Page 485 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘Very well, the next one,’ she said hurriedly, turning
over the pages, and at once feeling that there was
something connected with the song.
‘No,’ answered Varenka with a smile, laying her hand

on the music, ‘no, let’s have that one.’ And she sang it just
as quietly, as coolly, and as well as the others.
When she had finished, they all thanked her again, and
went off to tea. Kitty and Varenka went out into the little
garden that adjoined the house.
‘Am I right, that you have some reminiscences
connected with that song?’ said Kitty. ‘Don’t tell me,’ she
added hastily, ‘only say if I’m right.’
‘No, why not? I’ll tell you simply,’ said Varenka, and,
without waiting for a reply, she went on: ‘Yes, it brings up
memories, once painful ones. I cared for someone once,
and I used to sing him that song.’
Kitty with big, wide-open eyes gazed silently,
sympathetically at Varenka.
‘I cared for him, and he cared for me; but his mother
did not wish it, and he married another girl. He’s living
now not far from us, and I see him sometimes. You didn’t
think I had a love story too,’ she said, and there was a faint
gleam in her handsome face of that fire which Kitty felt
must once have glowed all over her.

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