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 "We will go to Italy; you will grow strong there," said he.

"Is it possible that we could be like husband and wife, alone, by ourselves?" said she, looking him in the eye.

"I am only surprised at one thing,—that it has not always been so."

"Stiva says that he will consent to everything, but I will not accept his generosity," said she, looking thoughtfully above Vronsky's head. "I do not wish for a divorce. It is all the same to me now. I only wonder what he will decide with regard to Serozha."

Vronsky could not understand how, in these first moments of their reunion, she could think of her son and of divorce. How could it be all the same to her?

"Don't speak of that, don't think of it," said he, turning Anna's hand over and over in his, to draw her attention to him; but she did not look at him.

"Oh! why did I not die? it would have been so much better!" said she; and though she did not sob, the tears rolled down her pale cheeks; she tried, nevertheless, to smile, that she might not give him pain.

Once Vronsky would have thought it impossible and disgraceful to give up the flattering and perilous mission to Tashkend, but now he refused it without any hesitation; then, noticing that his refusal was misinterpreted by the authorities, he gave in his resignation.

A month later, Alekseï Aleksandrovitch was left alone with his son, and Anna went abroad with Vronsky, without a divorce, and resolutely refusing to accept one.