Page 242 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Chapter 33

Alexey Alexandrovitch came back from the meeting of
the ministers at four o’clock, but as often happened, he
had not time no come in to her. He went into his study to
see the people waiting for him with petitions, and to sign
some papers brought him by his chief secretary. At dinner
time (there were always a few people dining with the
Karenins) there arrived an old lady, a cousin of Alexey
Alexandrovitch, the chief secretary of the department and
his wife, and a young man who had been recommended
to Alexey Alexandrovitch for the service. Anna went into
the drawing room to receive these guests. Precisely at five
o’clock, before the bronze Peter the First clock had struck
the fifth stroke, Alexey Alexandrovitch came in, wearing a
white tie and evening coat with two stars, as he had to go
out directly after dinner. Every minute of Alexey
Alexandrovitch’s life was portioned out and occupied.
And to make time to get through all that lay before him
every day, he adhered to the strictest punctuality.
‘Unhasting and unresting,’ was his motto. He came into
the dining hall, greeted everyone, and hurriedly sat down,
smiling to his wife.

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