Anna Karenina - LimpidSoft

PART THREE CHAPTER 14
Chapter 14
AS he neared Petersburg, Alexey Alexandrovitch not only adhered entirely to his
decision, but was even composing in his head the letter he would write to his
wife. Going into the porter’s room, Alexey Alexandrovitch glanced at the letters and
papers brought from his office, and directed that they should be brought to him in
his study.
“The horses can be taken out and I will see no one,” he said in answer to the porter,
with a certain pleasure, indicative of his agreeable frame of mind, emphasizing the
words, “see no one.”
In his study Alexey Alexandrovitch walked up and down twice, and stopped at
an immense writing-table, on which six candles had already been lighted by the
valet who had preceded him. He cracked his knuckles and sat down, sorting out
his writing appurtenances. Putting his elbows on the table, he bent his head on one
side, thought a minute, and began to write, without pausing for a second. He wrote
without using any form of address to her, and wrote in French, making use of the
plural “vous,” which has not the same note of coldness as the corresponding Russian
form.
“At our last conversation, I notified you of my intention to communicate to you my
decision in regard to the subject of that conversation. Having carefully considered
everything, I am writing now with the object of fulfilling that promise. My decision is
as follows. Whatever your conduct may have been, I do not consider myself justified
in breaking the ties in which we are bound by a Higher Power. The family cannot
be broken up by a whim, a caprice, or even by the sin of one of the partners in the
marriage, and our life must go on as it has done in the past. This is essential for me,
for you, and for our son. I am fully persuaded that you have repented and do repent
of what has called forth the present letter, and that you will cooperate with me in
eradicating the cause of our estrangement, and forgetting the past. In the contrary
event, you can conjecture what awaits you and your son. All this I hope to discuss
more in detail in a personal interview. As the season is drawing to a close, I would
beg you to return to Petersburg as quickly as possible, not later than Tuesday. All
necessary preparations shall be made for your arrival here. I beg you to note that I
attach particular significance to compliance with this request.
A. Karenin
“P.S.–I enclose the money which may be needed for your expenses.”
He read the letter through and felt pleased with it, and especially that he had
remembered to enclose money: there was not a harsh word, not a reproach in it, nor
was there undue indulgence. Most of all, it was a golden bridge for return. Folding
the letter and smoothing it with a massive ivory knife, and putting it in an envelope
with the money, he rang the bell with the gratification it always afforded him to use
the well arranged appointments of his writing-table.
“Give this to the courier to be delivered to Anna Arkadyevna tomorrow at the
summer villa,” he said, getting up.
“Certainly, your excellency; tea to be served in the study?”
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