Page 455 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

From his glances towards the ladies’ pavilion (he was
staring straight at her, but did not distinguish his wife in
the sea of muslin, ribbons, feathers, parasols and flowers)
she saw that he was looking for her, but she purposely

avoided noticing him.
‘Alexey Alexandrovitch!’ Princess Betsy called to him;
‘I’m sure you don’t see your wife: here she is.’
He smiled his chilly smile.
‘There’s so much splendor here that one’s eyes are
dazzled,’ he said, and he went into the pavilion. He smiled
to his wife as a man should smile on meeting his wife after
only just parting from her, and greeted the princess and
other acquaintances, giving to each what was due—that is
to say, jesting with the ladies and dealing out friendly
greetings among the men. Below, near the pavilion, was
standing an adjutant-general of whom Alexey
Alexandrovitch had a high opinion, noted for his
intelligence and culture. Alexey Alexandrovitch entered
into conversation with him.
There was an interval between the races, and so
nothing hindered conversation. The adjutant-general
expressed his disapproval of races. Alexey Alexandrovitch
replied defending them. Anna heard his high, measured

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