Chapter 9

           Annacameinwithhanginghead,playingwiththetasselsofherhood.Herfacewasbrilliantandglowing;butthisglowwasnotoneofbrightness;itsuggestedthefearfulglowofaconflagrationinthemidstofadarknight.Onseeingherhusband,Annaraisedherheadandsmiled,asthoughshehadjustwakedup.

           “You’renotinbed?Whatawonder!”shesaid,lettingfallherhood,andwithoutstopping,shewentonintothedressing-room.“It’slate,AlexeyAlexandrovitch,”shesaid,whenshehadgonethroughthedoorway.

           “Anna,it’snecessaryformetohaveatalkwithyou.”

           “Withme?”shesaid,wonderingly.Shecameoutfrombehindthedoorofthedressing-room,andlookedathim.“Why,whatisit?Whatabout?”sheasked,sittingdown.“Well,let’stalk,ifit’ssonecessary.Butitwouldbebettertogettosleep.”

           Annasaidwhatcametoherlips,andmarveled,hearingherself,atherowncapacityforlying.Howsimpleandnaturalwereherwords,andhowlikelythatshewassimplysleepy!Shefeltherselfcladinanimpenetrablearmoroffalsehood.Shefeltthatsomeunseenforcehadcometoheraidandwassupportingher.

           “Anna,Imustwarnyou,”hebegan.

           “Warnme?”shesaid.“Ofwhat?”

           Shelookedathimsosimply,sobrightly,thatanyonewhodidnotknowherasherhusbandknewhercouldnothavenoticedanythingunnatural,eitherinthesoundorthesenseofherwords.