Page 859 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

but eyeing with displeasure Shtcherbatsky, who was
walking across the drawing room.
‘I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it, I can’t believe it!’
Dolly said, clasping her bony hands before her with a

vigorous gesture. She rose quickly, and laid her hand on
Alexey Alexandrovitch’s sleeve. ‘We shall be disturbed
here. Come this way, please.’
Dolly’s agitation had an effect on Alexey
Alexandrovitch. He got up and submissively followed her
to the schoolroom. They sat down to a table covered with
an oilcloth cut in slits by penknives.
‘I don’t, I don’t believe it!’ Dolly said, trying to catch
his glance that avoided her.
‘One cannot disbelieve facts, Darya Alexandrovna,’ said
he, with an emphasis on the word ‘facts.’
‘But what has she done?’ said Darya Alexandrovna.
‘What precisely has she done?’
‘She has forsaken her duty, and deceived her husband.
That’s what she has done,’ said he.
‘No, no, it can’t be! No, for God’s sake, you are
mistaken,’ said Dolly, putting her hands to her temples and
closing her eyes.
Alexey Alexandrovitch smiled coldly, with his lips
alone, meaning to signify to her and himself the firmness

858 of 1759