Page 412 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

She did not answer, and, bending her head a little, she
looked inquiringly at him from under her brows, her eyes
shining under their long lashes. Her hand shook as it
played with a leaf she had picked. He saw it, and his face

expressed that utter subjection, that slavish devotion,
which had done so much to win her.
‘I see something has happened. Do you suppose I can
be at peace, knowing you have a trouble I am not sharing?
Tell me, for God’s sake,’ he repeated imploringly.
‘Yes, I shan’t be able to forgive him if he does not
realize all the gravity of it. Better not tell; why put him to
the proof?’ she thought, still staring at him in the same
way, and feeling the hand that held the leaf was trembling
more and more.
‘For God’s sake!’ he repeated, taking her hand.
‘Shall I tell you?’
‘Yes, yes, yes . . .’
‘I’m with child,’ she said, softly and deliberately. The
leaf in her hand shook more violently, but she did not take
her eyes off him, watching how he would take it. He
turned white, would have said something, but stopped; he
dropped her hand, and his head sank on his breast. ‘Yes,
he realizes all the gravity of it,’ she thought, and gratefully
she pressed his hand.

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