Page 1011 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

it seemed, for nothing but to anticipate her wishes. And
she could not but appreciate this, even though the very
intensity of his solicitude for her, the atmosphere of care
with which he surrounded her, sometimes weighed upon

her.
Vronsky, meanwhile, in spite of the complete
realization of what he had so long desired, was not
perfectly happy. He soon felt that the realization of his
desires gave him no more than a grain of sand out of the
mountain of happiness he had expected. It showed him
the mistake men make in picturing to themselves
happiness as the realization of their desires. For a time after
joining his life to hers, and putting on civilian dress, he
had felt all the delight of freedom in general of which he
had known nothing before, and of freedom in his love,—
and he was content, but not for long. He was soon aware
that there was springing up in his heart a desire for
desires—ennui. Without conscious intention he began to
clutch at every passing caprice, taking it for a desire and an
object. Sixteen hours of the day must be occupied in some
way, since they were living abroad in complete freedom,
outside the conditions of social life which filled up time in
Petersburg. As for the amusements of bachelor existence,
which had provided Vronsky with entertainment on

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