Page 1518 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

wanting to quarrel, but unconsciously put herself into an
attitude of antagonism.
‘Well, you’ve not been dull?’ he said, eagerly and
good-humoredly, going up to her. ‘What a terrible passion

it is—gambling!’
‘No, I’ve not been dull; I’ve learned long ago not to be
dull. Stiva has been here and Levin.’
‘Yes, they meant to come and see you. Well, how did
you like Levin?’ he said, sitting down beside her.
‘Very much. They have not long been gone. What was
Yashvin doing?’
‘He was winning—seventeen thousand. I got him
away. He had really started home, but he went back again,
and now he’s losing.’
‘Then what did you stay for?’ she asked, suddenly
lifting her eyes to him. The expression of her face was
cold and ungracious. ‘You told Stiva you were staying on
to get Yashvin away. And you have left him there.’
The same expression of cold readiness for the conflict
appeared on his face too.
‘In the first place, I did not ask him to give you any
message; and secondly, I never tell lies. But what’s the
chief point, I wanted to stay, and I stayed,’ he said,
frowning. ‘Anna, what is it for, why will you?’ he said

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