On the day of the races at Krasnoe Selo, Vronsky had come earlier

than usual to eat beefsteak in the common messroom of the

regiment. He had no need to be strict with himself, as he had

very quickly been brought down to the required light weight; but

still he had to avoid gaining flesh, and so he eschewed

farinaceous and sweet dishes. He sat with his coat unbuttoned

over a white waistcoat, resting both elbows on the table, and

while waiting for the steak he had ordered he looked at a French

novel that lay open on his plate. He was only looking at the

book to avoid conversation with the officers coming in and out;

he was thinking.

He was thinking of Anna's promise to see him that day after the

races. But he had not seen her for three days, and as her

husband had just returned from abroad, he did not know whether

she would be able to meet him today or not, and he did not know

how to find out. He had had his last interview with her at his

cousin Betsy's summer villa. He visited the Karenins' summer

villa as rarely as possible. Now he wanted to go there, and he

pondered the question how to do it.

"Of course I shall say Betsy has sent me to ask whether she's

coming to the races. Of course, I'll go," he decided, lifting

his head from the book. And as he vividly pictured the happiness

of seeing her, his face lighted up.

"Send to my house, and tell them to have out the carriage and

three horses as quick as they can," he said to the servant, who

handed him the steak on a hot silver dish, and moving the dish up

he began eating.

From the billiard room next door came the sound of balls

knocking, of talk and laughter. Two officers appeared at the

entrance-door: one, a young fellow, with a feeble, delicate

face, who had lately joined the regiment from the Corps of Pages;

the other, a plump, elderly officer, with a bracelet on his

wrist, and little eyes, lost in fat.

Vronsky glanced at them, frowned, and looking down at his book as

though he had not noticed them, he proceeded to eat and read at

the same time.

"What? Fortifying yourself for your work?" said the plump

officer, sitting down beside him.

"As you see," responded Vronsky, knitting his brows, wiping his

mouth, and not looking at the officer.

"So you're not afraid of getting fat?" said the latter, turning a

chair round for the young officer.




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