Page 775 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

against his own will or wishes, followed her lead, hoped
too that something, apart from his own action, would be
sure to solve all difficulties.
In the middle of the winter Vronsky spent a very

tiresome week. A foreign prince, who had come on a visit
to Petersburg, was put under his charge, and he had to
show him the sights worth seeing. Vronsky was of
distinguished appearance; he possessed, moreover, the art
of behaving with respectful dignity, and was used to
having to do with such grand personages—that was how
he came to be put in charge of the prince. But he felt his
duties very irksome. The prince was anxious to miss
nothing of which he would be asked at home, had he seen
that in Russia? And on his own account he was anxious to
enjoy to the utmost all Russian forms of amusement.
Vronsky was obliged to be his guide in satisfying both
these inclinations. The mornings they spent driving to
look at places of interest; the evenings they passed
enjoying the national entertainments. The prince rejoiced
in health exceptional even among princes. By gymnastics
and careful attention to his health he had brought himself
to such a point that in spite of his excess in pleasure he
looked as fresh as a big glossy green Dutch cucumber. The
prince had traveled a great deal, and considered one of the

774 of 1759