Page:Anna Karenina.djvu/807

 "Well, that settles it. Now I am calm. I am going to send him away," said Levin.

"What! Are you out of your senses?" cried Dolly, alarmed. "What are you thinking about, Kostia?" she went on with a laugh.—"You may go now to Fanny," she said to the child. "No! If you like, I will speak to Stiva. He will get him to leave. He can say you are expecting company. However, it is not our house."

"No, no! I will do it myself."

"You will quarrel." ....

"Not at all, I shall find it amusing," said he, with a happier light shining in his eyes. "There, now, Dolly, forgive her; she won't do it again," he said, pointing to the little culprit, who had not gone to Fanny, but was now standing irresolute beside her mother, and looking askance at her with pleading eyes.

The mother looked at her. The little girl, sobbing, hid her face in her mother's lap, and Dolly laid her thin hand tenderly on her head.

"Is there anything in common between us and that fellow?" thought Levin, and he went to find Veslovsky.

As he passed through the hall he ordered the carriage to be made ready to go to the station.

"The springs were broken yesterday," the servant answered.

"Then bring the tarantas. Only be quick about it. Where is the guest?"

"He went to his room."

Levin found Vasenka in the act of trying on his gaiters in preparation for a ride. He had just taken his things out of his valise, and laid aside some new love-songs.

Either there was something strange in Levin's expression, or Vasenka himself was conscious that ce petit brin de cour which he was making was rather out of place in this family; but at all events, he felt as uncomfortable in Levin's presence as it is possible for an elegant young man to feel.

"Do you ride in gaiters?" asked Levin.