Page 483 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘Kitty plays, and we have a piano, not a good one, it’s
true, but you will give us so much pleasure,’ said the
princess with her affected smile, which Kitty disliked
particularly just then, because she noticed that Varenka

had no inclination to sing. Varenka came, however, in the
evening and brought a roll of music with her. The princess
had invited Marya Yevgenyevna and her daughter and the
colonel.
Varenka seemed quite unaffected by there being
persons present she did not know, and she went directly to
the piano. She could not accompany herself, but she could
sing music at sight very well. Kitty, who played well,
accompanied her.
‘You have an extraordinary talent,’ the princess said to
her after Varenka had sung the first song extremely well.
Marya Yevgenyevna and her daughter expressed their
thanks and admiration.
‘Look,’ said the colonel, looking out of the window,
‘what an audience has collected to listen to you.’ There
actually was quite a considerable crowd under the
windows.
‘I am very glad it gives you pleasure,’ Varenka
answered simply.

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