Page 1190 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

women expressive of commiseration, indignation, and
amazement, that she should show herself in society, and
show herself so conspicuously with her lace and her
beauty, would have admired the serenity and loveliness of

this woman without a suspicion that she was undergoing
the sensations of a man in the stocks.
Knowing that something had happened, but not
knowing precisely what, Vronsky felt a thrill of agonizing
anxiety, and hoping to find out something, he went
towards his brother’s box. Purposely choosing the way
round furthest from Anna’s box, he jostled as he came out
against the colonel of his old regiment talking to two
acquaintances. Vronsky heard the name of Madame
Karenina, and noticed how the colonel hastened to address
Vronsky loudly by name, with a meaning glance at his
companions.
‘Ah, Vronsky! When are you coming to the regiment?
We can’t let you off without a supper. You’re one of the
old set,’ said the colonel of his regiment.
‘I can’t stop, awfully sorry, another time,’ said Vronsky,
and he ran upstairs towards his brother’s box.
The old countess, Vronsky’s mother, with her steel-
gray curls, was in his brother’s box. Varya with the young
Princess Sorokina met him in the corridor.

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