Chapter 14

           Butatthatverymomenttheprincesscamein.Therewasalookofhorroronherfacewhenshesawthemalone,andtheirdisturbedfaces.Levinbowedtoher,andsaidnothing.Kittydidnotspeaknorlifthereyes.“ThankGod,shehasrefusedhim,”thoughtthemother,andherfacelightedupwiththehabitualsmilewithwhichshegreetedherguestsonThursdays.ShesatdownandbeganquestioningLevinabouthislifeinthecountry.Hesatdownagain,waitingforothervisitorstoarrive,inordertoretreatunnoticed.

           FiveminuteslatertherecameinafriendofKitty’s,marriedtheprecedingwinter,CountessNordston.

           Shewasathin,sallow,sickly,andnervouswoman,withbrilliantblackeyes.ShewasfondofKitty,andheraffectionforhershoweditself,astheaffectionofmarriedwomenforgirlsalwaysdoes,inthedesiretomakeamatchforKittyafterherownidealofmarriedhappiness;shewantedhertomarryVronsky.LevinshehadoftenmetattheShtcherbatskys’earlyinthewinter,andshehadalwaysdislikedhim.Herinvariableandfavoritepursuit,whentheymet,consistedinmakingfunofhim.

           “Idolikeitwhenhelooksdownatmefromtheheightofhisgrandeur,orbreaksoffhislearnedconversationwithmebecauseI’mafool,oriscondescendingtome.Ilikethatso;toseehimcondescending!Iamsogladhecan’tbearme,”sheusedtosayofhim.

           Shewasright,forLevinactuallycouldnotbearher,anddespisedherforwhatshewasproudofandregardedasafinecharacteristic—hernervousness,herdelicatecontemptandindifferenceforeverythingcoarseandearthly.