Page 292 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Chapter 6

Princess Betsy drove home from the theater, without
waiting for the end of the last act. She had only just time
to go into her dressing room, sprinkle her long, pale face
with powder, rub it, set her dress to rights, and order tea
in the big drawing room, when one after another carriages
drove up to her huge house in Bolshaia Morskaia. Her
guests stepped out at the wide entrance, and the stout
porter, who used to read the newspapers in the mornings
behind the glass door, to the edification of the passers-by,
noiselessly opened the immense door, letting the visitors
pass by him into the house.
Almost at the same instant the hostess, with freshly
arranged coiffure and freshened face, walked in at one
door and her guests at the other door of the drawing
room, a large room with dark walls, downy rugs, and a
brightly lighted table, gleaming with the light of candles,
white cloth, silver samovar, and transparent china tea
things.
The hostess sat down at the table and took off her
gloves. Chairs were set with the aid of footmen, moving
almost imperceptibly about the room; the party settled

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