Chapter 22

           Itwassixo’clockalready,andso,inordertobetherequickly,andatthesametimenottodrivewithhisownhorses,knowntoeveryone,VronskygotintoYashvin’shiredfly,andtoldthedrivertodriveasquicklyaspossible.Itwasaroomy,old-fashionedfly,withseatsforfour.Hesatinonecorner,stretchedhislegsoutonthefrontseat,andsankintomeditation.

           Avaguesenseoftheorderintowhichhisaffairshadbeenbrought,avaguerecollectionofthefriendlinessandflatteryofSerpuhovskoy,whohadconsideredhimamanthatwasneeded,andmostofall,theanticipationoftheinterviewbeforehim—allblendedintoageneral,joyoussenseoflife.Thisfeelingwassostrongthathecouldnothelpsmiling.Hedroppedhislegs,crossedonelegovertheotherknee,andtakingitinhishand,feltthespringymuscleofthecalf,whereithadbeengrazedthedaybeforebyhisfall,andleaningbackhedrewseveraldeepbreaths.

           “I’mhappy,veryhappy!”hesaidtohimself.Hehadoftenbeforehadthissenseofphysicaljoyinhisownbody,buthehadneverfeltsofondofhimself,ofhisownbody,asatthatmoment.Heenjoyedtheslightacheinhisstrongleg,heenjoyedthemuscularsensationofmovementinhischestashebreathed.Thebright,coldAugustday,whichhadmadeAnnafeelsohopeless,seemedtohimkeenlystimulating,andrefreshedhisfaceandneckthatstilltingledfromthecoldwater.Thescentofbrilliantineonhiswhiskersstruckhimasparticularlypleasantinthefreshair.