Page 421 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

which he was entered. He could still be in time for his
race, but if he went to Bryansky’s he could only just be in
time, and he would arrive when the whole of the court
would be in their places. That would be a pity. But he had

promised Bryansky to come, and so he decided to drive
on, telling the coachman not to spare the horses.
He reached Bryansky’s, spent five minutes there, and
galloped back. This rapid drive calmed him. All that was
painful in his relations with Anna, all the feeling of
indefiniteness left by their conversation, had slipped out of
his mind. He was thinking now with pleasure and
excitement of the race, of his being anyhow, in time, and
now and then the thought of the blissful interview
awaiting him that night flashed across his imagination like
a flaming light.
The excitement of the approaching race gained upon
him as he drove further and further into the atmosphere of
the races, overtaking carriages driving up from the summer
villas or out of Petersburg.
At his quarters no one was left at home; all were at the
races, and his valet was looking out for him at the gate.
While he was changing his clothes, his valet told him that
the second race had begun already, that a lot of gentlemen
had been to ask for him, and a boy had twice run up from

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