Page 942 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘The only question is on what terms you agree to give
her a divorce. She does not want anything, does not dare
ask you for anything, she leaves it all to your generosity.’
‘My God, my God! what for?’ thought Alexey

Alexandrovitch, remembering the details of divorce
proceedings in which the husband took the blame on
himself, and with just the same gesture with which
Vronsky had done the same, he hid his face for shame in
his hands.
‘You are distressed, I understand that. But if you think
it over..’
‘Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to
him the other also; and if any man take away thy coat, let
him have thy cloak also,’ thought Alexey Alexandrovitch.
‘Yes, yes!’ he cried in a shrill voice. ‘I will take the
disgrace on myself, I will give up even my son, but...but
wouldn’t it be better to let it alone? Still you may do as
you like..’
And turning away so that his brother-in-law could not
see him, he sat down on a chair at the window. There was
bitterness, there was shame in his heart, but with bitterness
and shame he felt joy and emotion at the height of his
own meekness.

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