Page 678 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

moment. Serpuhovskoy went into the house to the
bathroom to wash his hands and found Vronsky there;
Vronsky was drenching his head with water. He had taken
off his coat and put his sunburnt, hairy neck under the tap,

and was rubbing it and his head with his hands. When he
had finished, Vronsky sat down by Serpuhovskoy. They
both sat down in the bathroom on a lounge, and a
conversation began which was very interesting to both of
them.
‘I’ve always been hearing about you through my wife,’
said Serpuhovskoy. ‘I’m glad you’ve been seeing her
pretty often.’
‘She’s friendly with Varya, and they’re the only women
in Petersburg I care about seeing,’ answered Vronsky,
smiling. He smiled because he foresaw the topic the
conversation would turn on, and he was glad of it.
‘The only ones?’ Serpuhovskoy queried, smiling.
‘Yes; and I heard news of you, but not only through
your wife,’ said Vronsky, checking his hint by a stern
expression of face. ‘I was greatly delighted to hear of your
success, but not a bit surprised. I expected even more.’
Serpuhovskoy smiled. Such an opinion of him was
obviously agreeable to him, and he did not think it
necessary to conceal it.

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