Chapter 6

           Duringthetimeofthechildren’steathegrown-uppeoplesatinthebalconyandtalkedasthoughnothinghadhappened,thoughtheyall,especiallySergeyIvanovitchandVarenka,wereverywellawarethattherehadhappenedaneventwhich,thoughnegative,wasofverygreatimportance.Theybothhadthesamefeeling,ratherlikethatofaschoolboyafteranexamination,whichhaslefthiminthesameclassorshuthimoutoftheschoolforever.Everyonepresent,feelingtoothatsomethinghadhappened,talkedeagerlyaboutextraneoussubjects.LevinandKittywereparticularlyhappyandconsciousoftheirlovethatevening.Andtheirhappinessintheirloveseemedtoimplyadisagreeablesluronthosewhowouldhavelikedtofeelthesameandcouldnot—andtheyfeltaprickofconscience.

           “Markmywords,Alexanderwillnotcome,”saidtheoldprincess.

           ThateveningtheywereexpectingStepanArkadyevitchtocomedownbytrain,andtheoldprincehadwrittenthatpossiblyhemightcometoo.

           “AndIknowwhy,”theprincesswenton;“hesaysthatyoungpeopleoughttobeleftaloneforawhileatfirst.”

           “Butpapahasleftusalone.We’veneverseenhim,”saidKitty.“Besides,we’renotyoungpeople!—we’reold,marriedpeoplebynow.”

           “Onlyifhedoesn’tcome,Ishallsaygood-byetoyouchildren,”saidtheprincess,sighingmournfully.

           “Whatnonsense,mamma!”boththedaughtersfelluponheratonce.

           “Howdoyousupposeheisfeeling?Why,now....”

           Andsuddenlytherewasanunexpectedquiverintheprincess’svoice.Herdaughtersweresilent,andlookedatoneanother.