Page:Anna Karenina.djvu/112

 Stiva remains a long time with Dolly in the library," she added, changing the subject, and, as Kitty perceived, looking a little annoyed.

"I'll be the first .... " "No, I," cried the children, who had just finished their supper, and came running to their Aunt Anna.

"All together," she said, laughing, and running to meet them. She seized them and piled them in a heap, struggling and screaming with delight.

CHAPTER XXI

tea-time Dolly came out of her room. Stepan Arkadyevitch was not with her; he had left his wife's chamber by the rear door.

"I am afraid you will be cold up-stairs," remarked Dolly, addressing Anna. "I should like to have you come down and be near me."

"Akh! please don't worry about me," replied Anna, trying to divine by Dolly's face if there had been a reconciliation.

"Perhaps it would be too light for you here," said her sister-in-law.

"I assure you, I sleep anywhere and everywhere as sound as a woodchuck."

"What is it?" asked Stepan Arkadyevitch, coming in from his library, and addressing his wife.

By the tone of his voice, both Kitty and Anna knew that the reconciliation had taken place.

"I wanted to install Anna down-stairs, but we should have to put up some curtains. No one knows how to do it, and so I must," said Dolly, in reply to her husband's question.

"God knows if they have wholly made it up," thought Anna, as she noticed Dolly's cold and even tone.

"Akh! don't, Dolly, don't make difficulties! Well! if you like, I will fix everything." ....

"Yes," thought Anna, "they must have had a reconciliation."