Page 969 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

mistake. Think it over thoroughly. You can’t love me....
If...better say so,’ he said, not looking at her. ‘I shall be
wretched. Let people say what they like; anything’s better
than misery.... Far better now while there’s still time...’

‘I don’t understand,’ she answered, panic-stricken; ‘you
mean you want to give it up...don’t want it?’
‘Yes, if you don’t love me.’
‘You’re out of your mind!’ she cried, turning crimson
with vexation. But his face was so piteous, that she
restrained her vexation, and flinging some clothes off an
arm-chair, she sat down beside him. ‘What are you
thinking? tell me all.’
‘I am thinking you can’t love me. What can you love
me for?’
‘My God! what can I do?...’ she said, and burst into
tears.
‘Oh! what have I done?’ he cried, and kneeling before
her, he fell to kissing her hands.
When the princess came into the room five minutes
later, she found them completely reconciled. Kitty had not
simply assured him that she loved him, but had gone so
far—in answer to his question, what she loved him for—as
to explain what for. She told him that she loved him
because she understood him completely, because she knew

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