Page 654 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Chapter 18

They heard the sound of steps and a man’s voice, then
a woman’s voice and laughter, and immediately thereafter
there walked in the expected guests: Sappho Shtoltz, and a
young man beaming with excess of health, the so-called
Vaska. It was evident that ample supplies of beefsteak,
truffles, and Burgundy never failed to reach him at the
fitting hour. Vaska bowed to the two ladies, and glanced at
them, but only for one second. He walked after Sappho
into the drawing-room, and followed her about as though
he were chained to her, keeping his sparkling eyes fixed
on her as though he wanted to eat her. Sappho Shtoltz was
a blonde beauty with black eyes. She walked with smart
little steps in high-heeled shoes, and shook hands with the
ladies vigorously like a man.
Anna had never met this new star of fashion, and was
struck by her beauty, the exaggerated extreme to which
her dress was carried, and the boldness of her manners. On
her head there was such a superstructure of soft, golden
hair—her own and false mixed—that her head was equal
in size to the elegantly rounded bust, of which so much
was exposed in front. The impulsive abruptness of her

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