Page 1189 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

In that box on the left were the Kartasovs. Vronsky
knew them, and knew that Anna was acquainted with
them. Madame Kartasova, a thin little woman, was
standing up in her box, and, her back turned upon Anna,

she was putting on a mantle that her husband was holding
for her. Her face was pale and angry, and she was talking
excitedly. Kartasov, a fat, bald man, was continually
looking round at Anna, while he attempted to soothe his
wife. When the wife had gone out, the husband lingered a
long while, and tried to catch Anna’s eye, obviously
anxious to bow to her. But Anna, with unmistakable
intention, avoided noticing him, and talked to Yashvin,
whose cropped head was bent down to her. Kartasov went
out without making his salutation, and the box was left
empty.
Vronsky could not understand exactly what had passed
between the Kartasovs and Anna, but he saw that
something humiliating for Anna had happened. He knew
this both from what he had seen, and most of all from the
face of Anna, who, he could see, was taxing every nerve
to carry through the part she had taken up. And in
maintaining this attitude of external composure she was
completely successful. Anyone who did not know her and
her circle, who had not heard all the utterances of the

1188 of 1759