Anna Karenina - LimpidSoft

PART TWO CHAPTER 18
Chapter 18
ALTHOUGH all Vronsky’s inner life was absorbed in his passion, his external life
unalterably and inevitably followed along the old accustomed lines of his social
and regimental ties and interests. The interests of his regiment took an important
place in Vronsky’s life, both because he was fond of the regiment, and because the
regiment was fond of him. They were not only fond of Vronsky in his regiment, they
respected him too, and were proud of him; proud that this man, with his immense
wealth, his brilliant education and abilities, and the path open before him to every
kind of success, distinction, and ambition, had disregarded all that, and of all the
interests of life had the interests of his regiment and his comrades nearest to his
heart. Vronsky was aware of his comrades’ view of him, and in addition to his liking
for the life, he felt bound to keep up that reputation.
It need not be said that he did not speak of his love to any of his comrades, nor did
he betray his secret even in the wildest drinking bouts (though indeed he was never
so drunk as to lose all control of himself). And he shut up any of his thoughtless
comrades who attempted to allude to his connection. But in spite of that, his love
was known to all the town; everyone guessed with more or less confidence at his
relations with Madame Karenina. The majority of the younger men envied him for
just what was the most irksome factor in his love–the exalted position of Karenin,
and the consequent publicity of their connection in society.
The greater number of the young women, who envied Anna and had long been
weary of hearing her called virtuous, rejoiced at the fulfillment of their predictions,
and were only waiting for a decisive turn in public opinion to fall upon her with all
the weight of their scorn. They were already making ready their handfuls of mud
to fling at her when the right moment arrived. The greater number of the middleaged
people and certain great personages were displeased at the prospect of the
impending scandal in society.
Vronsky’s mother, on hearing of his connection, was at first pleased at it, because
nothing to her mind gave such a finishing touch to a brilliant young man as a liaison
in the highest society; she was pleased, too, that Madame Karenina, who had so
taken her fancy, and had talked so much of her son, was, after all, just like all other
pretty and well-bred women,–at least according to the Countess Vronskaya’s ideas.
But she had heard of late that her son had refused a position offered him of great
importance to his career, simply in order to remain in the regiment, where he could
be constantly seeing Madame Karenina. She learned that great personages were
displeased with him on this account, and she changed her opinion. She was vexed,
too, that from all she could learn of this connection it was not that brilliant, graceful,
worldly liaison which she would have welcomed, but a sort of Wertherish, desperate
passion, so she was told, which might well lead him into imprudence. She had not
seen him since his abrupt departure from Moscow, and she sent her elder son to bid
him come to see her.
This elder son, too, was displeased with his younger brother. He did not distinguish
what sort of love his might be, big or little, passionate or passionless, lasting or
passing (he kept a ballet girl himself, though he was the father of a family, so he was
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