Page 1159 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘Seryozha—Sergey Alexeitch,’ she said, and was going
on. Scrutinizing the note, the porter’s assistant stopped her
at the second glass door.
‘Whom do you want?’ he asked.

She did not hear his words and made no answer.
Noticing the embarrassment of the unknown lady,
Kapitonitch went out to her, opened the second door for
her, and asked her what she was pleased to want.
‘From Prince Skorodumov for Sergey Alexeitch,’ she
said.
‘His honor’s not up yet,’ said the porter, looking at her
attentively.
Anna had not anticipated that the absolutely unchanged
hall of the house where she had lived for nine years would
so greatly affect her. Memories sweet and painful rose one
after another in her heart, and for a moment she forgot
what she was here for.
‘Would you kindly wait?’ said Kapitonitch, taking off
her fur cloak.
As he took off the cloak, Kapitonitch glanced at her
face, recognized her, and made her a low bow in silence.
‘Please walk in, your excellency,’ he said to her.
She tried to say something, but her voice refused to
utter any sound; with a guilty and imploring glance at the

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