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OfcourseKostiaandKittyhavesomuchtactthatwedon’tfeelit；butitcan’tgoon。They’llhavechildren，theywon’tbeabletokeepus；it’sadragonthemasitis。Howispapa，whohashardlyanythingleftforhimself，tohelpus？SothatIcan’tevenbringthechildrenupbymyself，andmayfindithardwiththehelpofotherpeople，atthecostofhumiliation。
Why，evenifwesupposethegreatestgoodluck，thatthechildrendon’tdie，andIbringthemupsomehow。Attheverybestthey’llsimplybedecentpeople。That’sallIcanhopefor。Andtogainsimplythat-whatagonies，whattoil！……One’swholeliferuined！’Againsherecalledwhattheyoungpeasantwomanhadsaid，andagainshewasrevoltedatthethought；butshecouldnothelpadmittingthattherewasagrainofbrutaltruthinthewords。
`Isitfarnow，Mikhaila？’DaryaAlexandrovnaaskedthecountinghouseclerk，toturnhermindfromthoughtsthatwerefrighteningher。
`Fromthisvillage，theysay，it’ssevenverstas。’
Thecarriagedrovealongthevillagestreetandontoabridge。
Onthebridgewasacrowdofpeasantwomenwithcoilsoftiesforthesheavesontheirshoulders，cheerfullychattering。Theystoodstillonthebridge，staringinquisitivelyatthecarriage。AllthefacesturnedtoDaryaAlexandrovnalookedtoherhealthyandhappy，makingherenviousoftheirenjoymentoflife。`They’reallliving，they’reallenjoyinglife，’DaryaAlexandrovnastillmusedwhenshehadpassedthepeasantwomenandwasdrivinguphillagainatatrot，seatedcomfortablyonthesoftspringsoftheoldcarriage，`whileI，letout，asitwerefromprison，fromtheworldofworriesthatfretmetodeath，amonlylookingaboutmenowforaninstant。Theyalllive；thosepeasantwomen，andmysisterNatalie，andVarenka，andAnna，whomIamgoingtosee-all，butnotI。’
`AndtheyattackAnna。Whatfor？AmIanybetter？Ihave，atanyrate，ahusbandIlove-notasIshouldliketolovehim-still，Idolovehim；whileAnnaneverlovedhers。Howisshetoblame？Shewantstolive。Godhasputthatinourhearts。VerylikelyIshouldhavedonethesame。EventothisdayIdon’tfeelsureIdidrightinlisteningtoheratthatterribletimewhenshecametomeinMoscow。Ioughtthentohavecastoffmyhusbandandhavebegunmylifeanew。Imighthavelovedandhavebeenlovedinreality。Andisitanybetterasitis？Idon’trespecthim。He’snecessarytome，’shethoughtaboutherhusband，`andIputupwithhim。Isthatanybetter？AtthattimeIcouldstillhavebeenadmired，Ihadbeautyleftmestill，’DaryaAlexandrovnapursuedherthoughts，andshewouldhavelikedtolookatherselfinthelookingglass。Shehadatravelinglookingglassinherhandbag，andshewantedtotakeitout；
butlookingatthebacksofthecoachmanandtheswayingcountinghouseclerk，shefeltthatshewouldbeashamedifeitherofthemweretolookround，andshedidnottakeouttheglass。
But，withoutlookingintheglass，shethoughtthatevennowitwasnottoolate；andshethoughtofSergeiIvanovich，whowasalwaysparticularlyattentivetoher，ofStiva’sgoodheartedfriend，Turovtsin，whohadhelpedhernurseherchildrenthroughthescarlatina，andwasinlovewithher。
Andtherewassomeoneelse，quiteayoungman，who-herhusbandhadtoldheritasajoke-thoughthermorebeautifulthaneitherofhersisters。
AndthemostpassionateandimpossibleromancesrosebeforeDaryaAlexandrovna’simagination。`Annadidquiteright，andcertainlyIshallneverreproachherforit。Sheishappy，shemakesanotherpersonhappy，andshe’snotbrokendownasIam，butmostlikelyjustasshealwayswas，bright，clever，opentoeveryimpression，’thoughtDaryaAlexandrovna-andaslysmilecurvedherlips，for，assheponderedonAnna’sloveaffair，DaryaAlexandrovnaconstructedonparallellinesanalmostidenticalloveaffairforherself，withanimaginarycompositefigure，theidealmanwhowasinlovewithher。She，likeAnna，confessedthewholeaffairtoherhusband。AndtheamazementandperplexityofStepanArkadyevichatthisavowalmadehersmile。
InsuchdaydreamsshereachedtheturningofthehighroadthatledtoVozdivzhenskoe。
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TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart6，Chapter17[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter17Thecoachmanpulleduphisfourhorsesandlookedroundtotheright，toafieldofrye，wheresomepeasantsweresittingnearatelega。Thecountinghouseclerkwasjustgoingtojumpdown，butonsecondthoughtheshoutedperemptorilytothepeasantsinstead，andbeckonedtothemtocomeup。Thewind，thatseemedtoblowastheydrove，droppedwhenthecarriagestoodstill；gadfliessettledonthesteaminghorsesthatangrilyshookthemoff。Themetallicclankofawhetstoneagainstascythe，thatcametothemfromthetelega，ceased。Oneofthepeasantsgotupandcametowardthecarriage。
`Well，youareslow！’thecountinghouseclerkshoutedangrilytothepeasantwhowassteppingslowlywithhisbarefeetovertherutsoftheunbeaten，sun-bakedroad。`Comealong，do！’
Acurly-headedoldmanwithabitofbasttiedroundhishair，andhisbentbackdarkwithperspiration，cametowardthecarriage，quickeninghissteps，andtookholdofthemudguardwithhissunburnedhand。
`Vozdvizhenskoe-themanorhouse？TheCount’s？’herepeated。
`Goontotheendofthisslope。Thenturntotheleft。Straightalongtheavenue，andyou’llcomerightuponit。Butwhomdoyouwant？TheCounthimself？’
`Well，aretheyathome，mygoodman？’DaryaAlexandrovnasaidvaguely，notknowinghowtoaskaboutAnna，evenofthispeasant。
`Athomeforsure，’saidthepeasant，shiftingfromonebarefoottotheother，andleavingadistinctprintoffivetoesandaheelinthedust。`Suretobeathome，’herepeated，evidentlyeagertotalk。`Onlyyesterdayvisitorsarrived。There’sasightofvisitorscome。Whatdoyouwant？’Heturnedroundandcalledtoalad，whowasshoutingsomethingtohimfromthetelega。`Oh！Theyallrodebyherenotlongsince，tolookatareapingmachine。They’llbehomebynow。Andwhomayyoubelongto？……’
`We’vecomealongway，’saidthecoachman，climbingontothebox。`Soit’snotfar？’
`Itellyou，it’sjusthere。Assoonasyougetout……’hesaid，keepingholdallthewhileofthemudguardofthecarriage。
Ahealthy-looking，broad-shoulderedyoungfellowcameuptoo。
`What，isitlaborerstheywantfortheharvest？’heasked。
`Idon’tknow，myboy。’
`Soyoukeeptotheleft，andyou’llcomerightonit，’saidthepeasant，unmistakablyloathtoletthetravelersgo，andeagertoconverse。
Thecoachmanstartedthehorses，buttheywereonlyjustturningoffwhenthepeasantshouted:`Stop！Hi，friend！Stop！’Thecoachmanstopped。
`They’recoming！They’reyonder！’shoutedthepeasant。`Seewhataturnout！’hesaid，pointingtofourpersonsonhorseback，andtwoinacharabanc，comingalongtheroad。
TheywereVronskywithajockey，Veslovsky，andAnnaonhorseback，andPrincessVarvaraandSviiazhskyinthecharabanc。Theyhadgoneouttolookattheworkingofanewreapingmachine。
Whenthecarriagestopped，thepartyonhorsebackwerecomingatawalkingpace。AnnawasinfrontbesideVeslovsky。Annawasquietlywalkingherhorse，asturdyEnglishcobwithcroppedmaneandshorttail；
Anna，withherbeautifulhead，herblackhairstrayinglooseunderherhighhat，herfullshoulders，herslenderwaistinherblackridinghabit，andalltheeaseandgraceofherdeportment，impressedDolly。
ForthefirstminuteitseemedtoherunsuitableforAnnatobeonhorseback。Theconceptionofridingonhorsebackforaladywas，inDarvaAlexandrovna’smind，associatedwithideasofyouthfulflirtationandfrivolity，which，inheropinion，wasunbecominginAnna’sposition。
Butwhenshehadscrutinizedher，seeinghercloser，shewasatoncereconciledtoherriding。Inspiteofherelegance，everythingwassosimple，quietanddignifiedintheattitude，thedressandthemovementsofAnna，thatnothingcouldhavebeenmorenatural。
BythesideofAnna，onahot-lookinggraycavalryhorse，wasVassenkaVeslovskyinhisScotchcapwithfloatingribbons，hisstoutlegsstretchedoutinfront，obviouslypleasedwithhisownappearance。DaryaAlexandrovnacouldnotsuppressagood-humoredsmileassherecognizedhim。BehindrodeVronskyonadarkbaymare，obviouslyheatedfromgalloping。
Hewasholdingherin，pullingatthereins。
Afterhimrodealittlemaninthedressofajockey。SviiazhskyandPrincessVarvarainanewcharabancwithabig，raven-blacktrottinghorse，overtookthepartyonhorseback。
Anna’sfacesuddenlybeamedwithajoyfulsmileattheinstantwhen，inthelittlefigurehuddledinacorneroftheoldcarriage，sherecognizedDolly。Sheutteredacry，startedinthesaddle，andsetherhorseintoagallop。Onreachingthecarriageshejumpedoffwithoutassistance，and，holdingupherridinghabit，sheranuptogreetDolly。
`Ithoughtitwasyouanddarednotthinkit。Howdelightful！
Youcan’tfancyhowgladIam！’shesaid，atonemomentpressingherfaceagainstDollyandkissingher，andatthenextholdingheroffandexaminingherwithasmile。`Here’sadelightfulsurprise，Alexei！’shesaid，lookingroundatVronsky，whohaddismounted，andwaswalkingtowardthem。
Vronsky，takingoffhistallgrayhat，wentuptoDolly。
`Youwouldn’tbelievehowgladwearetoseeyou，’hesaid，givingpeculiarsignificancetothewords，andshowinghisstrongwhiteteethinasmile。
VassenkaVeslovsky，withoutgettingoffhishorse，tookoffhiscapandgreetedthevisitorbygleefullywavingtheribbonsoverhishead。
`That’sPrincessVarvara，’AnnasaidinreplytoaglanceofinquiryfromDollyasthecharabancdroveup。
`Ah！’saidDaryaAlexandrovna，andunconsciouslyherfacebetrayedherdissatisfaction。
PrincessVarvarawasherhusband’saunt，andshehadlongknownher，anddidnotrespecther。SheknewthatPrincessVarvarahadpassedherwholelifetoadyingtoherrichrelations，butthatsheshouldnowbespongingonVronsky，amanwhowasnothingtoher，mortifiedDollyonaccountofherkinshipwithherhusband。AnnanoticedDolly’sexpression，andwasdisconcertedbyit。Sheblushed，droppedherridinghabit，andstumbledoverit。
DaryaAlexandrovnawentuptothecharabancandcoldlygreetedPrincessVarvara。Sviiazhsky，too，sheknew。Heinquiredhowhisqueerfriendwiththeyoungwifewas，andrunninghiseyesovertheill-matchedhorsesandthecarriagewithitspatchedmudguards，proposedtotheladiesthattheyshouldgetintothecharabanc。
`AndI’llgetinthisvehicle，’hesaid。`Thehorseisquiet，andthePrincessdrivescapitally。’
`No，stayasyouwere，’saidAnna，comingup，`andwe’llgointhecarriage，’and，takingDolly’sarm，shedrewheraway。
DaryaAlexandrovna’seyeswerefairlydazzledbytheelegantcarriageofapatternshehadneverseenbefore，thesplendidhorses，andtheelegantandgorgeouspeoplesurroundingher。ButwhatstruckhermostofallwasthechangethathadtakenplaceinAnna，whomsheknewsowellandloved。
Anyotherwoman，alesscloseobserver，notknowingAnnabefore，andparticularlynothavingthoughtasDaryaAlexandrovnahadbeenthinkingontheroad，wouldnothavenoticedanythingspecialinAnna。ButnowDollywasstruckbythattemporarybeauty，whichisonlyfoundinwomenduringthemomentsoflove，andwhichshesawnowinAnna’sface。Everythinginherface，theclearlymarkeddimplesinhercheeksandchin，thelineofherlips，thesmilewhich，asitwere，flutteredaboutherface，thebrillianceofhereyes，thegraceandrapidityofhermovements，thefullnessofthenotesofhervoice，eventhemannerinwhich，withasortofangryfriendliness，sheansweredVeslovskywhenheaskedpermissiontogetonhercob，soastoteachittogallopwiththerightlegforemost-itwasallpeculiarlyfascinating，anditseemedasifAnnaherselfwereawareofit，andrejoicinginit。
Whenboththewomenwereseatedinthecarriage，asuddenembarrassmentcameoverbothofthem。AnnawasdisconcertedbytheintentlookofinquiryDollyfixeduponher。DollywasembarrassedbecauseafterSviiazhsky’sphraseabout`thisvehicle，’shecouldnothelpfeelingashamedofthedirtyoldcarriageinwhichAnnawassittingwithher。ThecoachmanPhilipandthecountinghouseclerkwereexperiencingthesamesensation。Thecountinghouseclerk，toconcealhisconfusion，busiedhimselfsettlingtheladies，butPhilipthecoachmanbecamesullen，andwasbracinghimselfnottobeoverawedinfuturebythisexternalsuperiority。Hesmiledironically，lookingattheravenhorse，andwasalreadydecidinginhisownmindthatthissmarttrotterinthecharabancwasonlygoodforpromenade，andwouldn’tdofortyverstasstraightoffintheheat。
Thepeasantshadallgotupfromthetelegaandwereinquisitivelyandmirthfullystaringatthemeetingofthefriends，makingtheircommentsonit。
`They’repleased，too；haven’tseeneachotherforalongwhile，’
saidthecurly-headedoldmanwiththebastroundhishair。
`Isay，UncleGherasim，ifwecouldtakethatravenhorsenow，tocartthecorn，that’udbequickwork！’
`Look-ee！Isthatawomaninbreeches？’saidoneofthem，pointingtoVassenkaVeslovskysittinginasidesaddle。
`Nay，aman！Seehowsmartlyhe’sgoingit！’
`Eh，lads！Seemswe’renotgoingtosleep，then？’
`Whatchanceofsleeptoday！’saidtheoldman，withasidelonglookatthesun。`Midday’spast，look-ee！Getyourhooks，andcomealong！’
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TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart6，Chapter18[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter18AnnalookedatDolly’sthin，carewornface，withitswrinklesfilledwithdustfromtheroad，andshewasonthepointofsayingwhatshewasthinking-thatis，thatDollyhadgrownthinner。But，consciousthatsheherselfhadgrownhandsomer，andthatDolly’seyesweretellingherso，shesighedandbegantospeakaboutherself。
`Youarelookingatme，’shesaid，`andwonderinghowIcanbehappyinmyposition？Well！It’sshamefultoconfess，butI……I’minexcusablyhappy。Somethingmagicalhashappenedtome，likeadream，whenyou’refrightened，panic-stricken，andallofasuddenyouwakeupandallthehorrorsarenomore。Ihavewakedup。Ihavelivedthroughthemisery，thedread，andnowforalongwhilepast，especiallysincewe’vebeenhere，I’vebeensohappy！……’shesaid，withatimidsmileofinquirylookingatDolly。
`HowgladIam！’saidDollysmiling，involuntarilyspeakingmorecoldlythanshewantedto。`I’mverygladforyou。Whyhaven’tyouwrittentome？’
`Why？……BecauseIhadn’tthecourage……Youforgetmyposition……’
`Tome？Hadn’tthecourage？IfyouknewhowI……Ilookat……’
DaryaAlexandrovnawantedtoexpressherthoughtsofthemorning，butforsomereasonitseemedtohernowoutofplacetodoso。
`Butofthatwe’lltalklater。What’sthis-whatareallthesebuildings？’sheasked，wantingtochangetheconversationandpointingtotheredandgreenroofsthatcameintoviewbehindthegreenhedgesofacaciaandlilac。`Quitealittletown。’
ButAnnadidnotanswer。
`No，no！Howdoyoulookatmyposition，whatdoyouthinkofit？’sheasked。
`Iconsider……’DaryaAlexandrovnawasbeginning，butatthatinstantVassenkaVeslovsky，havingbroughtthecobtogallopwiththerightlegforemost，gallopedpastthem，bumpingheavilyupanddowninhisshortjacketonthechamoisleatherofthesidesaddle。`He’sdoingit，AnnaArkadyevna！’
heshouted。Annadidnotevenglanceathim；butagainitseemedtoDaryaAlexandrovnaoutofplacetoenteruponsuchalongconversationinthecarriage，andsoshecutshortherthought。
`Idon’tthinkanything，’shesaid，`butIalwayslovedyou，andifonelovesanyone，onelovesthewholeperson，justasthatpersonis，andnotasonewouldlikeherorhimtobe……’
Anna，takinghereyesoffherfriend’sfaceanddroppinghereyelids(thiswasanewhabitDollyhadnotseeninherbefore)，pondered，tryingtopenetratethefullsignificanceofthewords。Andobviouslyinterpretingthemasshewouldhavewished，sheglancedatDolly。
`Ifyouhadanysins，’shesaid，`theywouldallbeforgivenyouforyourcomingtoseeme，andthesewords。’
AndDollysawthatthetearsstoodinhereyes。ShepressedAnna’shandinsilence。
`Well，whatarethesebuildings？Howmanythereareofthem！’
Afteramoment’ssilencesherepeatedherquestion。
`Thesearetheservant’shouses，studfarm，andstables，’answeredAnna。`Andtheretheparkbegins。Ithadallgonetoruin，butAlexeihadeverythingrenewed。Heisveryfondofthisplace，and，whatIneverexpected，hehasbecomeintenselyinterestedinlookingafterit。Buthisissucharichnature！Whateverhetakesup，hedoessplendidly。Sofarfrombeingboredbyit，heworkswithpassionateinterest。He-withhistemperamentasIknowit-hehasbecomecarefulandbusinesslike，afirst-ratemanager，hepositivelyreckonseverypennyinhismanagementoftheland。Butonlyinthat。Whenit’saquestionoftensofthousands，hedoesn’tthinkofmoney。’Shespokewiththatgleefullyslysmilewithwhichwomenoftentalkofthesecretcharacteristics-onlyknowntothem-ofthosetheylove。`Doyouseethatbigbuilding？That’sthenewhospital。Ibelieveitwillcostoverahundredthousand；that’shisdadajustnow。Anddoyouknowhowitallcameabout？Thepeasantsaskedhimforsomemeadowland，Ithinkitwas，atacheaperrate，andherefused，andIaccusedhimofbeingmiserly。Ofcourseitwasnotreallybecauseofthat，butbecauseofeverythingtogether-hebeganthishospitaltoprove，doyousee，thathewasnotmiserlyaboutmoney。C’estunepetitesse，ifyoulike，butIlovehimallthemoreforit。Andnowyou’llseethehouseinamoment。
Itwashisgrandfather’shouse，andhehashadnothingchangedoutside。’
`Howbeautiful！’saidDolly，lookingwithinvoluntaryadmirationatthehandsomehousewithcolumns，standingoutamongthedifferent-coloredgreensoftheoldtreesinthegarden。
`Isn’titfine？Andfromthehouse，fromthetop，theviewiswonderful。’
Theydroveintoacourtyardstrewnwithgravelandbrightwithflowers，inwhichtwolaborerswereatworkputtinganedgingofstonesroundthelightmoldofaflowerbed，anddrewupinacoveredentry。
`Ah，they’reherealready！’saidAnna，lookingatthesaddlehorses，whichwerejustbeingledawayfromthesteps。`Itisagoodhorse，isn’tit？It’smycob；myfavorite。Leadhimhereandbringmesomesugar。WhereistheCount？’sheinquiredoftwosmartfootmenwhodartedout。`Ah，thereheis！’shesaid，seeingVronskycomingtomeetherwithVeslovsky。
`WhereareyougoingtoputthePrincess？’saidVronskyinFrench，addressingAnna，andwithoutwaitingforareply，heoncemoregreetedDaryaAlexandrovna，andthistimehekissedherhand。`Ithinkthebigbalconyroom。’
`Oh，no，that’stoofaroff！Betterinthecornerroom，weshallseeeachothermore。Come，let’sgoup，’saidAnna，asshegaveherfavoritehorsethesugarthefootmanhadbroughther。
`Etvousoubliezvotredevoir，’shesaidtoVeslovsky，whocameouttooonthesteps。
`Pardon，j’enaitoutpleinlespoches，’heanswered，smiling，puttinghisfingersinhiswaistcoatpocket。
`Maisvousveneztroptard，’shesaid，rubbingherhandkerchiefonherhand，whichthehorsehadmadewetintakingthesugar。
AnnaturnedtoDolly，`Youcanstaysometime？Foronedayonly？
That’simpossible！’
`Ipromisedtobeback，andthechildren……’saidDolly，feelingembarrassedbothbecauseshehadtogetherbag
