第27章

TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart6，Chapter31[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter31ThenewlyelectedmarshalandmanyofthesuccessfulpartydinedthatdaywithVronsky。

VronskyhadcometotheelectionspartlybecausehewasboredinthecountryandwantedtoshowAnnahisrighttoindependence，andalsotorepaySviiazhskybyhissupportattheelectionforallthetroublehehadtakenforVronskyattheZemstvoelection，butchieflyforthestrictperformanceofallthosedutiesofanoblemanandlandownerwhichhehadtakenuponhimself。Buthehadnotintheleastexpectedthattheelectionwouldinteresthimso，sokeenlyexcitehim，andthathewouldbesogoodatthiskindofthing。Hewasquiteanewmaninthecircleofthenobilityoftheprovince，buthissuccesswasunmistakable，andhewasnotwronginsupposingthathehadalreadyobtainedacertaininfluence。Thisinfluencewasduetohiswealthandaristocracy；thecapitalhouseinthetownlenthimbyhisoldfriendShirkov，whohadapostinthedepartmentoffinancesandwasdirectorofaflourishingbankinKashin；theexcellentcookVronskyhadbroughtfromthecountry；andhisfriendshipwiththegovernor，whowasaschoolfellowofVronsky-aschoolfellowhehadpatronizedandprotectedindeed。Butwhatcontributedmorethanalltohissuccesswashisdirect，equablemannerwitheveryone，whichveryquicklymadethemajorityofthenoblemenreversethecurrentopinionofhissupposedhaughtiness。Hewashimselfconsciousthat，exceptforthatmadgentlemanmarriedtoKittyShcherbatskaia，whohadà；proposdebottespouredoutastreamofirrelevantabsurditieswithsuchspitefulfury，everynoblemanwithwhomhehadmadeacquaintancehadbecomehisadherent。Hesawclearly，andotherpeoplerecognizedit，too，thathehaddoneagreatdealtosecurethesuccessofNeviedovsky。Andnowathisowntable，celebratingNeviedovsky’selection，hewasexperiencinganagreeablesenseoftriumphoverthesuccessofhiscandidate。Theelectionitselfhadsofascinatedhimthat，ifhecouldsucceedingettingmarriedduringthenextthreeyears，hebegantothinkofrunningforofficehimself-muchas，afterwinningaraceriddenbyajockey，hehadlongedtoridearacehimself。

Todayhewascelebratingthesuccessofhisjockey。Vronskysatattheheadofthetable，onhisrighthandsattheyounggovernor，ageneralofhighrank。Toalltheresthewasthemasteroftheprovince，whohadsolemnlyopenedtheelectionswithhisspeech，andarousedafeelingofrespectandevenofaweinmanypeople，asVronskysaw；toVronskyhewasKatkaMaslov-thathadbeenhisnicknameinthePages’Corps-whomhefelttobeshyandtriedtoputatease。OnthelefthandsatNeviedovskywithhisyouthful，stubborn，andvenomouscountenance。WithhimVronskywassimpleanddeferential。

Sviiazhskytookhisfailureverylightheartedly。Itwasindeednofailureinhiseyes，ashesaidhimself，turning，glassinhand，toNeviedovsky:theycouldnothavefoundabetterrepresentativeofthenewmovement，whichthenobilityoughttofollow。Andsoeveryhonestperson，ashesaid，wasonthesideoftoday’ssuccessandwascelebratingoverit。

StepanArkadyevichwasglad，too，becausehewashavingagoodtime，andbecauseeveryonewaspleased。Theepisodesoftheelectionsservedasagoodoccasionforacapitaldinner。Sviiazhskycomicallyimitatedthetearfuldiscourseofmarshal，andobserved，addressingNeviedovsky，thatHisExcellencywouldhavetoselectanother，morecomplicatedmethodofauditingaccountsthantears。Anothernoblemanjocoselydescribedhowfootmeninstockingshadbeenimportedforthemarshal’sball，andhownowtheywouldhavetobesentbackunlessthenewmarshalwouldgiveaballwithfootmeninstockings。

ContinuallyduringdinnertheysaidofNeviedovsky:`OurMarshal’

and`YourExcellency。’

Thiswassaidwiththesamepleasurewithwhichayoungwifeiscalled`Madame’andbyherhusband’sname。Neviedovskyaffectedtobenotmerelyindifferentbutscornfulofthisappellation，butitwasobviousthathewashighlydelighted，andhadtokeepacurbonhimselfnottobetraythetriumphwhichwasunsuitabletotheirnew，liberalparty。

Inthecourseofdinnerseveraltelegramsweresenttopeopleinterestedintheresultoftheelection。AndStepanArkadyevich，whowasinhighspirits，sentDaryaAlexandrovnaatelegram:`Neviedovskyelectedbytwentyvotes。Congratulations。Tellpeople。’Hedictateditaloud，saying:

`Wemustletthemshareourrejoicing。’DaryaAlexandrovna，gettingthemessage，simplysighedovertheroublewastedonit，andunderstoodthatitwasanafterdinneraffair。SheknewStivahadaweaknessafterdiningforfairejouerleté；lé；graphe。

Everything，togetherwiththeexcellentdinnerandthewine，notfromRussianmerchants，butimporteddirectfromabroad，wasextremelydignified，simple，andenjoyable。Theparty-sometwenty-hadbeenselectedbySviiazhskyfromamongthemoreactivenewliberals，allofthesamewayofthinking，whowereatthesametimecleverandwell-bred。Theydrank，alsohalfinjest，tothehealthofthenewmarshaloftheprovince，ofthegovernor，ofthebankdirector，andof`ouramiablehost。’

Vronskywassatisfied。Hehadneverexpectedtofindsopleasantatoneintheprovinces。

Towardtheendofdinneritwasstillmorelively。ThegovernoraskedVronskytocometoaconcertforthebenefitofthebrethrenwhichhiswife，whowasanxioustomakehisacquaintance，hadbeengettingup:

`There’llbeaball，andyou’llseethebelleoftheprovince。

Worthseeing，really。’

`Notinmyline，’Vronskyanswered。HelikedthatEnglishphrase。

Buthesmiled，andpromisedtocome。

Beforetheyrosefromthetable，whenallofthemweresmoking，Vronsky’svaletwentuptohimwithaletteronatray。

`FromVozdvizhenskoebyspecialmessenger，’hesaidwithasignificantexpression。

`Astonishing！HowlikeheistothedeputyprosecutorSventitsky，’

saidoneoftheguestsinFrenchofthevalet，whileVronsky，frowning，readtheletter。

TheletterwasfromAnna。Beforehereadtheletter，heknewitscontents。Expectingtheelectionstobeoverinfivedays，hehadpromisedtobebackonFriday。TodaywasSaturday，andheknewthatthelettercontainedreproachesfornotbeingbackatthetimefixed。Theletterhehadsentthepreviouseveninghadprobablynotreachedheryet。

Theletterwaswhathehadexpected，buttheformofitwasunexpected，andparticularlydisagreeabletohim。`Annieisveryill，thedoctorsaysitmaybeinflammationofthelungs。Iamlosingmyheadallalone。PrincessVarvaraisnohelp，butahindrance。Iexpectedyouthedaybeforeyesterday，andyesterday，andnowIamsendingtofindoutwhereyouareandwhatyouaredoing。Iwantedtocomemyself，butthoughtbetterofit，knowingyouwoulddislikeit。Sendsomeanswer，thatImayknowwhattodo。’

Thechildill，yetshehadthoughtofcomingherself。Theirdaughterill-andthishostiletone。

Theinnocentfestivitiesovertheelection，andthisgloomy，burdensomelovetowhichhehadtoreturn，struckVronskybytheircontrast。Buthehadtogo，andbythefirsttrainthatnighthesetoffhome。

[NextChapter][TableofContents]

TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart6，Chapter32[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter32BeforeVronsky’sdeparturefortheelections，Annahadreflectedthatthescenesconstantlyrepeatedbetweenthemeachtimehelefthomemightonlymakehimcoldtoherinsteadofattachinghimtoher，andresolvedtodoallshecouldtocontrolherselfsoastobearthepartingwithcomposure。

Butthecold，severeglancewithwhichhehadlookedatherwhenhecametotellherhewasgoinghadwoundedher，andbeforehehadstartedherpeaceofmindwasdestroyed。

Insolitude，later，thinkingoverthatglancewhichhadexpressedhisrighttofreedom，shecame，asshealwaysdid，tothesamepoint-

thesenseofherownhumiliation。`Hehastherighttogoawaywhenandwherehechooses。Notsimplytogoaway，buttoleaveme。Hehaseveryright，andIhavenone。Butknowingthat，heoughtnottodoit。Whathashedone，though？……Helookedatmewithacold，severeexpression。Ofcoursethatissomethingindefinable，impalpable，butithasneverbeensobefore，andthatglancemeansagreatdeal，’shethought。`Thatglanceshowsthebeginningofcoolness。’

Andthoughshefeltsurethatacoolnesswasbeginning，therewasnothingshecoulddo；shecouldnotinanywayalterherrelationstohim。Justasbefore，onlybyloveandbycharmcouldshekeephim。Andso，justasbefore，onlybyoccupationintheday，bymorphineatnight，couldshestiflethefearfulthoughtofwhatwouldcomeifheceasedtoloveher。Itistruetherewasstillonemeans；nottokeephim-forthatshewantednothingmorethanhislove-buttobenearertohim，tobeinsuchapositionthathewouldnotleaveher。Thatmeanswasdivorceandmarriage。Andshebegantolongforthat，andmadeuphermindtoagreetoitthefirsttimeheorStivaapproachedheronthesubject。

Absorbedinsuchthoughts，shepassedfivedayswithouthim，thefivedaysthathewastobeabsent。

Walks，conversationwithPrincessVarvara，visitstothehospital，and，mostofall，reading-readingofonebookafteranother-filleduphertime。Butonthesixthday，whenthecoachmancamebackwithouthim，andshefeltthatnowshewasutterlyincapableofstiflingthethoughtofhimandofwhathewasdoingthere-justatthattimeherlittlegirlwastakenill。Annabegantolookafterher，buteventhatdidnotdistracthermind，especiallyastheillnesswasnotserious。Howeverhardshetried，shecouldnotlovethislittlechild，andtofeignlovewasbeyondherpowers。Towardtheeveningofthatday，stillalone，Annawasinsuchapanicabouthimthatshedecidedtostartforthetown，butonsecondthoughtwrotehimthecontradictoryletterthatVronskyreceived，and，withoutreadingitthrough，sentitoffbyaspecialmessenger。Thenextmorningshereceivedhisletterandregrettedherown。Shedreadedarepetitionoftheseverelookhehadflungatheratparting，especiallywhenhewouldlearnthatthebabywasnotdangerouslyill。Butstill，shewasgladshehadwrittentohim。BynowAnnawasadmittingtoherselfthatshewasaburdentohim，thathewouldrelinquishhisfreedomregretfullytoreturntoher，andinspiteofthatshewasgladhewascoming。Lethimwearyofher，buthewouldbeherewithher，sothatshewouldseehim，wouldknowofeveryactionhetook。

Shewassittinginthedrawingroomnearalamp，withanewvolumeofTaine，and，assheread，listeningtothesoundofthewindoutside，andeveryminuteexpectingthecarriagetoarrive。Severaltimesshehadfanciedsheheardthesoundofwheels，butshehadbeenmistaken。Atlastsheheardnotthesoundofwheels，butthecoachman’sshoutandthedullrumbleinthecoveredentry。EvenPrincessVarvara，playingsolitaire，confirmedthis，andAnna，flushinghotly，gotup；but，insteadofgoingdown，asshehaddonetwicebefore，shestoodstill。Shesuddenlyfeltashamedofherduplicity，butevenmoreshedreadedhowhemightmeether。

Allfeelingofwoundedpridehadpassednow；shewasonlyafraidoftheexpressionofhisdispleasure。Sherememberedthatherchildhadbeenperfectlywellagainforthelastday。Shefeltpositivelyvexedwithherforgettingbetterfromtheverymomentherletterwassentoff。Thenshethoughtofhim，thathewashere-allofhim，withhishands，hiseyes。Sheheardhisvoice。Andforgettingeverything，sheranjoyfullytomeethim。

`Well，howisAnnie？’hesaidapprehensivelyfrombelow，lookinguptoAnnaassherandowntohim。

Hewassittingonachair，andafootmanwaspullingoffhiswarmoverboots。

`Oh，sheisbetter。’

`Andyou？’hesaid，shakinghimself。

Shetookhishandinbothofhers，anddrewittoherwaist，nevertakinghereyesoffhim。

`Well，I’mglad，’hesaid，coldlyscanningher，herhair，herdress，whichheknewshehadputonforhim。Allwascharming，buthowmanytimesithadcharmedhim！Andthestern，stonyexpressionthatshesodreadedsettleduponhisface。

`Well，I’mglad。Andareyouwell？’hesaid，wipinghisdampbeardwithhishandkerchiefandkissingherhand。

`Nevermind，’shethought，`onlylethimbehere，andsolongashe’sherehecannot，hedarenot，ceasetoloveme。’

TheeveningwasspenthappilyandgailyinthepresenceofPrincessVarvara，whocomplainedtohimthatAnnahadbeentakingmorphineinhisabsence。

`WhatamItodo？Icouldn’tsleep……Mythoughtspreventedme。

Whenhe’shereInevertakeit-hardlyever。’

Hetoldherabouttheelection，andAnnaknewhowbyadroitquestionstobringhimtowhatgavehimmostpleasure-hisownsuccess。Shetoldhimofeverythingthatinterestedhimathome；andallthatshetoldhimwasofthemostcheerfuldescription。

Butlateintheevening，whentheywerealone，Anna，seeingthatshehadregainedcompletepossessionofhim，wantedtoerasethepainfulimpressionoftheglancehehadgivenherforherletter。Shesaid:

`Tellmefrankly，youwerevexedatgettingmyletter，andyoudidn’tbelieveme？’

Assoonasshehadsaidit，shefeltthathoweverwarmhisfeelingsweretoher，hehadnotforgivenherforthat。

`Yes，’hesaid，`theletterwassostrange。First，Annieill，andthenyouthoughtofcomingyourself。’

`Itwasallthetruth。’

`Oh，Idon’tdoubtit。’

`Yes，youdodoubtit。Youarevexed，Isee。’

`Notforonemoment。I’monlyvexed，that’strue，thatyouseemsomehowunwillingtoadmitthatthereareduties……’

`Thedutyofgoingtoaconcert……’

`Butwewon’ttalkaboutit，’hesaid。

`Whynottalkaboutit？’shesaid。

`Ionlymeanttosaythatmattersofrealimportancemayturnup。Now，forinstance，IshallhavetogotoMoscowtoarrangeaboutthehouse……Oh，Anna，whyareyousoirritable？Don’tyouknowthatIcan’tlivewithoutyou？’

`Ifso，’saidAnna，hervoicesuddenlychanging，`itmeansthatyouaresickofthislife……Yes，youwillcomeforadayandgoaway，asmendo……’

`Anna，that’scruel。Iamreadytogiveupmywholelife。’

Butshedidnothearhim。

`IfyougotoMoscow，Iwillgotoo。Iwillnotstayhere。Eitherwemustseparateorelselivetogether。’

`Why，youknow，that’smyonedesire。Buttodothat……’

`Wemustgetadivorce。Iwillwritetohim。IseeIcannotgoonlikethis……ButIwillcomewithyoutoMoscow。’

`Youtalkasifyouwerethreateningme。ButIdesirenothingsomuchasnevertobepartedfromyou，’saidVronsky，smiling。

Butashesaidthesewordstheregleamedinhiseyesnotmerelyacoldlook，butthevindictivelookofamanpersecutedandmadecruel。

Shesawthelookandcorrectlydivineditsmeaning。

`And，ifthingshavecometosuchapass，it’sacalamity！’thatglancetoldher。Itwasamoment’simpression，butsheneverforgotit。

Annawrotetoherhusbandaskinghimaboutadivorce，andtowardtheendofNovember，takingleaveofPrincessVarvara，whowantedtogotoPeterburg，shewentwithVronskytoMoscow。ExpectingeverydayananswerfromAlexeiAlexandrovich，andafterthatthedivorce，theynowestablishedthemselvestogether，likemarriedpeople。

[NextChapter][TableofContents]

TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart7，Chapter01[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]PARTSEVENChapter1TheLevinshadbeentwomonthsinMoscow。Thedatehadlongpassedonwhich，accordingtothemosttrustworthycalculationsofpeoplelearnedinsuchmatters，Kittyshouldhavebeenconfined。Butshewasstillabout，andtherewasnothingtoshowthathertimewasanynearerthantwomonthsago。Thedoctor，themidwife，andDollyandhermother，andmostofallLevin，whocouldnotthinkoftheapproachingeventwithoutterror，begantobeimpatientanduneasy。Kittywastheonlypersonwhofeltperfectlycalmandhappy。

Shewasdistinctlyconsciousnowofthebirthofanewfeelingofloveforthefuturechild，forhertosomeextentactuallyexistingalready，andshebroodedblissfullyoverthisfeeling。Hewasnotbynowaltogetherapartofherself，butsometimeslivedhisownlifeindependentlyofher。Oftenthisseparatebeinggaveherpain，butatthesametimeshewantedtolaughwithastrangenewjoy。

Allthepeopleshelovedwerewithher，andallweresogoodtoher，soattentivelylookingoutforher，soentirelypleasantwaseverythingpresentedtoher，thatifshehadnotknownandfeltthatitmustallsoonbeover，shecouldnothavewishedforabetterandpleasanterlife。Theonlythingthatspoiledthecharmofthismodeoflifewasthathereherhusbandwasnotasshelovedhimtobe，andashewasinthecountry。

Shelikedhisserene，friendly，andhospitablemannerinthecountry。

Inthetownheseemedcontinuallyuneasyandonhisguard，asthoughhewereafraidsomeonewouldberudetohim，and，stillmore，toher。Athomeinthecountry，definitelyknowinghimselftobeinhisrightplace，hewasneverinhastetobeoffelsewhere，wasoccupiedallthetime。Hereintownhewasinacontinualhurry，asthoughafraidofmissingsomething，andyethehadnothingtodo。Andshefeltpityforhim。Toothers，sheknew，hedidnotappearanobjectofpity；onthecontrary，whenKittylookedathiminsociety，asonesometimeslooksatthoseoneloves，tryingtoseehimasifhewereastranger，soastocatchtheimpressionhemustmakeonothers，shesawwithapanicevenofjealousfearthathewasfarindeedfrombeingapitiablefigure，thathewasveryattractivewithhishonesty，hisratherold-fashioned，reservedcourtesytowomen，hispowerfulfigure，andstriking，asshethought，andexpressiveface。Butshesawhimnotfromwithout，butfromwithin；shes