Anna Karenina - LimpidSoft

PART TWO CHAPTER 33
While awaiting the time for carrying out her plans on a large scale, however, Kitty,
even then at the springs, where there were so many people ill and unhappy, readily
found a chance for practicing her new principles in imitation of Varenka.
At first the princess noticed nothing but that Kitty was much under the influence
of her engouement, as she called it, for Madame Stahl, and still more for Varenka.
She saw that Kitty did not merely imitate Varenka in her conduct, but unconsciously
imitated her in her manner of walking, of talking, of blinking her eyes. But later on
the princess noticed that, apart from this adoration, some kind of serious spiritual
change was taking place in her daughter.
The princess saw that in the evenings Kitty read a French testament that Madame
Stahl had given her–a thing she had never done before; that she avoided society acquaintances
and associated with the sick people who were under Varenka’s protection,
and especially one poor family, that of a sick painter, Petrov. Kitty was unmistakably
proud of playing the part of a sister of mercy in that family. All this was well
enough, and the princess had nothing to say against it, especially as Petrov’s wife
was a perfectly nice sort of woman, and that the German princess, noticing Kitty’s
devotion, praised her, calling her an angel of consolation. All this would have been
very well, if there had been no exaggeration. But the princess saw that her daughter
was rushing into extremes, and so indeed she told her.
“Il ne faut jamais rien outrer,” she said to her.
Her daughter made her no reply, only in her heart she thought that one could
not talk about exaggeration where Christianity was concerned. What exaggeration
could there be in the practice of a doctrine wherein one was bidden to turn the other
cheek when one was smitten, and give one’s cloak if one’s coat were taken? But the
princess disliked this exaggeration, and disliked even more the fact that she felt her
daughter did not care to show her all her heart. Kitty did in fact conceal her new
views and feelings from her mother. She concealed them not because she did not
respect or did not love her mother, but simply because she was her mother. She
would have revealed them to anyone sooner than to her mother.
“How is it Anna Pavlovna’s not been to see us for so long?” the princess said one
day of Madame Petrova. “I’ve asked her, but she seems put out about something.”
“No, I’ve not noticed it, maman,” said Kitty, flushing hotly.
“Is it long since you went to see them?”
“We’re meaning to make an expedition to the mountains tomorrow,” answered
Kitty,
“Well, you can go,” answered the princess, gazing at her daughter’s embarrassed
face and trying to guess the cause of her embarrassment.
That day Varenka came to dinner and told them that Anna Pavlovna had changed
her mind and given up the expedition for the morrow. And the princess noticed
again that Kitty reddened.
“Kitty, haven’t you had some misunderstanding with the Petrovs?” said the
princess, when they were left alone. “Why has she given up sending the children
and coming to see us?”
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