Page 309 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Noticing the disagreeable impression that was being
made on everyone, Princess Betsy slipped someone else
into her place to listen to Alexey Alexandrovitch, and
went up to Anna.

‘I’m always amazed at the clearness and precision of
your husband’s language,’ she said. ‘The most
transcendental ideas seem to be within my grasp when he’s
speaking.’
‘Oh, yes!’ said Anna, radiant with a smile of happiness,
and not understanding a word of what Betsy had said. She
crossed over to the big table and took part in the general
conversation.
Alexey Alexandrovitch, after staying half an hour, went
up to his wife and suggested that they should go home
together. But she answered, not looking at him, that she
was staying to supper. Alexey Alexandrovitch made his
bows and withdrew.
The fat old Tatar, Madame Karenina’s coachman, was
with difficulty holding one of her pair of grays, chilled
with the cold and rearing at the entrance. A footman stood
opening the carriage door. The hall porter stood holding
open the great door of the house. Anna Arkadyevna, with
her quick little hand, was unfastening the lace of her
sleeve, caught in the hook of her fur cloak, and with bent

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