Page 1443 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

the stern, stony expression that she so dreaded settled upon
his face.
‘Well, I’m glad. And are you well?’ he said, wiping his
damp beard with his handkerchief and kissing her hand.

‘Never mind,’ she thought, ‘only let him be here, and
so long as he’s here he cannot, he dare not, cease to love
me.’
The evening was spent happily and gaily in the
presence of Princess Varvara, who complained to him that
Anna had been taking morphine in his absence.
‘What am I to do? I couldn’t sleep.... My thoughts
prevented me. When he’s here I never take it—hardly
ever.’
He told her about the election, and Anna knew how
by adroit questions to bring him to what gave him most
pleasure—his own success. She told him of everything that
interested him at home; and all that she told him was of
the most cheerful description.
But late in the evening, when they were alone, Anna,
seeing that she had regained complete possession of him,
wanted to erase the painful impression of the glance he
had given her for her letter. She said:
‘Tell me frankly, you were vexed at getting my letter,
and you didn’t believe me?’

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