Page:Anna Karenina.djvu/768

 "And are you going?" he asked his wife.

"I have long been wanting to go, and I certainly shall," said Dolly. "I am sorry for her, and I know her. She is a lovely woman. When you have gone away, I shall go alone; that will not disturb any one, and it would be better for me to go without you."

"Just the thing," answered Stepan Arkadyevitch. "And you, Kitty?"

"I? Why should I go to see her?" said Kitty; and, blushing with vexation, she glanced at her husband.

"Do you know Anna Arkadyevna?" asked Veslovsky; "she is a very fascinating woman."

"Yes," answered Kitty, blushing still more, and she rose and joined her husband. "So you are going hunting to-morrow, are you?" she asked him.

Levin's jealousy during those few moments, and especially at the blush which covered her cheeks while she was talking with Veslovsky, had already reached an acute stage. Now, hearing her question, he interpreted it in his own way. Strange as it was afterward for him to remember this, now it seemed clear to him that the reason for her asking him if he was going hunting and for her interest in it was to know if he would give Vasenka Veslovsky that pleasure, and that proved that she was already in love with him!

"Yes, I am thinking of it," he answered, in a voice so unnatural and constrained that he himself was horrified at it.

"Well, you had better stay at home to-morrow; Dolly has hardly seen her husband yet. Go day after tomorrow."

Levin now translated Kitty's words thus:—

"Do not separate me from him. You may go; it is all the same to me; but let me enjoy the society of this attractive young man."

"Oh, if you desire it, we will stay at home to-morrow," answered Levin, with especial pleasantness.

Meantime, Vasenka, not suspecting the effect his presence had produced, rose from the table, and approached Kitty with an affectionate smile.