Page 267 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘How have you settled it? you’re going? Well, and
what do you mean to do with me?’
‘I suppose you had better stay here, Alexander,’ said his
wife.

‘That’s as you like.’
‘Mamma, why shouldn’t father come with us?’ said
Kitty. ‘It would be nicer for him and for us too.’
The old prince got up and stroked Kitty’s hair. She
lifted her head and looked at them with a forced smile. It
always seemed to her that he understood her better than
anyone in the family, though he did not say much about
her. Being the youngest, she was her father’s favorite, and
she fancied that his love gave him insight. When now her
glance meet his blue kindly eyes looking intently at her, it
seemed to her that he saw right through her, and
understood all that was not good that was passing within
her. Reddening, she stretched out towards him expecting
a kiss, but he only patted her hair and said:
‘These stupid chignons! There’s no getting at the real
daughter. One simply strokes the bristles of dead women.
Well, Dolinka,’ he turned to his elder daughter, ‘what’s
your young buck about, hey?’

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