Chapter 25

Feelingthatthereconciliationwascomplete,Annaseteagerlytoworkinthemorningpreparingfortheirdeparture.ThoughitwasnotsettledwhethertheyshouldgoonMondayorTuesday,astheyhadeachgivenwaytotheother,Annapackedbusily,feelingabsolutelyindifferentwhethertheywentadayearlierorlater.Shewasstandinginherroomoveranopenbox,takingthingsoutofit,whenhecameintoseeherearlierthanusual,dressedtogoout.

“I’mgoingoffatoncetoseemaman;shecansendmethemoneybyYegorov.AndIshallbereadytogotomorrow,”hesaid.

Thoughshewasinsuchagoodmood,thethoughtofhisvisittohismother’sgaveherapang.

“No,Ishan’tbereadybythenmyself,”shesaid;andatoncereflected,“sothenitwaspossibletoarrangetodoasIwished.”“No,doasyoumeanttodo.Gointothedining-room,I’mcomingdirectly.It’sonlytoturnoutthosethingsthataren’twanted,”shesaid,puttingsomethingmoreontheheapoffripperythatlayinAnnushka’sarms.

Vronskywaseatinghisbeefsteakwhenshecameintothedining-room.

“Youwouldn’tbelievehowdistastefultheseroomshavebecometome,”shesaid,sittingdownbesidehimtohercoffee.“There’snothingmoreawfulthanthesechambresgarnies.There’snoindividualityinthem,nosoul.Theseclocks,andcurtains,and,worstofall,thewallpapers—they’reanightmare.IthinkofVozdvizhenskoeasthepromisedland.You’renotsendingthehorsesoffyet?”