Page:Anna Karenina.djvu/406

 cess Tverskaya's, he said that in that case he should not go there either.

She went to the table again, and wrote her husband:—

She rang, and gave it to the lackey.

"We are not going," said she to Annushka, who was just coming in.

"Not going at all?"

"No; but don't unpack before to-morrow, and have the carriage wait. I am going to the princess's."

"What gown shall you wear?"

CHAPTER XVII

croquet party to which the Princess Tverskaya invited Anna was to consist of two ladies and their adorers. These two ladies were the leading representatives of a new and exclusive Petersburg clique, called, in imitation of an imitation, les sept merveilles du monde, the seven wonders of the world. Both of them belonged to the highest society, but to a circle absolutely hostile to that in which Anna moved. Moreover, old Stremof, one of the influential men of the city, and Liza Merkalof's lover, was in the service of Alekseï Aleksandrovitch's enemies. From all these considerations Anna did not care to go to Betsy's, and her refusal called forth the hints in the Princess Tverskaya's note; but now she decided to go, hoping to find Vronsky there.

She reached the Princess Tverskaya's before the other guests.

Just as she arrived Vronsky's lackey, with his well-combed side-whiskers, like a kammer-junker, was at the door. Raising his cap, he stepped aside to let her pass. Anna recognized him and only then remembered that Vronsky had told her that he was not coming. Undoubtedly he had sent him with his excuses.