Page 899 - ANNA KARENINA
P. 899
Anna Karenina
‘Make haste with the ice!’ the doctor’s peremptory
voice said from the bedroom.
Alexey Alexandrovitch went into her boudoir.
At the table, sitting sideways in a low chair, was
Vronsky, his face hidden in his hands, weeping. He
jumped up at the doctor’s voice, took his hands from his
face, and saw Alexey Alexandrovitch. Seeing the husband,
he was so overwhelmed that he sat down again, drawing
his head down to his shoulders, as if he wanted to
disappear; but he made an effort over himself, got up and
said:
‘She is dying. The doctors say there is no hope. I am
entirely in your power, only let me be here...though I am
at your disposal. I..’
Alexey Alexandrovitch, seeing Vronsky’s tears, felt a
rush of that nervous emotion always produced in him by
the sight of other people’s suffering, and turning away his
face, he moved hurriedly to the door, without hearing the
rest of his words. From the bedroom came the sound of
Anna’s voice saying something. Her voice was lively,
eager, with exceedingly distinct intonations. Alexey
Alexandrovitch went into the bedroom, and went up to
the bed. She was lying turned with her face towards him.
Her cheeks were flushed crimson, her eyes glittered, her
898 of 1759