rose with no sound of knocking against anything. With a wave of his short tail, he disappeared from Vronsky's sight. Bravo, crowded voice. At the same instant, under Vronsky's eyes, right before him flashed the palings of the barrier. Without the slightest change in her action, his mare flew over it. The palings vanished, and he heard only a crash behind him. The mare, excited by gladiators keeping ahead, had risen too soon before the barrier and grazed it with her hind hooks. But her pace never changed, and Vronsky, feeling a spatter of mud in his face, realized that he was once more the same distance from gladiator. Once more he perceived in front of him the same back and short tail, and again the same swiftly moving white legs that got no further away. At the very moment when Vronsky thought that now was the time to overtake Mahotan, Fufu herself, understanding his thoughts, without any incitement on his part, gained ground considerably, and began getting alongside of Mahotan on the most favorable side, close to the inner cord. Mahotan would not let her pass that side. Vronsky had hardly formed the thought that he could perhaps pass on the outer side when Fufu shifted her pace and began overtaking him on the other side. Fufu's shoulder, beginning by now to be dark with sweat, was even with gladiators back. For a few lengths they moved evenly. But before the obstacle they were approaching, Vronsky began working at the reins, anxious to avoid having to take the outer circle, and swiftly passed Mahotan just upon the declivity. He caught a glimpse of his mud-stained face as he flashed by. He even fancied that he smiled. Vronsky passed Mahotan, but he was immediately aware of him close upon him, and he never ceased hearing the even-thudding hooks and the rapid and still quite fresh breathing of gladiator. The next two obstacles, the watercourse and the barrier, were easily crossed. But Vronsky began to hear the snorting and thud of gladiator closer upon him. He urged on his mare, and to his delight felt that she easily quickened her pace, and the thud of gladiator's hoofs was again heard at the same distance away. Vronsky was at the head of the race, just as he wanted to be, and as Cord had advised, and now he felt sure of being the winner. His excitement, his delight, and his tenderness for Fufu grew keener and keener. She longed to look round again, but he did not dare do this, and tried to be cool and not to urge on his mare so to keep the same reserve of force in her as he felt that gladiator still kept. There remained only one obstacle, the most difficult. If he could cross it ahead of the others, he would come in first. He was flying towards the Irish barricade. Fufu and he both together saw the barricade in the distance, and both the man and the mare had a moment's hesitation. He saw the uncertainty in the mare's ears and lifted the whip, but at the same time felt that his fears were groundless. The mare knew what was wanted. She quickened her pace and rose smoothly, just as he had fancied she would, and as she left the ground gave herself up to the force of her rush which carried her far beyond the ditch. And with the same rhythm, without effort, with the same leg toward, Fufu fell back into her pace again. Bravo, Ronsky! He heard shouts from a knot of men. He knew they were his friends in the regiment, who were standing at the obstacle. He could not fail to recognize Yashvin's voice, though he did not see him. Oh, my sweet! He said inwardly to Fufu as he listened for what was happening behind. He's cleared it, he thought, catching the thud of gladiator's hoofs behind him. There remained only the last ditch filled with water and five feet wide. Fronsky did not even look at it, but anxious to get in a long way first began sewing away at the reins, lifting the mare's head and letting it go in time with her paces. He felt that the mare was at her very last reserve of strength. Not her neck and shoulders merely were wet, but the sweat was standing in drops on her mane, her head, her sharp ears, and her breath came in short, sharp gasps. But he knew that she had strength left more than enough for the remaining five hundred yards. It was only from feeling himself nearer the ground and from the peculiar smoothness of his motion that Fronsky knew how greatly the mare had quickened her pace. She flew over the ditch as though not noticing it. She flew over it like a bird, but at the same instant Fronsky, to his horror, felt that he had failed to keep up with the mare's pace, that he had, he did not know how, made a fearful, unpardonable mistake in recovering his seat in the saddle. All at once his position had shifted, and he knew that something awful had happened. He could not yet make out what had happened when the white legs of a chestnut horse flashed by close to him and mohoten passed at a swift gallop. Fronsky was touching the ground with one foot, and his mare was sinking on that foot. He just had time to free his leg when she fell on one side, gasping painfully, and making vain efforts to rise with her delicate, soaking neck. She fluttered on the ground at his feet like a shot bird. The clumsy movement made by Fronsky had broken her back. But that he only knew much later. At that moment he knew only that mohoten had flown swiftly by, while he stood staggering alone on the muddy, motionless ground, and Fru Fru lay gasping before him, bending her head back and gazing at him with her exquisite eyes. Still unable to realize what had happened, Fronsky tugged at his mare's reins. Again she struggled all over like a fish, and her shoulders setting the saddle heaving. She rose on her front legs, but unable to lift her back, she quivered all over and again fell on her side. With a face hideous with passion, his lower jaw trembling and his cheeks white, Fronsky kicked her with his heel in the stomach and again fell to tugging at the rein. She did not stir, but thrusting her nose into the ground, she simply gazed at her master with her speaking eyes. Ah, groaned Fronsky, clutching at his head. Ah, what have I done? He cried. The race lost, and my fault, shameful, unpardonable. And the poor, darling, ruined mare, ah, what have I done? A crowd of men, a doctor and his assistant, the officers of his regiment, ran up to him. To his misery he felt that he was whole and unhurt. The mare had broken her back, and it was decided to shoot her. Fronsky could not answer questions, could not speak to anyone. He turned, and without picking up his cap that had fallen off, walked away from the race course, not knowing where he was going. He felt utterly wretched. For the first time in his life he knew the bitterest sort of misfortune, misfortune beyond remedy, and caused by his own fault. Yashvin overtook him with his cap and led him home, and half an hour later Fronsky had regained his self-possession. The memory of that race remained for long in his heart, the cruelest and bitterest memory of his life. Book 2, Chapter 26 The external relations of Alexei Alexandrovich and his wife had remained unchanged. The sole difference lay in the fact that he was more busily occupied than ever. As in former years, at the beginning of the spring he had gone to a foreign watering place for the sake of his health, deranged by the winter's work that every year grew heavier. And just as always he returned in July, and at once fell to work as usual with increased energy. As usual, too, his wife had moved for the summer to a villa out of town, while he remained in Petersburg. From the date of their conversation, after the party at Princess Viscayas, he had never spoken again to Anna of his suspicions and his jealousies, and that habitual tone of his bantering mimicry was the most convenient tone possible for his present attitude to his wife. He was a little colder to his wife. He simply seemed to be slightly displeased with her for that first midnight conversation which she had repelled. In his attitude to her there was a shade of excation, but nothing more. He would not be so open with me, he seemed to say, mentally addressing her, so much the worse for you. Now you may beg as you please, but I won't be open with you, so much the worse for you. He said mentally, like a man who, after vainly attempting to extinguish a fire, should fly in a rage with his vain efforts and say, oh, very well then, you shall burn for this. This man, so subtle and astute in official life, did not realize all the senselessness of such an attitude to his wife. He did not realize it because it was too terrible to him to realize his actual position, and he shut down and locked and sealed up in his heart that secret place where lay his feelings towards his family, that is, his wife and son. He, who had been such a careful father, had from the end of that winter become peculiarly frigid to his son, and adopted to him just the same bantering tone he used with his wife. Ah, young man was the greeting with which he met him. Alexei Alexandrovich asserted and believed that he had never, in any previous year, had so much official business over that year, but he was not aware that he sought work for himself that year, that this was one of the means for keeping shut that secret place where lay his feelings towards his wife and son and his thoughts about them, which became more terrible the longer they lay there. If anyone had the right to ask Alexei Alexandrovich what he thought of his wife's behavior, the mild and peaceable Alexei Alexandrovich would have made no answer, but he would have been greatly angered with any man who should question him on the subject. For this reason, there positively came into Alexei Alexandrovich's face a look of haughtiness and severity whenever anyone inquired after his wife's health. Alexei Alexandrovich did not want to think at all about his wife's behavior, and he actually succeeded in not thinking about it at all. Alexei Alexandrovich's permanent summer villa was in Peterhof, and the Countess Lydia Hivanova used as a rule to spend summer there close to Anna, and constantly seeing her. That year, Countess Lydia Hivanova declined to settle in Peterhof, was not once at Anna Archivendius, and in conversation with Alexei Alexandrovich hinted at the unsuitability of Anna's close intimacy with Betsy and Vronsky. Alexei Alexandrovich turned the cutter short, roundly declaring his wife to be above suspicion, and from that time began to avoid Countess Lydia Hivanova. He did not want to see and did not see that many people in society cast dubious glances on his wife. He did not want to understand and did not understand why his wife had so particularly insisted on staying at Zarko, where Betsy was staying, and not far from the camp of Vronsky's regiment. He did not allow himself to think about it, and he did not think about it. But all the same, though he had never admitted it to himself and had no proofs, not even suspicious evidence. In the bottom of his heart he knew beyond all doubt that he was a deceived husband, and he was profoundly miserable about it. How often, during those eight years of happy life with his wife, Alexei Alexandrovich had looked at other men's faithless wives and other deceived husbands, and asked himself, how can people descend to that? How is it that they do not put an end to such a hideous position? But now, when the misfortunate come upon himself, he was so far from thinking of putting an end to the position that he would not recognize it at all, would not recognize it just because it was too awful, too unnatural. Since his return from abroad, Alexei Alexandrovich had twice been at their country villa, once he dined there another time he spent the evening there with a party of friends, but he had not once stayed the night there, as it had been his habit to do in previous years. The day of the races had been a very busy one for Alexei Alexandrovich, but when mentally sketching out the day in the morning, he made up his mind to go to their country house to see his wife immediately after dinner, and from there to the races, which all the court was a witness and which he was bound to be present. He was going to see his wife because he had determined to see her once a week to keep up appearances, and besides, on that day, as it was the 15th, he had to give his wife some money for her expenses, according to their usual arrangement. With his habitual control over his thoughts, though he thought all this about his wife, he did not let his thoughts stray further in regard to her. That morning was a very full one for Alexei Alexandrovich. The evening before, Countess Lydia Ivanova had sent him a pamphlet by a celebrated traveller in China, who was staying at Petersburg, and with it she enclosed a note begging him to see the traveller himself, as he was an extremely interesting person from various points of view and likely to be useful. Alexei Alexandrovich had not time to read the pamphlet through in the evening, and finished it in the morning. Then people began arriving with petitions, and there came the reports, interviews, appointments, dismissals, apportionment of rewards, pensions, grants, notes, the work a day round, as Alexei Alexandrovich called it, that always took up so much time. Then there was private business of his own, a visit from the doctor and the steward who managed his property. The steward did not take up much time. He simply gave Alexei Alexandrovich the money he needed, together with a brief statement of the position of his affairs, which was not altogether satisfactory, as it has happened that during the year, owing to increased expenses, more had been paid out than usual, and there was a deficit. But the doctor, a celebrated Petersburg doctor, who was an intimate acquaintance of Alexei Alexandrovich, took up a great deal of time. Alexei Alexandrovich had not expected him that day, and was surprised at his visit, and still more so when the doctor questioned him very carefully about his health, listened to his breathing and tapped at his liver. Alexei Alexandrovich did not know that his friend Lydia Ivanova, noticing that he was not as well as usual that year, had begged the doctor to go and examine him. "'Do this for my sake,' the countess Lydia Ivanova had said to him. "'I will do it for the sake of Russia countess,' replied the doctor. "'I price this man,' said the countess Lydia Ivanova. The doctor was extremely dissatisfied with Alexei Alexandrovich. He found the liver considerably enlarged, and the digestive powers weakened, while the course of mineral waters had been quite without effect. He prescribed more physical exercise as far as possible, and as far as possible less mental strain, and above all, no worry. In other words, just what was as much out of Alexei Alexandrovich's power as abstaining from breathing. Then he withdrew, leaving in Alexei Alexandrovich an unpleasant sense that something was wrong with him, and that there was no chance of curing it. As he was coming away, the doctor chanced to meet on the staircase in acquaintance of his, Sluden, who was a secretary of Alexander Alexandrovich's department. They had been comrades at the university, and though they rarely met, they thought highly of each other, and were excellent friends, and so there was no one to whom the doctor would have given his opinion of a patient so freely as to Sluden. "'How glad I am that you've been seeing him,' said Sluden. "'He's not well, and I fancy. Well, what do you think of him?' "'I'll tell you,' said the doctor, veckering over Sluden's head to his coachman to bring the carriage round. "'It's just this,' said the doctor, taking a finger of his keen glove in his white hands and pulling it. "'If you don't strain the strings and then try to break them, you'll find it a difficult job. But strain the string towards very utmost, and the mere weight of one finger on the strained string will snap it. And with his close aciduity, his conscientious devotion to his work, he strained to the utmost, and there's some outside burden weighing on him, and not a light one, concluded the doctor, raising his eyebrows significantly. "'Will you be at the races?' he asked, as he sunk into his seat in the carriage. "'Yes, yes, to be sure. It does waste a lot of time.' The doctor responded vaguely to some reply of Sluden's he had not caught. "'Directly after the doctor, who had taken up so much time, came the celebrated traveller. And Alexei Alexandrovich, by means of the pamphlet, he had only just finished reading and his previous acquaintance with the subject, impressed the traveller by the depth of his knowledge of the subject and the breadth of enlightenment of his view of it. At the same time as the traveller, there was announced the provincial marshal of nobility on a visit to Petersburg, with whom Alexei Alexandrovich had to have some conversation. After his departure, he had to finish the daily routine of business with his secretary, and then he still had to drive round to call on a certain great personage on a matter of grave and serious import. Alexei Alexandrovich only just managed to be back by five o'clock his dinner hour. And after dining with his secretary, he invited him to drive with him to his country villa and to the races. Though he did not acknowledge it to himself, Alexei Alexandrovich almost tried nowadays to secure the presence of a third person in his interviews with his wife. End of Chapter 26 Chapter 27 of Anna Karenina, Book II This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Bruce Peary Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy translated by Constance Garnett Book II Chapter 27 Anna was upstairs, standing before the looking glass and with Anushka's assistance pinning the last ribbon on her gown when she heard carriage wheels crunching the gravel at the entrance. It's too early for Betsy, she thought, and glancing out of the window she caught sight of the carriage and the black hat of Alexei Alexandrovich and the ears that she knew so well sticking up each side of it. How unlucky! Can he be going to stay the night, she wondered? And the thought of all that might come of such a chance struck her as so awful and terrible that without dwelling on it for a moment she went down to meet him with a bright and radiant face and conscious of the presence of that spirit of falsehood and deceit in herself that she had come to know of late, she abandoned herself to that spirit and began talking, hardly knowing what she was saying. Ah, how nice of you, she said, giving her husband her hand and greeting Sludin who was like one of the family with a smile. Your staying the night, I hope, was the first word the spirit of falsehood prompted her to utter and now we'll go together, only it's a pity I've promised Betsy, she's coming for me. Alexei Alexandrovich knit his brows at Betsy's name. Oh, I'm not going to separate the inseparables, he said, in his usual bantering tone. I'm going with Mihail Vasilievich. I'm ordered exercise by the doctors, too. I'll walk and fancy myself at the springs again. There's no hurry, said Anna, would you like tea? She rang. Bring in tea and tell Seryozha that Alexei Alexandrovich is here. Well, tell me, how have you been? Mihail Vasilievich, you've not been to see me before. Look how lovely it is out on the terrace, she said, turning first to one and then to the other. She spoke very simply and naturally, but too much and too fast. She was the more aware of this from noticing in the inquisitive look Mihail Vasilievich turned on her that he was, as it were, keeping watch on her. Mihail Vasilievich promptly went out on the terrace. She sat down beside her husband. You don't look quite well, she said. Yes, he said. The doctor's been with me today and wasted an hour of my time. I feel that some one of our friends must have sent him. My health's so precious, it seems. No, what did he say? She questioned him about his health and what he had been doing and tried to persuade him to take a rest and come out to her. All this, she said, brightly, rapidly and with a peculiar brilliance in her eyes. But Alexei Alexandrovich did not now attach any special significance to this tone of hers. He heard only her words and gave them only the direct sense they bore. And he answered simply, though jestingly. There was nothing remarkable in all this conversation, but never after could Anna recall this brief scene without an agonizing pang of shame. Seryozha came in preceded by his governess. If Alexei Alexandrovich had allowed himself to observe, he would have noticed the timid and bewildered eyes with which Seryozha glanced first at his father and then at his mother. But he would not see anything, and he did not see it. Ah, the young man, he's grown. Really, he's getting quite a man. How are you, young man? And he gave his hand to the scared child. Seryozha had been shy of his father before, and now, ever since Alexei Alexandrovich had taken to calling him young man, and since that insoluble question had occurred to him, whether Vronsky were a friend or a foe, he avoided his father. He looked round towards his mother as though seeking shelter. It was only with his mother that he was at ease. Meanwhile, Alexei Alexandrovich was holding his son by the shoulder while he was speaking to the governess, and Seryozha was so miserably uncomfortable that Anna saw he was on the point of tears. Anna, who had flushed a little the instant her son came in, noticing that Seryozha was uncomfortable, got up hurriedly, took Alexei Alexandrovich's hand from her son's shoulder, and kissing the boy, led him out onto the terrace and quickly came back. It's time to start, though, said she, glancing at her watch. How is it that he doesn't come? Yes, said Alexei Alexandrovich, and getting up he folded his hands and cracked his fingers. I've come to bring you some money, too, for nightingales we know can't live on fairy tales, he said. You want it, I expect. No, I don't—yes, I do, she said, not looking at him, and crimsoning to the roots of her hair. But you'll come back here after the races, I suppose? Oh, yes, answered Alexei Alexandrovich. And here's the glory of Peterhoff, Princess Thurskaya, he added, looking out of the window at the elegant English carriage with the tiny seats placed extremely high. What elegance, charming! Well, let us be starting, too, then. Princess Thurskaya did not get out of her carriage, but her groom in high boots, a cape and black hat, darted out at the entrance. I'm going, good-bye, said Anna, and kissing her son she went up to Alexei Alexandrovich and held out her hand to him. It was ever so nice of you to come. Alexei Alexandrovich kissed her hand. Well, au revoir, then, you'll come back for some tea, that's delightful, she said, and went out, gay and radiant. But as soon as she no longer saw him, she was aware of the spot on her hand that his lips had touched, and she shuddered with repulsion. When Alexei Alexandrovich reached the race-course, Anna was already sitting in the pavilion beside Betsy, in that pavilion where all the highest society had gathered. She caught sight of her husband in the distance. Two men, her husband and her lover, were the two centres of her existence, and unaided by her external senses she was aware of their nearness. She was aware of her husband approaching a long way off, and she could not help following him in the surging crowd in the midst of which she was moving. She watched his progress towards the pavilion, saw him now responding condescendingly to an ingratiating bow, now exchanging friendly nonchalant greetings with his equals, now assiduously trying to catch the eye of some great one of this world, and taking off his big round hat that squeezed the tips of his ears. All these ways of his she knew, and all were hateful to her. Nothing but ambition, nothing but the desire to get on. That's all there is in his soul, she thought. As for these lofty ideals, love of culture, religion, they are only so many tools for getting on. From his glances towards the ladies pavilion, he was staring straight at her, but did not distinguish his wife in the sea of muslin, ribbons, feathers, parasols, and flowers. She saw that he was looking for her, but she purposely avoided noticing him. Alexei Alexandrovich, Princess Betsy called to him, I'm sure you don't see your wife, here she is. He smiled his chilly smile. There's so much splendor here that one's eyes are dazzled, he said, and he went into the pavilion. He smiled to his wife as a man should smile on meeting his wife after only just parting from her, and greeted the princess and other acquaintances, giving to each what was due, that is to say, jesting with the ladies and dealing out friendly greetings among the men. Below near the pavilion was standing an adjutant general of whom Alexei Alexandrovich had a high opinion, noted for his intelligence and culture. Alexei Alexandrovich entered into conversation with him. There was an interval between the races, and so nothing hindered conversation. The adjutant general expressed his disapproval of races. Alexei Alexandrovich replied defending them. Anna heard his high-measured tones not losing one word, and every word struck her as false and stabbed her ears with pain. When the three-mile steeple-chase was beginning she bent forward and gazed with fixed eyes at Fransky as he went up to his horse and mounted, and at the same time she heard that loathsome never-ceasing voice of her husband. She was in an agony of terror for Fransky, but a still greater agony was the never-ceasing, as it seemed to her, stream of her husband's shrull voice with its familiar intonations. I'm a wicked woman, a lost woman, she thought, but I don't like lying. I can't endure falsehood, while as for him, her husband, it's the breath of his life, falsehood. He knows all about it, he sees it all. What does he care if he can talk so calmly? If he were to kill me, if he were to kill Fransky, I might respect him. No, all he wants is falsehood and propriety, Anna said to herself, not considering exactly what it was she wanted of her husband, and how she would have liked to see him behave. She did not understand, either, that Alexei Alexandrovich's peculiar locosity that day, so exasperating to her, was merely the expression of his inward distress and uneasiness. As a child that has been hurt, skips about, putting all his muscles into movement to drown the pain, in the same way Alexei Alexandrovich needed mental exercise to drown the thoughts of his wife, that in her presence and in Fransky's, and with the continual iteration of his name, would force themselves on his attention. And it was as natural for him to talk well and cleverly, as it is natural for a child to skip about. He was saying, danger in the races of officers, cavalrymen, is an essential element in the race. If England can point to the most brilliant feats of cavalry in military history, it is simply owing to the fact that she has historically developed this force, both in beasts and in men. Sport has, in my opinion, a great value, and as is always the case, we see nothing but what is most superficial. It's not superficial, said Princess Fransky, one of the officers they say has broken two ribs. Alexei Alexandrovich smiled his smile which uncovered his teeth, but revealed nothing more. We'll admit, Princess, that that's not superficial, he said, but internal, but that's not the point, and he turned again to the general with whom he was talking seriously. We mustn't forget that those who are taking part in the race are military men who have chosen that career, and one must allow that every calling has its disagreeable side. It forms an integral part of the duties of an officer. Low sports such as prize fighting or Spanish bullfights are a sign of barbarity, but specialized trials of skill are a sign of development. No, I shan't come another time, it's too upsetting, said Princess Betsy, isn't it, Anna? It is upsetting, but one can't tear oneself away, said another lady. If I'd been a Roman woman, I should never have missed a single circus. Anna said nothing, and keeping her opera glass up gazed always at the same spot. At that moment a tall general walked through the pavilion, breaking off what he was saying Alexei Alexandrovich got up hurriedly, though with dignity, and bowed low to the general. You're not racing, the officer asked, chaffing him. My race is a harder one, Alexei Alexandrovich responded deferentially, and though the answer meant nothing, the general looked as though he had heard a witty remark from a witty man, and fully relished la puente de la sauce. There are two aspects, Alexei Alexandrovich resumed. Those who take part, and those who look on, and love for such spectacles is an unmistakable proof of a low degree of development in the spectator, I admit, but Princess Betsy sounded Stepan Arkadievich's voice from below addressing Betsy. Who's your favorite? Anna and I are for Kuzovlev, replied Betsy. I'm for Vronsky, a pair of gloves? Done. But it is a pretty sight, isn't it? Alexei Alexandrovich paused while they were talking about him, but he began again directly. I admit that manly sports do not, he was continuing, but at that moment the racers started and all conversations seized. Alexei Alexandrovich too was silent, and everyone stood up and turned towards the stream. Alexei Alexandrovich took no interest in the race, and so he did not watch the racers, but fell listlessly to scanning the spectators with his weary eyes. His eyes rested upon Anna. Her face was white and sat. She was obviously seeing nothing and no one but one man. Her hand had confulsively clutched her fan, and she held her breath. He looked at her and hastily turned away, scrutinizing other faces. But here's this lady too and others very much moved as well. His very natural, Alexei Alexandrovich told himself, he tried not to look at her, but unconsciously his eyes were drawn to her. He examined that face again, trying not to read what was so plainly written on it, and against his own will, with horror, read on it what he did not want to know. The first fall, Kuzovlevs at the stream agitated everyone, but Alexei Alexandrovich saw distinctly on Anna's pale, triumphant face that the man she was watching had not fallen. When, after Mahotin and Vronsky had cleared the worst barrier, the next officer had been thrown straight on his head at it and fatally injured, and a shudder of horror passed over the whole public, Alexei Alexandrovich saw that Anna did not even notice it and had some difficulty in realizing what they were talking of about her. But more and more often and with greater persistence, he watched her. Anna, wholly engrossed as she was with the race, became aware of her husband's cold eyes fixed upon her from one side. She glanced round for an instant, looked inquiringly at him, and with a slight frown turned away again. Ah, I don't care, she seemed to say to him, and she did not once glance at him again. The race was an unlucky one, and of the seventeen officers who rode in it, more than half were thrown and hurt. Towards the end of the race everyone was in a state of agitation, which was intensified by the fact that the Tsar was displeased. CHAPTER XXIX Everyone was loudly expressing disapprobation. Everyone was repeating a phrase someone had uttered, the lions and gladiators will be the next thing, and everyone was feeling horrified, so that when Vronsky fell to the ground and Anna moaned aloud, there was nothing very out of the way in it. But afterwards a change came over Anna's face which really was beyond decorum. She utterly lost her head. She began fluttering like a caged bird, at one moment would have got up and moved away, and the next turned to Betsy. Let us go, let us go, she said. But Betsy did not hear her. She was bending down, talking to a general who had come up to her. Alexei Alexandrovich went up to Anna and courteously offered her his arm. Let us go, if you like, he said in French, but Anna was listening to the general and did not notice her husband. He's broken his leg, too, so they say, the general was saying, this is beyond everything. Without answering her husband Anna lifted her opera glass and gazed towards the place where Vronsky had fallen, but it was so far off and there was such a crowd of people about it that she could make out nothing. She laid down the opera glass and would have moved away but at that moment an officer galloped up and made some announcement to the Tsar. Anna craned forward, listening. Steve, Steve, she cried to her brother, but her brother did not hear her. Again she would have moved away. Once more I offer you my arm if you want to be going, said Alexei Alexandrovich, reaching towards her hand. She drew back from him with a version, and without looking in his face answered, no, no, let me be, I'll stay. She saw now that from the place of Vronsky's accident an officer was running across the course towards the pavilion. Betsy waved her handkerchief to him. The officer brought to the news that the rider was not killed, but the horse had broken its back. On hearing this Anna sat down hurriedly and hid her face in her fan. Alexei Alexandrovich saw that she was weeping and could not control her tears nor even the sobs that were shaking her bosom. Alexei Alexandrovich stood so as to screen her, giving her time to recover herself. For the third time I offer you my arm, he said to her, after a little time, turning to her. Anna gazed at him and did not know what to say. Princess Betsy came to her rescue. No, Alexei Alexandrovich, I brought Anna, and I promised to take her home, put in Betsy. Excuse me, Princess, he said, smiling courteously but looking her very firmly in the face, but I see that Anna's not very well and I wish her to come home with me. Anna looked about her in a frightened way, got up submissively, and laid her hand on her husband's arm. I'll send to him and find out and let you know, Betsy whispered to her. As they left the pavilion, Alexei Alexandrovich, as always, talked to those he met, and Anna had, as always, to talk and answer, but she was utterly beside herself and moved, hanging on her husband's arm, as though in a dream. Is he killed or not? Is it true? Will he come or not? Shall I see him today? she was thinking. She took her seat in her husband's carriage in silence, and in silence drove out of the crowd of carriages. In spite of all he had seen, Alexei Alexandrovich still did not allow himself to consider his wife's real condition. He merely saw the outward symptoms. He saw that she was behaving unbecomingly and considered it his duty to tell her so, but it was very difficult for him not to say more to tell her nothing but that. He opened his mouth to tell her she had behaved unbecomingly, but he could not help saying something utterly different. What an inclination we all have, though, for these cruel spectacles, he said. I observe. Eh! I don't understand, said Anna contemptuously. He was offended, and at once began to say what he had meant to say. I am obliged to tell you, he began. So now we are to have it out, she thought, and she felt frightened. I am obliged to tell you that your behaviour has been unbecoming today, he said to her in French. In what way has my behaviour been unbecoming, she said aloud, turning her head swiftly and looking him straight in the face, not with the bright expression that seemed covering something, but with a look of determination under which she concealed with difficulty the dismay she was feeling. Mind, he said, pointing to the open window opposite the coachman. He got up and pulled up the window. What did you consider unbecoming, she repeated? The despair you were unable to conceal at the accident to one of the riders. He waited for her to answer, but she was silent, looking straight before her. I have already begged you so to conduct yourself in society that even malicious tongues can find nothing to say against you. There was a time when I spoke of your inward attitude, but I am not speaking of that now. Now I speak only of your external attitude, you have behaved improperly, and I would wish it not to occur again. She did not hear half of what he was saying, she felt panic-stricken before him and was thinking whether it was true that Fransky was not killed. Was it of him they were speaking when they said the rider was unhurt, but the horse had broken its back? She merely smiled with a pretense of irony when he finished and made no reply because she had not heard what he said. Alexei Alexandrovich had begun to speak boldly, but as he realized plainly what he was speaking of, the dismay she was feeling infected him too. He saw the smile and a strange misapprehension came over him. She is smiling at my suspicions. Yes, she will tell me directly what she told me before, that there is no foundation for my suspicions, that it is absurd. At that moment when the revelation of everything was hanging over him, there was nothing he expected so much as that she would answer mockingly, as before, that his suspicions were absurd and utterly groundless. So terrible to him was what he knew that now he was ready to believe anything. But the expression of her face, scared and gloomy, did not now promise even deception. Possibly I was mistaken, said he, if so I beg your pardon. No, you were not mistaken, she said deliberately, looking desperately into his cold face. You were not mistaken, I was, and I could not help being in despair. I hear you, but I am thinking of him. I love him, I am his mistress, I can't bear you, I am afraid of you, and I hate you. You can do what you like to me. And dropping back into the corner of the carriage, she broke into sobs, hiding her face in her hands. Alexei Alexandrovich did not stir and kept looking straight before him, but his whole face suddenly bore the solemn rigidity of the dead, and his expression did not change during the whole time of the drive home. On reaching the house he turned his head to her, still with the same expression. Very well, but I expect a strict observance of the external forms of propriety till such time, his voice shook, as I may take measures to secure my honour and communicate them to you. He got out first and helped her to get out. Before the servants he pressed her hand, took his seat in the carriage, and drove back to Petersburg. Immediately afterwards a footman came from Princess Betsy and brought Anna a note. I sent to Alexei to find out how he is, and he writes me he is quite well and unhurt, but in despair. So he will be here, she thought. What a good thing I told him all. She glanced at her watch. She had still three hours to wait, and the memories of their last meeting set her blood in flame. My God, how light it is! It's dreadful, but I do love to see his face, and I do love this fantastic light. My husband—oh, yes, well, thank God, everything's over with him. CHAPTER XXXIII. In the little German watering-place to which the Sherbotskies had be taken themselves, as in all places indeed where people are gathered together, the usual process, as it were, of the crystallisation of society went on, assigning to each member of that society a definite and unalterable place. Just as the particle of water in frost, definitely and unalterably, takes the special form of the crystal of snow, so each new person that arrived at the springs was at once placed in his special place. First Sherbotsky samped Gmalen und Doktor, by the apartments they took and from their name and from the friends they made, were immediately crystallised into a definite place marked out for them. There was visiting the watering-place that year a real German Fursten, in consequence of which the crystallising process went on more vigorously than ever. Princess Sherbotskaya wished, above everything, to present her daughter to this German princess, and the day after their arrival she duly performed this rite. Kitty made a low and graceful curtsy in the very simple, that is to say, very elegant frock that had been ordered her from Paris. The German princess said, I hope the roses will soon come back to this pretty little face, and for the Sherbotskys certain definite lines of existence were at once laid down, from which there was no departing. The Sherbotskys made the acquaintance, too, of the family of an English lady somebody, and of a German countess and her son wounded in the last war, and of a learned swede, and of Mr. Kanu and his sister. But yet inevitably, the Sherbotskys were thrown most into the society of a Moscow lady, Maria Yevgenyivna Ratishcheva and her daughter, whom Kitty disliked, because she had fallen ill like herself over a love affair, and a Moscow colonel, whom Kitty had known from childhood and always seen in uniform and epaulets, and who now, with his little eyes and his open neck and flowered cravat, was uncommonly ridiculous and tedious because there was no getting rid of him. When all this was so firmly established Kitty began to be very much bored, especially as the Prince went away to Carlsbad and she was left alone with her mother. She took no interest in the people she knew, feeling that nothing fresh would come of them. Her chief mental interest in the watering-place consisted in watching and making theories about the people she did not know. It was characteristic of Kitty that she always imagined everything in people in the most favourable light possible, especially in those she did not know. And now as she made surmises as to who people were, what were their relations to one another, and what they were like, Kitty endowed them with the most marvellous and noble characters and found confirmation of her idea in her observations. Of these people the one that attracted her most was a Russian girl who had come to the watering-place with an invalid Russian lady, Madame Stahl, as everyone called her. Madame Stahl belonged to the highest society, but she was so ill that she could not walk, and only on exceptionally fine days made her appearance at the springs in an invalid carriage. But it was not so much from ill health as from pride, so Princess Sherbatskaya interpreted it, that Madame Stahl had not made the acquaintance of any one among the Russians there. The Russian girl looked after Madame Stahl, and besides that she was, as Kitty observed, on friendly terms with all the invalids who were seriously ill, and there were many of them at the springs, and looked after them in the most natural way. This Russian girl was not, as Kitty gathered, related to Madame Stahl, nor was she a paid attendant. Madame Stahl called her Varenka, and other people called her Mademoiselle Varenka. Apart from the interest Kitty took in this girl's relations with Madame Stahl, and with other unknown persons, Kitty, as often happened, felt an inexplicable attraction to Mademoiselle Varenka, and was aware when their eyes met that she too liked her. Of Mademoiselle Varenka one would not say that she had passed her first youth, but she was, as it were, a creature without youth. She might have been taken for 19 or for 30. If her features were criticised separately, she was handsome rather than plain, in spite of the sickly hue of her face. She would have been a good figure, too, if it had not been for her extreme thinness and the size of her head, which was too large for her medium height. But she was not likely to be attractive to men. She was like a fine flower already past its bloom and without fragrance, though the petals were still unwithered. Moreover she would have been unattractive to men also from the lack of just what Kitty had too much of, of the suppressed fire of vitality and the consciousness of her own attractiveness. She always seemed absorbed in work about which there could be no doubt, and so it seemed she could not take interest in anything outside it. It was just this contrast with her own position that was for Kitty the great attraction of Mademoiselle Varenka. Kitty felt that in her, in her manner of life, she would find an example of what she was now so painfully seeking, interest in life, a dignity in life apart from the worldly relations of girls with men, which so revolted Kitty and appeared to her now as a shameful hawking about of goods in search of a purchaser. The more attentively Kitty watched her unknown friend, the more convinced she was, this girl was the perfect creature she fancied her, and the more eagerly she wished to make her acquaintance. The two girls used to meet several times a day, and every time they met, Kitty's eyes said, Who are you? What are you? Are you really the exquisite creature I imagine you to be? But for goodness sake, don't suppose, her eyes added, that I would force my acquaintance on you, I simply admire you and like you. I like you too, and you're very, very sweet, and I should like you better still if I had time, answered the eyes of the unknown girl. Kitty saw indeed that she was always busy. Either she was taking the children of a Russian family home from the springs, or fetching a shawl for a sick lady and wrapping her up in it, or trying to interest an irritable invalid, or selecting and buying cakes for tea for someone. Soon after the arrival of the Shcherbatsky's, there appeared in the morning crowd at the springs two persons who attracted universal and unfavorable attention. These were a tall man with a stooping figure and large hands, in an old coat too short for him, with black, simple, and yet terrible eyes, and a pockmarked, kind-looking woman, very badly and tastelessly dressed. Recognizing these persons as Russians, Kitty had already, in her imagination, begun constructing a delightful and touching romance about them. But the princess, having ascertained from the visitor's list that this was Nikolai Levin and Mariya Nikolaevna, explained to Kitty what a bad man this Levin was, and all her fancies about these two people vanished. Not so much from what her mother told her, as from the fact that it was Constantine's brother, this pair suddenly seemed to Kitty intensely unpleasant. This Levin, with his continual twitching at his head, aroused in her now an irrepressible feeling of disgust. It seemed to her that his big, terrible eyes which persistently pursued her expressed a feeling of hatred and contempt, and she tried to avoid meeting him. CHAPTER XXXI It was a wet day. It had been raining all the morning, and the invalids with their parasols had flocked into the arcades. Kitty was walking there with her mother and the Moscow Colonel, smart and jaunty in his European coat, bought ready-made at Frankfurt. They were walking on one side of the arcade, trying to avoid Levin, who was walking on the other side. Varenka, in her dark dress, in a black hat with a turned-down brim, was walking up and down the whole length of the arcade with a blind Frenchwoman, and every time she met Kitty they exchanged friendly glances. Mama couldn't I speak to her, said Kitty, watching her unknown friend, and noticing that she was going up to the spring and that they might come there together? Oh, if you want to so much, I'll find out about her first and make her acquaintance myself, answered her mother. What do you see in her out of the way? A companion, she must be. If you like, I'll make acquaintance with Madame Stahl. I used to know her balsayer, added the princess, lifting her head hotly. Kitty knew that the princess was offended that Madame Stahl had seemed to avoid making her acquaintance. Kitty did not insist. How wonderfully sweet she is, she said, gazing at Varenka, just as she handed a glass to the Frenchwoman. Look how natural and sweet it all is. It's so funny to see your Angouement, said the princess. No, we'd better go back, she added, noticing Levin coming towards them with his companion and a German doctor to whom he was talking very noisily and angrily. They turned to go back when suddenly they heard not noisy talk but shouting. Levin, stopping short, was shouting at the doctor, and the doctor too was excited. A crowd gathered about them. The princess and Kitty beat a hasty retreat while the colonel joined the crowd to find out what was the matter. A few minutes later the colonel overtook them. What was it? inquired the princess. Scandalous and disgraceful answered the colonel. The one thing to be dreaded is meeting Russians abroad. That tall gentleman was abusing the doctor, flinging all sorts of insults at him because he wasn't treating him quite as he liked, and he began waving his stick at him. It's simply a scandal. Oh, how unpleasant, said the princess. Well, and how did it end? Luckily, at that point, that one in the mushroom hat intervened. A Russian lady, I think she is, said the colonel. Mademoiselle Varenka asked Kitty. Yes, yes. She came to the rescue before anyone. She took the man by the arm and led him away. There, Mama, said Kitty, you wonder that I'm enthusiastic about her. The next day, as she watched her unknown friend, Kitty noticed that Mademoiselle Varenka was already on the same terms with Levin and his companion as with her other protégés. She went up to them, entered into conversation with them, and served as interpreter for the woman who could not speak any foreign language. Kitty began to entreat her mother still more urgently to let her make friends with Varenka, and, disagreeable as it was to the princess to seem to take the first step in wishing to make the acquaintance of Madame Stahl, who thought fit to give herself airs, she made inquiries about Varenka and, having ascertained particulars about her, tending to prove that there could be no harm, though little good, in the acquaintance, she herself approached Varenka and made acquaintance with her. Choosing a time when her daughter had gone to the spring, while Varenka had stopped outside the bakers, the princess went up to her. Allow me to make your acquaintance, she said, with her dignified smile. My daughter has lost her heart to you, she said. Possibly you do not know me. I am. That feeling is more than reciprocal, princess, Varenka answered hurriedly. What a good deed you did yesterday to our poor compatriot, said the princess. Varenka flushed a little. I don't remember, I don't think I did anything, she said. Why, you saved that leaven from disagreeable consequences. Yes, Sakhampine called me, and I tried to pacify him. He's very ill, and was dissatisfied with the doctor. I'm used to looking after such invalids. Yes, I've heard you live at Montaun with your aunt, I think, Madame Stahl. I used to know her Belser. No, she's not my aunt. I call her mama, but I am not related to her. I was brought up by her, answered Varenka, flushing a little again. This was so simply said, and so sweet was the truthful and candid expression of her face, that the princess saw why Kitty had taken such a fancy to Varenka. Well, and what's this leaven going to do? asked the princess. He's going away, answered Varenka. At that instant Kitty came up from the spring, beaming with delight that her mother had become acquainted with her unknown friend. Well, see, Kitty, your intense desire to make friends with mademoiselle Varenka, Varenka put in smiling, that's what everyone calls me. Kitty blushed with pleasure, and slowly, without speaking, pressed her new friend's hand, which did not respond to her pressure, but lay motionless in her hand. The hand did not respond to her pressure, but the face of mademoiselle Varenka glowed, with a soft, glad, though rather mournful smile, that showed large but handsome teeth. I have long wished for this too, she said. But you are so busy. Oh, no, I'm not at all busy, answered Varenka, but at that moment she had to leave her new friends, because two little Russian girls, children of an invalid, ran up to her. Varenka, mama's calling, they cried, and Varenka went after them. End of Chapter 31. Chapter 32 of Anna Karenina, Book 2. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lynn Carroll. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, translated by Constance Garnett. Book 2, Chapter 32. The particulars which the princess had learned in regard to Varenka's past, and her relations with Madame Stahl, were as follows. Madame Stahl, of whom some people said that she had worried her husband out of his life, while others said it was he who had made her wretched by his immoral behavior, had always been a woman of weak health and enthusiastic temperament. When, after her separation from her husband, she gave birth to her only child, the child had died almost immediately, and the family of Madame Stahl, knowing her sensibility, and fearing the news would kill her, had substituted another child, a baby born the same night and in the same house in Petersburg, the daughter of the chief cook of the imperial household. This was Varenka. Madame Stahl learned later on that Varenka was not her own child, but she went on bringing her up, especially as very soon afterwards, Varenka had not a relation of her own living. Madame Stahl had now been living more than 10 years continuously abroad, in the South, never leaving her couch. And some people said that Madame Stahl had made her social position as a philanthropic, highly religious woman. Other people said she really was at heart the highly ethical being, living for nothing but the good of her fellow creatures, which she represented herself to be. No one knew what her faith was, Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox, but one fact was indubitable. She was in amicable relations with the highest dignitaries of all the churches in sex. Varenka lived with her all the while abroad, and everyone who knew Madame Stahl knew and liked Madame Lauselle Varenka, as everyone called her. Having learned all these facts, the princess found nothing to object to in her daughter's intimacy with Varenka, more especially as Varenka's breeding and education were of the best. She spoke French and English extremely well, and what was of the most weight, brought a message from Madame Stahl expressing her regret that she was prevented by her ill health from making the acquaintance of the princess. After getting to know Varenka, Kitty became more and more fascinated by her friend, and every day she discovered new virtues in her. The princess, hearing that Varenka had a good voice, asked her to come and sing to them in the evening. Kitty plays, and we have a piano, not a good one, it's true, but you will give us so much pleasure, said the princess with her affected smile, which Kitty disliked particularly just then, because she noticed that Varenka had no inclination to sing. Varenka came, however, in the evening and brought a roll of music with her. The princess had invited Maria Yevgenyevna and her daughter and the Colonel. Varenka seemed quite unaffected by their being person's presence she did not know, and she went directly to the piano. She could not accompany herself, but she could sing music at sight very well. Kitty, who played well, accompanied her. You have an extraordinary talent, the princess said to her, after Varenka had sung the first song extremely well. Maria Yevgenyevna and her daughter expressed their thanks and admiration. Look, said the Colonel, looking out of the window. What an audience has collected to listen to you. There actually was quite a considerable crowd under the windows. I am very glad it gives you pleasure, Varenka answered simply. Kitty looked with pride at her friend. She was enchanted by her talent and her voice and her face, but most of all by her manner, by the way Varenka obviously thought nothing of her singing and was quite unmoved by their praises. She seemed only to be asking, am I to sing again or is that enough? If it had been I, thought Kitty, how proud I should have been. How delighted I should have been to see that crowd under the windows. But she's utterly unmoved by it. Her only motive is to avoid refusing and to please mama. What is there in her? What is it gives her the power to look down on everything, to be calm and independently of everything? How I should like to know it and to learn it of her? thought Kitty, gazing into her serene face. The princess asked Varenka to sing again and Varenka sang another song, also smoothly, distinctly and well, standing erect at the piano and beating time on it with her thin dark-skinned hand. The next song in the book was an Italian one. Kitty played the opening bars and looked round at Varenka. Let's skip that, said Varenka, flushing a little. Kitty let her eyes rest on Varenka's face with a look of dismay and inquiry. Very well, the next one, she said hurriedly, turning over the pages and at once feeling that there was something connected with the song. No, answered Varenka with a smile, laying her hand on the music. No, let's have that one. And she sang it just as quietly, as coolly as well as the others. When she had finished, they all thanked her again and went off to tea. Kitty and Varenka went out into the little garden that adjoined the house. Am I right that you have some reminiscences connected with that song, said Kitty? Don't tell me, she added hastily. Only say if I'm right. No, why not? I'll tell you simply, said Varenka, and without waiting for a reply, she went on. Yes, it brings up memories, once painful ones. I cared for someone once, and I used to sing him that song. Kitty, with big wide-open eyes, gazed silently, sympathetically at Varenka. I cared for him, and he cared for me. But his mother did not wish it, and he married another girl. He's living now not far from us, and I see him sometimes. You didn't think I had a love story, too, she said, and there was a faint gleam in her handsome face of that fire, which Kitty felt must once have glowed all over her. I didn't think so. Why, if I were a man, I could never care for anyone else after knowing you. Only I can't understand how he could, to please his mother. Forget you and make you unhappy. He had no heart. Oh no, he's a very good man, and I'm not unhappy. Quite the contrary, I'm very happy. Well, so we shan't be singing any more now, she added, turning towards the house. How good you are, how good you are, cried Kitty, and stopping her she kissed her, if I could only be even a little like you. Why shouldn't you be like anyone? You're as nice as you are, said Varenka, smiling her gentle, weary smile. No, I'm not nice at all. Come tell me. Stop a minute. Let's sit down, said Kitty, making her sit down again beside her. Tell me, isn't it humiliating to think that a man has disdained your love, that he hasn't cared for it? But he didn't disdain it. I believe he cared for me, but he was a dutiful son. Yes, but if it hadn't been on account of his mother, if it had been his own doing, said Kitty, feeling she was giving away her secret, and that her face, burning with the flush of shame, had betrayed her already. In that case, he would have done wrong, and I should not have regretted him, answered Varenka, evidently realizing that they were now talking not of her but of Kitty. But the humiliation, said Kitty, the humiliation one can never forget, can never forget, she said, remembering her look at the last ball during the pause in the music. Where is the humiliation? Why, you did nothing wrong. Worse than wrong, shameful. Varenka shook her head and laid her hand on Kitty's hand. Why, what is there shameful, she said? You didn't tell a man who didn't care for you that you loved him, did you? Of course not, I never said a word, but he knew it. No, no, there are looks, there are ways. I can't forget it. If I live a hundred years. Why so? I don't understand. The whole point is whether you love him now or not, said Varenka, who called everything by its name. I hate him. I can't forgive myself. Why, what for? The shame, the humiliation. Oh, if everyone were as sensitive as you are, said Varenka, there isn't a girl who hasn't been through the same and it's also unimportant. Why, what is important, said Kitty, looking into her face with inquisitive wonder. Oh, there's so much that's important, said Varenka, smiling. Why, why? Oh, so much that's more important, answered Varenka, not knowing what to say. But at that instant, they heard the princess's voice from the window. Kitty, it's cold. Either get a shawl or come indoors. It really is time to go in, said Varenka, getting up. I have to go on to Madame Berthes. She asked me to. Kitty held her by the hand and with passionate curiosity and entreaty, her eyes asked her, What is it? What is this of such importance that gives you such tranquility? You know, tell me. But Varenka did not even know what Kitty's eyes were asking her. She merely thought that she had to go to see Madame Berthes too that evening and to make haste home in time for Mamonde's tea at 12 o'clock. She went indoors, collected her music, and saying goodbye to everyone was about to go. Allow me to see you home, said the colonel. Yes, how can you go alone at night like this? chimed in the princess. Anyway, I'll send Porosha. Kitty saw that Varenka could hardly restrain a smile at the idea that she needed an escort. No, I always go about alone and nothing ever happens to me, she said, taking her hat and kissing Kitty once more without saying what was important. She stepped out courageously with the music under her arm and vanished into the twilight of the summer night. Bearing away with her, her secret of what was important and what gave her the calm and dignity so much to be envied. 33 Kitty made the acquaintance of Madame Stahl 2 and this acquaintance together with her friendship with Varenka did not merely exercise a great influence on her. It also comforted her in her mental distress. She found this comfort through a completely new world being opened to her by means of this acquaintance, a world having nothing in common with her past and exalted noble world from the height of which she could contemplate her past calmly. It was revealed to her that besides the instinctive life to which Kitty had given herself up hitherto, there was a spiritual life. This life was disclosed in religion, but a religion having nothing in common with that one which Kitty had known from childhood and which found expression in litanies and all night services at the widow's home where one might meet one's friends and in learning by heart Slavonic text with the priest. This was a lofty mysterious religion connected with a whole series of noble thoughts and feelings which one could do more than merely believe because one was told to which one could love. Kitty found all this out not from words. Madame Stahl talked to Kitty as to a charming child that one looks on with pleasure as on the memory of one's youth and only once she said in passing that in all human sorrows nothing gives comfort but love and faith and that in the sight of Christ's compassion for us no sorrow is trifling and immediately talked of other things. But in every gesture of Madame Stahl and every word in every heavenly as Kitty called it look and above all in the whole story of her life which she heard from Varenka Kitty recognized that something that was important of which till then she had known nothing yet elevated as Madame Stahl's character was touching as was her story and exalted and moving as was her speech Kitty could not help detecting in her some traits which perplexed her she noticed that when questioning her about her family Madame Stahl had smiled contemptuously which was not in accord with Christian meekness she noticed too that when she had found a Catholic priest with her Madame Stahl had studiously kept her face in the shadow of the lampshade and had smiled in a peculiar way trivial as these two observations were they perplexed her and she had her doubts as to Madame Stahl but on the other hand Varenka alone in the world without friends or relations with a melancholy disappointment in the past desiring nothing regretting nothing was just that perfection of which Kitty dared hardly dream in Varenka she realized that one has but to forget oneself and love others and one will be calm happy and noble and that was what Kitty longed to be seeing now clearly what was the most important Kitty was not satisfied with being enthusiastic over it she at once gave herself up with her whole soul to the new life that was opening to her from Varenka's accounts of the doings of Madame Stahl and other people whom she mentioned Kitty had already constructed the plan of her own future life she would like Madame Stahl's niece Aline of whom Varenka had talked to her a great deal seek out those who were in trouble wherever she might be living help them as far as she could give them the gospel read the gospel to the sick to criminals to the dying the idea of reading the gospel to criminals as Aline did particularly fascinated Kitty but all these were secret dreams of which Kitty did not talk either to her mother or to Varenka while awaiting the time for carrying out her plans on a large scale however Kitty even then at the springs where there were so many people ill and unhappy readily found a chance for practicing her new principles in imitation of Varenka at first the princess noticed nothing but that Kitty was much under the influence of her engrimoire as she called it for Madame Stahl and still more for Varenka she saw that Kitty did not merely imitate Varenka in her conduct but unconsciously imitated her in her manner of walking of talking of blinking her eyes but later on the princess noticed that apart from this adoration some kind of serious spiritual change was taking place in her daughter the princess saw that in the evenings Kitty read a French testament that Madame Stahl had given her a thing she had never done before that she avoided society acquaintances and associated with the sick people who were under Varenka's protection and especially one poor family that of a sick painter Petrov Kitty was unmistakably proud of playing the part of a sister of mercy in that family all this was well enough and the princess had nothing to say against it especially as Petrov's wife was a perfectly nice sort of woman and that the German princess noticing Kitty's devotion praised her calling her an angel of consolation all this would have been very well if there had been no exaggeration but the princess saw that her daughter was rushing into extremes and so indeed she told her Villeneuve Maria Nutri she said to her her daughter made her no reply only in her heart she thought that one could not talk about exaggeration where Christianity was concerned what exaggeration could there be in the practice of a doctrine where one was bitten to turn the other cheek when one was smitten and give one's cloak if one's coat were taken but the princess disliked this exaggeration and disliked even more the fact that she felt her daughter did not care to show her all her heart Kitty did in fact conceal her new views and feelings from her mother she concealed them not because she did not respect or did not love her mother but simply because she was her mother she would have revealed them to anyone sooner than to her mother how is it Anna Pavlovna has not been to see us for so long the princess said one day of Madame Petrova I've asked her but she seems put out about something no I've not noticed that my mom said Kitty flushing hotly is it long since you went to see them we're meaning to make an expedition to the mountains tomorrow answered Kitty well you can go answer the princess gazing at her daughter's embarrassed face and trying to guess the cause of her embarrassment that day Varenka came to dinner and told them that Anna Pavlovna had changed her mind and given up the expedition for the morrow and the princess noticed again that Kitty reddened Kitty haven't you had some misunderstanding with the Petrovs said the princess when they were left alone why has she given up sending the children and coming to see us Kitty answered that nothing had happened between them and that she could not tell why Anna Pavlovna seemed displeased with her Kitty answered perfectly truly she did not know the reason Anna Pavlovna had changed to her but she guessed it she guessed it something which she could not tell her mother which she did not put into words to herself it was one of those things which one knows but which one can never speak of even to oneself so terrible and shameful would it be to be mistaken again and again she went over in her memory all of her relations with the family she remembered the simple delight expressed on the round good-humored face of Anna Pavlovna at their meetings she remembered their secret confabulations about the invalid their plots to draw him away from the work which was forbidden him and to get him out of doors the devotion of the youngest boy who used to call her my Kitty and would not go to bed without her how nice it all was then she recalled the thin terribly thin figure of Petrov with his long neck in his brown coat his scant curly hair his questioning blue eyes that were so terrible to Kitty at first and his painful attempts to seem hearty and lively in her presence she recalled the efforts she had made at first to overcome the repugnance she felt for him as for all consumptive people and the pains it had cost her to think of things to say to him she recalled the timid softened look with which he gazed at her and the strange feeling of compassion and awkwardness and later of a sense of her own goodness which she had felt at it how nice it all was but all that was at first now a few days ago everything was suddenly spoiled Anna Pavlovna had met Kitty with affected cordiality and had kept continual watch on her and on her husband could that touching pleasure he showed when she came near be the cause of Anna Pavlovna's coolness yes she mused there was something unnatural about Anna Pavlovna and utterly unlike her good nature when she said angrily the day before yesterday there he will keep waiting for you he wouldn't drink his coffee without you though he's grown so dreadfully weak yes perhaps too she didn't like it when I gave him the rug it was all so simple but he took it so awkwardly and was so long thinking me that I felt awkward too and then that portrait of me he did so well and most of all that look of confusion and tenderness yes yes that's it Kitty repeated to herself with horror no it can't be it oughtn't to be he's so much to be pitted she said to herself directly after this doubt poisoned the charm of her new life end of chapter 33 chapter 34 of Anna Karenina book 2 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Lynn Carroll Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy translated by Constance Garnett book 2 chapter 34 before the end of the course of drinking the water Prince Shcherbatsky who had gone on from Charles bad to Bodin and Kissingen to Russian friends to get a breath of Russian air as he said came back to his wife and daughter the views of the prince and of the princess on life abroad were completely opposed the princess thought everything delightful and in spite of her established position in Russian society she tried abroad to be like a European fashionable lady which she was not for the simple reason that she was a typical Russian gentlewoman and so she was affected which did not altogether suit her the prince on the contrary thought everything foreign detestable got sick of European life kept to his Russian habits and purposely tried to show himself abroad less European than he was in reality the prince returned thinner with the skin hanging in loose bags on his cheeks but in the most cheerful frame of mind his good humor was even greater when he saw Kitty completely recovered the news of Kitty's friendship with Madame Stahl and Varenka and the reports the princess gave him of some kind of change she had noticed in Kitty troubled the prince and aroused his habitual feeling of jealousy of everything that drew his daughter away from him and a dread that his daughter might have got out of the reach of his influence into regions inaccessible to him but these unpleasant matters were all drowned in the sea of kindness and good humor which was always within him and more so than ever since his course of Carlsbad waters the day after his arrival the prince in his long overcoat with his Russian wrinkles and baggy cheeks propped up by a starched collar set off with his daughter to the spring in the greatest good humor it was a lovely morning the bright cheerful houses with their little gardens the sight of the red-faced red-armed beer-drinking German waitresses working away merrily did the heart good but the nearer they got to the springs the oftener they met sick people and their appearance seemed more pityable than ever among the everyday conditions of prosperous German life Kitty was no longer struck by this contrast the bright sun the brilliant green of the foliage the strings of the music were for her the natural setting of all these familiar faces with their changes to greater emaciation or to convalescence for which she watched but to the prince the brightness and gaiety of the June morning and the sound of the orchestra playing a gay waltz then in fashion and above all the appearance of the healthy attendance seemed something unseemly and monstrous in conjunction with the slowly moving dying figures gathered together from all parts of Europe in spite of his feeling of pride and as it were of the return of youth with his favorite daughter on his arm he felt awkward and almost ashamed of his vigorous step in his dirty stout limbs he felt almost like a man not dressed in a crowd present me to your new friends he said to his daughter squeezing her hand with his elbow I like even your horrid sodon for making you so well again only it's melancholy very melancholy here who's that? Kitty mentioned the names of all the people they met with some of whom she was acquainted and some not at the entrance of the garden they met the blind lady Madame Bertha with her guide and the prince was delighted to see the old French woman's face light up when she heard Kitty's voice she at once began talking to him with French exaggerated politeness applauding him for having such a delightful daughter extolling Kitty to the skies before her face and calling her a treasure a pearl and a consoling angel well she's the second angel then said the prince smiling she calls mademoiselle varenka angel number one oh mademoiselle varenka she's a real angel I guess Madame Bertha assented in the arcade they met varenka herself she was walking rapidly towards them carrying an elegant red bag here is papa come Kitty said to her varenka made simply and naturally as she did everything a movement between a bow and a curtsy and immediately began talking to the prince without shyness naturally as she talked to everyone of course I know you I know you very well the prince said to her with a smile in which Kitty detected with joy that her father liked her friend where are you off to in such haste mama's here she said turning to Kitty she has not slept all night and the doctor advised her to go out I'm taking her her work so that's angel number one said the prince when varenka had gone on Kitty saw that her father had meant to make fun of varenka but that he could not do it because he liked her come so we shall see all your friends he went on even madam stahl if she dames to recognize me why did you know her papa Kitty asked apprehensively catching the gleam of irony that kindled in the prince's eyes at the mention of madam stahl I used to know her husband and her too a little before she joined the pietists what is a pietist papa as Kitty dismayed to find that what she prized so highly in madam stahl had a name I don't quite know myself I only know that she thanks god for everything for every misfortune and thanks god too that her husband died and that's rather droll as they didn't get on together who's that what a piteous face he asked noticing a sick man of medium height sitting on a bench wearing a brown overcoat and white trousers that fell in strange folds about his long fleshless legs this man lifted his straw hat showed his scanty curly hair and high forehead painfully reddened by the pressure of the hat that's Petrov an artist answered Kitty blushing and that's his wife she added indicating Anna Pavlovna who as though on purpose at the very instant they approached walked away after a child that had run off along a path poor fellow and what a nice face he has said the prince why don't you go up to him he wanted to speak to you well let us go then said Kitty turning round resolutely how are you feeling today she asked Petrov Petrov got up leaning on his stick and looked shyly at the prince this is my daughter said the prince let me introduce myself the painter bowed and smiled showing his strangely dazzling white teeth we expected you yesterday princess he said to Kitty he staggered as he said this and then repeated the motion trying to make it seem as if it had been intentional I meant to come but Verenka said that Anna Pavlovna sent word you were not going not going said Petrov blushing and immediately began to cough and his eyes sought his wife Anita Anita he said loudly and the swollen veins stood out like cords on his thin white neck Anna Pavlovna came up so you sent word to the princess that we weren't going he whispered to her angrily losing his voice good morning princess said Anna Pavlovna with an assumed smile utterly unlike her former manner very glad to make your acquaintance she said to the prince you've long been expected prince what did you send word to the princess that we weren't going for the artist whispered hoarsely once more still more angrily obviously exasperated that his voice failed him so that he could not give his words the expression he would have liked to oh mercy on us I thought we weren't going his wife answered crossly what when he coughed and waved his hand the prince took off his hat and moved away with his daughter ah ah he sighed deeply oh poor things yes papa answered kitty and you must know they've three children no servant and scarcely any means he gets something from the academy she went on bristly trying to drown the distress that the queer change in Anna Pavlovna's manner to her had aroused in her oh here's madam stall said kitty indicating an invalid carriage where propped on pillows something in gray and blue was lying under a sunshade this was madam stall behind her stood the gloomy healthy-looking german workman who pushed the carriage close by was standing a flaxen-headed swedish count whom kitty knew by name several invalids were lingering near the low carriage staring at the lady as though she were some curiosity the prince went up to her and kitty detected that disconcerting gleam of irony in his eyes he went up to madam stall and addressed her with extreme courtesy and affability in that excellent french that so few speak now a day i don't know if you remember me but i must recall myself to thank you for your kindness to my daughter he said taking off his hat and not putting it on again prince alexander scherbotzky said madam stall lifting upon him her heavenly eyes in which kitty discerned a look of annoyance delighted i have taken a great fancy to your daughter are you still in weak health yes i'm used to it said madam stall and she introduced the prince to the swedish count you are scarcely changed at all the prince said to her it's ten or eleven years since i had the honor of seeing you yes god sends the cross and sends the strength to bear it often one wonders what is the goal of this life the other side she said angrily to varenka who had rearranged the rug over her feet not to her satisfaction to do good probably said the prince with a twinkle in his eye that is not for us to judge said madam stall perceiving the shade of expression on the prince's face so you will send me that book dear count i'm very grateful to you she said to the young swede ah cried the prince catching sight of the musko colonel standing near and with a bow to madam stall he walked away with his daughter and the musko colonel who joined them that's our aristocracy prince the musko colonel said with ironical intention he cherished a grudge against madam stall for not making his acquaintance she's just the same replied the prince did you know her before her illness prince that's to say before she took to her bed yes she took to her bed before my eyes said the prince they say it's 10 years since she has stood on her feet she doesn't stand up because her legs are too short she's a very bad figure papa it's not possible cried kitty that's what wicked tongue say my darling and your verenka catches it too he added oh these invalid ladies oh no papa kitty objected warmly verenka worships her and then she does so much good ask anyone everyone knows her and elaine stall perhaps so said the prince squeezing her hand with his elbow but it's better when one does good so that you may ask everyone and no one knows kitty did not answer not because she had nothing to say but because she did not care to reveal her secret thoughts even to her father but strange to say although she had so made up her mind not to be influenced by her father's views not to let him into her inmost sanctuary she felt that the heavenly image of madam stall which she had carried for a whole month in her heart had vanished never to return just as the fantastic figure made up of some clothes thrown down at random vanishes when one sees that it is only some garment lying there all that was left was a woman with short legs who lay down because she had a bad figure and worried patient verenka for not arranging her rug to her liking and by no effort of the imagination could kitty bring back the former madam stall End of Chapter 34 Chapter 35 of Anna Karenina Book 2 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Lynn Carroll Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy translated by Constance Garnett Book 2 Chapter 35 The prince communicated his good humor to his own family and his friends and even to the German landlord in whose rooms the sherbotskis were staying On coming back with kitty from the springs the prince who had asked the colonel and Maria Yevgenyevna and verenka all to come and have coffee with them gave orders for a table and chairs to be taken into the garden under the chestnut tree and munch to be laid there The landlord and the servants too grew brisker under the influence of his good spirits They knew his open-handedness and half an hour later the invalid doctor from Hamburg who lived on the top floor looked enviously out of the window at the merry party of healthy Russians assembled under the chestnut tree In the trembling circles of shadow cast by the leaves at a table covered with a white cloth and set with coffee pot bread and butter cheese and cold game set the princess in a high cap with lilac ribbons distributing cups and bread and butter At the other end set the prince eating heartily and talking loudly and merrily The prince had spread out near him his purchases carved boxes and knickknacks paper knives of all sorts of which he bought a heap at every watering place and bestowed them upon everyone including Leish and the servant girl and the landlord with whom he gested in his comically bad German assuring him that it was not the water had cured kitty but his splendid cookery especially his plum soup The princess laughed at her husband for his Russian ways but she was more lively and good-humored than she had been all the while she had been at the waters The colonel smiled as he always did at the prince's jokes but as far as regards Europe of which he believed himself to be making a careful study he took the princess aside The simple-hearted Maria Yevgenavya simply roared with laughter at everything absurd the prince said and his jokes made Varenka helpless with feeble but infectious laughter which was something Kitty had never seen before Kitty was glad of all this but she could not be light-hearted She could not solve the problem her father had unconsciously set her by his good-humored view of her friends and of the life that had so attracted her To this doubt there was joined the change in her relations with the Petrovs which had been so conspicuously and unpleasantly marked that morning Everyone was good-humored but Kitty could not feel good-humored and this increased her distress She felt a feeling such as she had known in childhood when she had been shut in her room as a punishment and had heard her sister's merry laughter outside Well, but what did you buy this mass of things for? said the princess smiling and handing her husband a cup of coffee One goes for a walk one looks in a shop and they ask you to buy Airlock Dirklauk Directly they say Dirklauk I can't hold out I lose ten dollars It's simply from boredom said the princess Of course it is such boredom, my dear that one doesn't know what to do with oneself How can you be bored, prince? There's so much that's interesting now in Germany said Maria Yevgenyevna But I know everything that's interesting The plum soup I know and the pea sausages I know I know everything No, you may say what you like, prince There's the interest of their institutions said the colonel But what is there interesting about it? They're all as pleased as brass half-pence They've conquered everybody and why am I to be pleased at that? I haven't conquered anyone and I'm obliged to take off my own boots Yes, and put them away too In the morning get up and dress at once and go to the dining room to drink bad tea How different it is at home You get up in no haste You get cross, grumble a little and come round again You've time to think things over and no hurry But time's money You forget that, said the colonel Time indeed That depends Why, there's time one would give a month of for six pence and time you wouldn't give half an hour of for any money Isn't that so, Katenka? What is it? Why are you so depressed? I'm not depressed Where are you off to? Stay a little longer, you said to Varenka I must be going home, said Varenka Getting up and again she went off into a giggle When she had recovered she said goodbye and went into the house to get her hat Kitty followed her Even Varenka struck her as different She was not worse, but different from what she had fancied her before Oh dear, it's a long while since I've laughed so much, said Varenka gathering up her parasol and her bag How nice he is, your father Kitty did not speak When shall I see you again, asked Varenka Mama meant to go and see the Petrofs Won't you be there, said Kitty, to try Varenka Yes, answered Varenka They're getting ready to go away so I promised to help them pack Well, I'll come too then No, why should you? Why not, why not, why not, said Kitty opening her eyes wide and clutching at Varenka's parasol so as not to let her go No, wait a minute, why not? Oh nothing, your father has come and besides they will feel awkward if you're helping No, tell me why you don't want me to be often at the Petrofs You don't want me to, why not I didn't say that, said Varenka quietly No, please tell me Tell you everything, asked Varenka Everything, everything, Kitty assented Well, there's really nothing of any consequence Only that Mihail Alexeyevich, that was the artist's name had meant to leave earlier and now he doesn't want to go away, said Varenka smiling Well, well, Kitty urged impatiently looking darkly at Varenka Well, and for some reason Annapavlovna told him that he didn't want to go because you were here Of course, that was nonsense but there was a dispute over it, over you You know how irritable these sick people are Kitty, scowling more than ever, kept silent and Varenka went on speaking alone trying to soften or soothe her and seeing a storm coming she did not know whether of tears or of words So you'd better not go You understand, you won't be offended and it serves me right and it serves me right Kitty cried quickly snatching the parasol out of Varenka's hand and looking past her friend's face Varenka felt inclined to smile looking at her childish fury but she was afraid of wounding her How does it serve you right? I don't understand, she said It serves me right because it was all sham because it was all done on purpose and not from the heart What business had I to interfere with outsiders? And so it's come about that I am a cause of quarrel and that I've done what nobody asked me to do because it was all a sham a sham, a sham A sham with what object? said Varenka gently Oh, it's so idiotic, so hateful There was no need whatever for me Nothing but sham, she said opening and shutting the parasol But with what object? To seem better to people, to myself, to God to deceive everyone No, now I won't descend to that I'll be bad, but anyway, not a liar, a cheat But who is a cheat? said Varenka reproachfully You speak as if But Kitty was in one of her gusts of fury and she would not let her finish I don't talk about you, not about you at all You're a perfection Yes, yes, I know you're all perfection But what am I to do if I'm bad? This would never have been if I weren't bad So let me be what I am I won't be a sham What have I to do with Ana Pavlovna? Let them go their way and me go mine I can't be different And yet it's not that It's not that What is not that? asked Varenka in bewilderment Everything I can't act except from the heart And you act from principle I liked you simply But you most likely only wanted to save me To improve me You are unjust, said Varenka But I'm not speaking of other people I'm speaking of myself Kitty, they heard her mother's voice Come here, show papa your necklace Kitty with a haughty air Without making peace with her friend Took the necklace in a little box from the table And went to her mother What's the matter? Why are you so red? Her mother and father said to her with one voice Nothing, she answered I'll be back directly And she ran back She's still here, she thought What am I to say to her? Oh dear, what have I done? What have I said? Why was I rude to her? What am I to do? What am I to say to her? Thought Kitty And she stopped in the doorway Varenka in her hat And with the parasol in her hands Was sitting at the table Examining the spring Which Kitty had broken She lifted her head Varenka, forgive me Do forgive me Whispered Kitty going up to her I don't remember what I said I I really didn't mean to hurt you Said Varenka smiling Peace was made But with her father's coming All the world in which she had been living Was transformed for Kitty She did not give up everything she had learned But she became aware that she had deceived herself In supposing she could be what she wanted to be Her eyes were, it seemed, opened She felt all the difficulty of maintaining herself Without hypocrisy and self-conceit On the pinnacle to which she had wished to mount Moreover, she became aware of all the dreariness Of the world of sorrow Of sick and dying people In which she had been living The efforts she had made to like it Seemed to her intolerable And she felt a longing to get back quickly Into the fresh air To Russia To Urgishovo Where, as she knew from letters Her sister Dolly had already gone with her children But her affection for Varenka did not wane As she said goodbye Kitty begged her to come to them in Russia I'll come when you get married, said Varenka I shall never marry Well then, I shall never come Well then, I shall be married simply for that Mind now, remember your promise, said Kitty The doctor's prediction was fulfilled Kitty returned home to Russia cured She was not so gay and thoughtless as before But she was serene Her Moscow troubles had become a memory to her End of Chapter 35 End of Anna Karenina, Book Two, by Leo Tolstoy Translated by Constance Garnett