Page 1162 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

delicious sleepy warmth and fragrance that is only found in
children, and began rubbing his face against her neck and
shoulders.
‘I know,’ he said, opening his eyes; ‘it’s my birthday

today. I knew you’d come. I’ll get up directly.’
And saying that he dropped asleep.
Anna looked at him hungrily; she saw how he had
grown and changed in her absence. She knew, and did not
know, the bare legs so long now, that were thrust out
below the quilt, those short-cropped curls on his neck in
which she had so often kissed him. She touched all this
and could say nothing; tears choked her.
‘What are you crying for, mother?’ he said, waking
completely up. ‘Mother, what are you crying for?’ he
cried in a tearful voice.
‘I won’t cry...I’m crying for joy. It’s so long since I’ve
seen you. I won’t, I won’t,’ she said, gulping down her
tears and turning away. ‘Come, it’s time for you to dress
now,’ she added, after a pause, and, never letting go his
hands, she sat down by his bedside on the chair, where his
clothes were put ready for him.
‘How do you dress without me? How...’ she tried to
begin talking simply and cheerfully, but she could not, and
again she turned away.

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