Anna Karenina - Part 5

"It's in the guide-book," said Golenishtchev, referring to the

palazzo Vronsky had taken. "There's a first-rate Tintoretto

there. One of his latest period."

"I tell you what: it's a lovely day, let's go and have another

look at it," said Vronsky, addressing Anna.

"I shall be very glad to; I'll go and put on my hat. Would you

say it's hot?" she said, stopping short in the doorway and

looking inquiringly at Vronsky. And again a vivid flush

overspread her face.

Vronsky saw from her eyes that she did not know on what terms he

cared to be with Golenishtchev, and so was afraid of not behaving

as he would wish.

He looked a long, tender look at her.

"No, not very," he said.

And it seemed to her that she understood everything, most of all,

that he was pleased with her; and smiling to him, she walked with

her rapid step out at the door.

The friends glanced at one another, and a look of hesitation came

into both faces, as though Golenishtchev, unmistakably admiring

her, would have liked to say something about her, and could not

find the right thing to say, while Vronsky desired and dreaded

his doing so.

"Well then," Vronsky began to start a conversation of some sort;

"so you're settled here? You're still at the same work, then?"

he went on, recalling that he had been told Golenishtchev was

writing something.

"Yes, I'm writing the second part of the _Two Elements_," said

Golenishtchev, coloring with pleasure at the question--"that is,

to be exact, I am not writing it yet; I am preparing, collecting

materials. It will be of far wider scope, and will touch on

almost all questions. We in Russia refuse to see that we are the

heirs of Byzantium," and he launched into a long and heated

explanation of his views.

Vronsky at the first moment felt embarrassed at not even knowing

of the first part of the _Two Elements_, of which the author spoke

as something well known. But as Golenishtchev began to lay down

his opinions and Vronsky was able to follow them even without

knowing the _Two Elements_, he listened to him with some interest,

for Golenishtchev spoke well. But Vronsky was startled and

annoyed by the nervous irascibility with which Golenishtchev

talked of the subject that engrossed him. As he went on talking,

his eyes glittered more and more angrily; he was more and more

hurried in his replies to imaginary opponents, and his face grew

more and more excited and worried. Remembering Golenishtchev, a

thin, lively, good-natured and well-bred boy, always at the head

of the class, Vronsky could not make out the reason of his

irritability, and he did not like it. What he particularly

disliked was that Golenishtchev, a man belonging to a good set,

should put himself on a level with some scribbling fellows, with

whom he was irritated and angry. Was it worth it? Vronsky

disliked it, yet he felt that Golenishtchev was unhappy, and was

sorry for him. Unhappiness, almost mental derangement, was

visible on his mobile, rather handsome face, while without even

noticing Anna's coming in, he went on hurriedly and hotly

expressing his views.