Page 406 - ANNA KARENINA
P. 406
Anna Karenina
Chapter 22
The rain did not last long, and by the time Vronsky
arrived, his shaft-horse trotting at full speed and dragging
the trace-horses galloping through the mud, with their
reins hanging loose, the sun had peeped out again, the
roofs of the summer villas and the old limetrees in the
gardens on both sides of the principal streets sparkled with
wet brilliance, and from the twigs came a pleasant drip and
from the roofs rushing streams of water. He thought no
more of the shower spoiling the race course, but was
rejoicing now that—thanks to the rain—he would be sure
to find her at home and alone, as he knew that Alexey
Alexandrovitch, who had lately returned from a foreign
watering place, had not moved from Petersburg.
Hoping to find her alone, Vronsky alighted, as he
always did, to avoid attracting attention, before crossing
the bridge, and walked to the house. He did not go up the
steps to the street door, but went into the court.
‘Has your master come?’ he asked a gardener.
‘No, sir. The mistress is at home. But will you please
go to the frond door; there are servants there,’ the
gardener answered. ‘They’ll open the door.’
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