Page 505 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Madame Stahl. Behind her stood the gloomy, healthy-
looking German workman who pushed the carriage. Close
by was standing a flaxen-headed Swedish count, whom
Kitty knew by name. Several invalids were lingering near

the low carriage, staring at the lady as though she were
some curiosity.
The prince went up to her, and Kitty detected that
disconcerting gleam of irony in his eyes. He went up to
Madame Stahl, and addressed her with extreme courtesy
and affability in that excellent French that so few speak
nowadays.
‘I don’t know if you remember me, but I must recall
myself to thank you for your kindness to my daughter,’ he
said, taking off his hat and not putting it on again.
‘Prince Alexander Shtcherbatsky,’ said Madame Stahl,
lifting upon him her heavenly eyes, in which Kitty
discerned a look of annoyance. ‘Delighted! I have taken a
great fancy to your daughter.’
‘You are still in weak health?’
‘Yes; I’m used to it,’ said Madame Stahl, and she
introduced the prince to the Swedish count.
‘You are scarcely changed at all,’ the prince said to her.
‘It’s ten or eleven years since I had the honor of seeing
you.’

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