Chapter 3

           WhenshewentintoKitty’slittleroom,apretty,pinklittleroom,fullofknick-knacksinvieuxsaxe,asfresh,andpink,andwhite,andgayasKittyherselfhadbeentwomonthsago,Dollyrememberedhowtheyhaddecoratedtheroomtheyearbeforetogether,withwhatloveandgaiety.HerheartturnedcoldwhenshesawKittysittingonalowchairnearthedoor,hereyesfixedimmovablyonacorneroftherug.Kittyglancedathersister,andthecold,ratherill-temperedexpressionofherfacedidnotchange.

           “I’mjustgoingnow,andIshallhavetokeepinandyouwon’tbeabletocometoseeme,”saidDolly,sittingdownbesideher.“Iwanttotalktoyou.”

           “Whatabout?”Kittyaskedswiftly,liftingherheadindismay.

           “Whatshoulditbe,butyourtrouble?”

           “Ihavenotrouble.”

           “Nonsense,Kitty.DoyousupposeIcouldhelpknowing?Iknowallaboutit.Andbelieveme,it’sofsolittleconsequence....We’veallbeenthroughit.”

           Kittydidnotspeak,andherfacehadasternexpression.

           “He’snotworthyourgrievingoverhim,”pursuedDaryaAlexandrovna,comingstraighttothepoint.

           “No,becausehehastreatedmewithcontempt,”saidKitty,inabreakingvoice.“Don’ttalkofit!Please,don’ttalkofit!”

           “Butwhocanhavetoldyouso?Noonehassaidthat.I’mcertainhewasinlovewithyou,andwouldstillbeinlovewithyou,ifithadn’t....

           “Oh,themostawfulthingofallformeisthissympathizing!”shriekedKitty,suddenlyflyingintoapassion.