Page 652 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Betsy broke into unexpectedly mirthful and
irrepressible laughter, a thing which rarely happened with
her.
‘You’re encroaching on Princess Myakaya’s special

domain now. That’s the question of an enfant terrible,’
and Betsy obviously tried to restrain herself, but could not,
and went off into peals of that infectious laughter that
people laugh who do not laugh often. ‘You’d better ask
them,’ she brought out, between tears of laughter.
‘No; you laugh,’ said Anna, laughing too in spite of
herself, ‘but I never could understand it. I can’t understand
the husband’s role in it.’
‘The husband? Liza Merkalova’s husband carries her
shawl, and is always ready to be of use. But anything more
than that in reality, no one cares to inquire. You know in
decent society one doesn’t talk or think even of certain
details of the toilet. That’s how it is with this.’
‘Will you be at Madame Rolandak’s fete?’ asked Anna,
to change the conversation.
‘I don’t think so,’ answered Betsy, and, without
looking at her friend, she began filling the little transparent
cups with fragrant tea. Putting a cup before Anna, she
took out a cigarette, and, fitting it into a silver holder, she
lighted it.

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