Page 473 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

attraction of Mademoiselle Varenka. Kitty felt that in her,
in her manner of life, she would find an example of what
she was now so painfully seeking: interest in life, a dignity
in life—apart from the worldly relations of girls with men,

which so revolted Kitty, and appeared to her now as a
shameful hawking about of goods in search of a purchaser.
The more attentively Kitty watched her unknown friend,
the more convinced she was this girl was the perfect
creature she fancied her, and the more eagerly she wished
to make her acquaintance.
The two girls used to meet several times a day, and
every time they met, Kitty’s eyes said: ‘Who are you?
What are you? Are you really the exquisite creature I
imagine you to be? But for goodness’ sake don’t suppose,’
her eyes added, ‘that I would force my acquaintance on
you, I simply admire you and like you.’ ‘I like you too,
and you’re very, very sweet. And I should like you better
still, if I had time,’ answered the eyes of the unknown girl.
Kitty saw indeed, that she was always busy. Either she was
taking the children of a Russian family home from the
springs, or fetching a shawl for a sick lady, and wrapping
her up in it, or trying to interest an irritable invalid, or
selecting and buying cakes for tea for someone.

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