Page 182 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

In the middle of the mazurka, repeating a complicated
figure, newly invented by Korsunsky, Anna came forward
into the center of the circle, chose two gentlemen, and
summoned a lady and Kitty. Kitty gazed at her in dismay

as she went up. Anna looked at her with drooping eyelids,
and smiled, pressing her had. But, noticing that Kitty only
responded to her smile by a look of despair and
amazement, she turned away from her, and began gaily
talking to the other lady.
‘Yes, there is something uncanny, devilish and
fascinating in her,’ Kitty said to herself.
Anna did not mean to stay to supper, but the master of
the house began to press her to do so.
‘Nonsense, Anna Arkadyevna,’ said Korsunsky,
drawing her bare arm under the sleeve of his dress coat,
‘I’ve such an idea for a cotillion! Un bijou!’
And he moved gradually on, trying to draw her along
with him. Their hose smiled approvingly.
‘No, I am not going to stay,’ answered Anna, smiling,
but in spite of her smile, both Korsunsky and the master of
the house saw from her resolute tone that she would not
stay.
‘No; why, as it is, I have danced mor at your ball in
Moscow that I have all the winter in Petersburg,’ said

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