Page 424 - ANNA KARENINA
P. 424

Anna Karenina


                                     At the time when the racers had to go to the pavilion
                                  to receive the prizes, and all attention was directed to that
                                  point, Vronsky’s elder brother, Alexander, a colonel with
                                  heavy fringed epaulets, came up to him. He was not tall,

                                  though as broadly built as Alexey, and handsomer and
                                  rosier than he; he had a red nose, and an open, drunken-
                                  looking face.
                                     ‘Did you get my note?’ he said. ‘There’s never any
                                  finding you.’
                                     Alexander Vronsky, in spite of the dissolute life, and in
                                  especial the drunken habits, for which he was notorious,
                                  was quite one of the court circle.
                                     Now, as he talked to his brother of a matter bound to
                                  be exceedingly disagreeable to him, knowing that the eyes
                                  of many people might be fixed upon him, he kept a
                                  smiling countenance, as though he were jesting with his
                                  brother about something of little moment.
                                     ‘I got it, and I really can’t make out what YOU are
                                  worrying yourself about,’ said Alexey.
                                     ‘I’m worrying myself because the remark has just been
                                  made to me that you weren’t here, and that you were seen
                                  in Peterhof on Monday.’







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