Page:Anna Karenina.djvu/285

 out on the terrace. Then she came back to her husband again.

"It is getting late," she said, consulting her watch. "Why does n't Betsy come?" ....

"Oh, yes," said Alekseï Aleksandrovitch, and as he got up he joined his fingers and made them crack. "I came also to bring you some money, for nightingales don't live on songs," said he. "You need it, I suppose?"

"No, I don't need it .... yes .... I do," said she, not looking at him and blushing to the roots of her hair. "Well, I suppose you will come back after the races?"

"Oh, yes!" replied Alekseï Aleksandrovitch. "But here is the glory of Peterhof, the Princess Tverskaya," he added, looking out of the window at a magnificent carriage with a short body set very high and with horses harnessed in the English fashion, drawing up to the entrance; "what elegance! splendid! well, let us go too!"

The Princess Tverskaya did not leave her carriage; her lackey, in top-boots and pelerinka, or short cloak, and wearing a tall hat, leaped to the steps.

"I am going, good-by," said Anna, and after she had kissed her son, she went to Alekseï Aleksandrovitch and gave him her hand. "It was very kind of you to come."

Alekseï Aleksandrovitch kissed her hand.

"Well then, da svidanya! You will come back to tea? Excellent!" she said, as she went down the steps, seeming radiant and happy.

But hardly had she passed from his sight before she felt on her hand the place where his lips had kissed it, and she shivered with repugnance.