Chapter 21

           “We’vecometofetchyou.Yourlessivelastedagoodtimetoday,”saidPetritsky.“Well,isitover?”

           “Itisover,”answeredVronsky,smilingwithhiseyesonly,andtwirlingthetipsofhismustachesascircumspectlyasthoughaftertheperfectorderintowhichhisaffairshadbeenbroughtanyover-boldorrapidmovementmightdisturbit.

           “You’realwaysjustasifyou’dcomeoutofabathafterit,”saidPetritsky.“I’vecomefromGritsky’s”(thatwaswhattheycalledthecolonel);“they’reexpectingyou.”

           Vronsky,withoutanswering,lookedathiscomrade,thinkingofsomethingelse.

           “Yes;isthatmusicathisplace?”hesaid,listeningtothefamiliarsoundsofpolkasandwaltzesfloatingacrosstohim.“What’sthefête?”

           “Serpuhovskoy’scome.”

           “Aha!”saidVronsky,“why,Ididn’tknow.”

           Thesmileinhiseyesgleamedmorebrightlythanever.

           Havingoncemadeuphismindthathewashappyinhislove,thathesacrificedhisambitiontoit—havinganywaytakenupthisposition,VronskywasincapableoffeelingeitherenviousofSerpuhovskoyorhurtwithhimfornotcomingfirsttohimwhenhecametotheregiment.Serpuhovskoywasagoodfriend,andhewasdelightedhehadcome.

           “Ah,I’mveryglad!”

           Thecolonel,Demin,hadtakenalargecountryhouse.Thewholepartywereinthewidelowerbalcony.InthecourtyardthefirstobjectsthatmetVronsky’seyeswereabandofsingersinwhitelinencoats,standingnearabarrelofvodka,andtherobust,good-humoredfigureofthecolonelsurroundedbyofficers.