Anna Karenina - Part 7

Approaching footsteps--his steps--distracted her attention. As

though absorbed in the arrangement of her rings, she did not even

turn to him.

He went up to her, and taking her by the hand, said softly: "Anna, we'll go the day after tomorrow, if you like. I agree

to everything."

She did not speak.

"What is it?" he urged.

"You know," she said, and at the same instant, unable to restrain

herself any longer, she burst into sobs.

"Cast me off!" she articulated between her sobs. "I'll go away

tomorrow...I'll do more. What am I? An immoral woman! A stone

round your neck. I don't want to make you wretched, I don't want

to! I'll set you free. You don't love me; you love someone

else!"

Vronsky besought her to be calm, and declared that there was no

trace of foundation for her jealousy; that he had never ceased,

and never would cease, to love her; that he loved her more than

ever.

"Anna, why distress yourself and me so?" he said to her, kissing

her hands. There was tenderness now in his face, and she fancied

she caught the sound of tears in his voice, and she felt them wet

on her hand. And instantly Anna's despairing jealousy changed to

a despairing passion of tenderness. She put her arms round him,

and covered with kisses his head, his neck, his hands.