Page 137 - ANNA KARENINA
P. 137

Anna Karenina


                                     ‘Well, have you found your brother?’ said Countess
                                  Vronskaya, addressing the lady.
                                     Vronsky understood now that this was Madame
                                  Karenina.

                                     ‘Your brother is here,’ he said, standing up. ‘Excuse
                                  me, I did not know you, and, indeed, our acquaintance
                                  was so slight,’ said Vronsky, bowing, ‘that no doubt you
                                  do not remember me.’
                                     ‘Oh, no,’ said she, ‘I should have known you because
                                  your mother and I have been talking, I think, of nothing
                                  but you all the way.’ As she spoke she let the eagerness
                                  that would insist on coming out show itself in her smile.
                                  ‘And still no sign of my brother.’
                                     ‘Do call him, Alexey,’ said the old countess. Vronsky
                                  stepped out onto the platform and shouted:
                                     ‘Oblonsky! Here!’
                                     Madame Karenina, however, did not wait for her
                                  brother, but catching sight of him she stepped out with
                                  her light, resolute step. And as soon as her brother had
                                  reached her, with a gesture that struck Vronsky by its
                                  decision and its grace, she flung her left arm around his
                                  neck, drew him rapidly to her, and kissed him warmly.
                                  Vronsky gazed, never taking his eyes from her, and smiled,
                                  he could not have said why. But recollecting that his



                                                         136 of 1759
   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142