Page 1135 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

beg the hall porter to announce him, saying that he and
his children had death staring them in the face.
Since then Seryozha, having met him a second time in
the hall, took great interest in him.

‘Well, was he very glad?’ he asked.
‘Glad? I should think so! Almost dancing as he walked
away.’
‘And has anything been left?’ asked Seryozha, after a
pause.
‘Come, sir,’ said the hall-porter; then with a shake of
his head he whispered, ‘Something from the countess.’
Seryozha understood at once that what the hall porter
was speaking of was a present from Countess Lidia
Ivanovna for his birthday.
‘What do you say? Where?’
‘Korney took it to your papa. A fine plaything it must
be too!’
‘How big? Like this?’
‘Rather small, but a fine thing.’
‘A book.’
‘No, a thing. Run along, run along, Vassily Lukitch is
calling you,’ said the porter, hearing the tutor’s steps
approaching, and carefully taking away from his belt the

1134 of 1759