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Rh joining in the conversation, and looking at Anna's smiling face. But as she met his glance her face suddenly assumed a set and cold expression, as much as to say to him: "I have not forgotten. It's still the same."

"And have n't you ever been in love?" she asked of Yashvin.

"Oh, Lord! plenty of times. Only remember, one may sit down to cards, but must be able to get up when the time comes for a rendezvous; but I interest myself in love-affairs in such a way that I need not be late to play my hand in the evening. And so I always arrange matters."

"You misunderstand; I did not ask about that, but about actual...." She wanted to say Helsingfors, hut she did not like to use a word which Vronsky had just spoken.

Voïtof came at this moment to see about a horse which he had bought; Anna got up and left the room.

Before he left the house, Vronsky went to her room. She pretended to look for something on the table, but then, being ashamed of this dissimulation, she looked him straight in the face. She asked him coolly in French, "What do you want?"

"The certificate for Gambetta; I have sold him," answered Vronsky, in a tone which said louder than words, "I have not time for explanations, nor would they lead to anything."

"I'm not to blame," thought he; "if she wants to punish herself, tant pis pour elle."

However, as he left the room he thought she said something to him, and his heart was suddenly touched with compassion for her,

"What is it, Anna?" he asked.

"I said nothing," she answered coldly and calmly.

"Nothing! tant pis," he said again to himself. On his way out, as he passed a mirror, he caught sight in it of her pale face and trembling lips. He was tempted to go back and say some comforting words to her, but he was already too far on his way. He passed the