Page 1151 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘People will throw stones at me, I know,’ she said, ‘but
I shall come and see Anna; yes, I shall certainly come. You
won’t be here long, I suppose?’
And she did certainly come to see Anna the same day,

but her tone was not at all the same as in former days. She
unmistakably prided herself on her courage, and wished
Anna to appreciate the fidelity of her friendship. She only
stayed ten minutes, talking of society gossip, and on
leaving she said:
‘You’ve never told me when the divorce is to be?
Supposing I’m ready to fling my cap over the mill, other
starchy people will give you the cold shoulder until you’re
married. And that’s so simple nowadays. Ca se fait. So
you’re going on Friday? Sorry we shan’t see each other
again.’
From Betsy’s tone Vronsky might have grasped what
he had to expect from the world; but he made another
effort in his own family. His mother he did not reckon
upon. He knew that his mother, who had been so
enthusiastic over Anna at their first acquaintance, would
have no mercy on her now for having ruined her son’s
career. But he had more hope of Varya, his brother’s wife.
He fancied she would not throw stones, and would go

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