Page 450 - ANNA KARENINA
P. 450
Anna Karenina
‘and now we’ll go together. Only it’s a pity I’ve promised
Betsy. She’s coming for me.’
Alexey Alexandrovitch knit his brows at Betsy’s name.
‘Oh, I’m not going to separate the inseparables,’ he said
in his usual bantering tone. ‘I’m going with Mihail
Vassilievitch. I’m ordered exercise by the doctors too. I’ll
walk, and fancy myself at the springs again.’
‘There’s no hurry,’ said Anna. ‘Would you like tea?’
She rang.
‘Bring in tea, and tell Seryozha that Alexey
Alexandrovitch is here. Well, tell me, how have you
been? Mihail Vassilievitch, you’ve not been to see me
before. Look how lovely it is out on the terrace,’ she said,
turning first to one and then to the other.
She spoke very simply and naturally, but too much and
too fast. She was the more aware of this from noticing in
the inquisitive look Mihail Vassilievitch turned on her that
he was, as it were, keeping watch on her.
Mihail Vassilievitch promptly went out on the terrace.
She sat down beside her husband.
‘You don’t look quite well,’ she said.
‘Yes,’ he said; ‘the doctor’s been with me today and
wasted an hour of my time. I feel that some one of our
449 of 1759