Chapter 28

           OnarrivinginPetersburg,VronskyandAnnastayedatoneofthebesthotels;Vronskyapartinalowerstory,Annaabovewithherchild,itsnurse,andhermaid,inalargesuiteoffourrooms.

           OnthedayofhisarrivalVronskywenttohisbrother’s.Therehefoundhismother,whohadcomefromMoscowonbusiness.Hismotherandsister-in-lawgreetedhimasusual:theyaskedhimabouthisstayabroad,andtalkedoftheircommonacquaintances,butdidnotletdropasinglewordinallusiontohisconnectionwithAnna.HisbrothercamethenextmorningtoseeVronsky,andofhisownaccordaskedhimabouther,andAlexeyVronskytoldhimdirectlythathelookeduponhisconnectionwithMadameKareninaasmarriage;thathehopedtoarrangeadivorce,andthentomarryher,anduntilthenheconsideredherasmuchawifeasanyotherwife,andhebeggedhimtotelltheirmotherandhiswifeso.

           “Iftheworlddisapproves,Idon’tcare,”saidVronsky;“butifmyrelationswanttobeontermsofrelationshipwithme,theywillhavetobeonthesametermswithmywife.”

           Theelderbrother,whohadalwaysarespectforhisyoungerbrother’sjudgment,couldnotwelltellwhetherhewasrightornottilltheworldhaddecidedthequestion;forhisparthehadnothingagainstit,andwithAlexeyhewentuptoseeAnna.

           Beforehisbrother,asbeforeeveryone,VronskyaddressedAnnawithacertainformality,treatingherashemightaveryintimatefriend,butitwasunderstoodthathisbrotherknewtheirrealrelations,andtheytalkedaboutAnna’sgoingtoVronsky’sestate.