Page 683 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

tenderly as a woman, ‘give me carte blanche, retire from
the regiment, and I’ll draw you upwards imperceptibly.’
‘But you must understand that I want nothing,’ said
Vronsky, ‘except that all should be as it is.’

Serpuhovskoy got up and stood facing him.
‘You say that all should be as it is. I understand what
that means. But listen: we’re the same age, you’ve known
a greater number of women perhaps than I have.’
Serpohovskoy’s smile and gestures told Vronsky that he
mustn’t be afraid, that he would be tender and careful in
touching the sore place. ‘But I’m married, and believe me,
in getting to know thoroughly one’s wife, if one loves her,
as someone has said, one gets to know all women better
than if one knew thousands of them.’
‘We’re coming directly!’ Vronsky shouted to an officer,
who looked into the room and called them to the colonel.
Vronsky was longing now to hear to the end and know
what Serpuhovskey would say to him.
‘And here’s my opinion for you. Women are the chief
stumbling block in a man’s career. It’s hard to love a
woman and do anything. There’s only one way of having
love conveniently without its being a hindrance—that’s
marriage. How, how am I to tell you what I mean?’ said
Serpuhovskoy, who liked similes. ‘Wait a minute, wait a

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