Chapter 21

           “No,Ithinktheprincessistired,andhorsesdon’tinteresther,”VronskysaidtoAnna,whowantedtogoontothestables,whereSviazhskywishedtoseethenewstallion.“Yougoon,whileIescorttheprincesshome,andwe’llhavealittletalk,”hesaid,“ifyouwouldlikethat?”headded,turningtoher.

           “Iknownothingabouthorses,andIshallbedelighted,”answeredDaryaAlexandrovna,ratherastonished.

           ShesawbyVronsky’sfacethathewantedsomethingfromher.Shewasnotmistaken.Assoonastheyhadpassedthroughthelittlegatebackintothegarden,helookedinthedirectionAnnahadtaken,andhavingmadesurethatshecouldneitherhearnorseethem,hebegan:

           “YouguessthatIhavesomethingIwanttosaytoyou,”hesaid,lookingatherwithlaughingeyes.“IamnotwronginbelievingyoutobeafriendofAnna’s.”Hetookoffhishat,andtakingouthishandkerchief,wipedhishead,whichwasgrowingbald.

           DaryaAlexandrovnamadenoanswer,andmerelystaredathimwithdismay.Whenshewasleftalonewithhim,shesuddenlyfeltafraid;hislaughingeyesandsternexpressionscaredher.

           Themostdiversesuppositionsastowhathewasabouttospeakoftoherflashedintoherbrain.“Heisgoingtobegmetocometostaywiththemwiththechildren,andIshallhavetorefuse;ortocreateasetthatwillreceiveAnnainMoscow....Orisn’titVassenkaVeslovskyandhisrelationswithAnna?OrperhapsaboutKitty,thathefeelshewastoblame?”Allherconjectureswereunpleasant,butshedidnotguesswhathereallywantedtotalkabouttoher.