Page 97 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

career in the army and at court, and a fascinating man.
Nothing better could be wished for.
Vronsky openly flirted with Kitty at balls, danced with
her, and came continually to the house, consequently

there could be no doubt of the seriousness of his
intentions. But, in spite of that, the mother had spent the
whole of that winter in a state of terrible anxiety and
agitation.
Princess Shtcherbatskaya had herself been married thirty
years ago, her aunt arranging the match. Her husband,
about whom everything was well known before hand, had
come, looked at his future bride, and been looked at. The
match-making aunt had ascertained and communicated
their mutual impression. That impression had been
favorable. Afterwards, on a day fixed beforehand, the
expected offer was made to her parents, and accepted. All
had passed very simply and easily. So it seemed, at least, to
the princess. But over her own daughters she had felt how
far from simple and easy is the business, apparently so
commonplace, of marrying off one’s daughters. The panics
that had been lived through, the thoughts that had been
brooded over, the money that had been wasted, and the
disputes with her husband over marrying the two elder
girls, Darya and Natalia! Now, since the youngest had

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