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 The next morning Betsy herself went to Vronsky, announcing that she had had, through Oblonsky, positive information that Alekseï Aleksandrovitch consented to a divorce, and that consequently Vronsky might see Anna.

Without even pausing to show Betsy from his room, forgetting his resolutions, without finding out when he could see her, or where her husband would be, Vronsky immediately went to the Karenins'. He flew up the steps, not seeing anything or any one, and with hasty steps, almost running, entered Anna's room, and, without even noticing whether there might not be some one else in the room, he took her in his arms, and began covering her hands, her face, and her neck with kisses.

Anna was prepared to see him again, and had made up her mind what to say to him; but she had no time to speak. Vronsky's passion overpowered her. She wanted to calm him, to calm herself, but it was already too late. Her lips trembled so that for a long time she was unable to speak a word.

"Yes, you have conquered me; I am yours!" she succeeded in saying at last, pressing his hand to her breast.

"So it had to be!" said he, "and as long as we live, it must be so; I know it now."

"It is true," she replied, growing paler and paler as she put her arms around Vronsky's neck. "However, there is something terrible in this after what has happened."

"All that will be forgotten, forgotten; we shall be so happy! If there were any need of our love increasing, it would increase, because there is something terrible about it," said he, raising his head, and displaying his strong teeth as he smiled.

She could only reply with a smile,—not with words,—with her eyes which expressed such love for him.

"I do know you with your short hair. You are lovely so! Just like a little boy! But how pale you are!"

"Yes; I am still very weak," she replied, smiling; and her lips began to tremble again.