Anna Karenina - LimpidSoft

PART THREE CHAPTER 17
Chapter 17
THE croquet party to which the Princess Tverskaya had invited Anna was to consist
of two ladies and their adorers. These two ladies were the chief representatives
of a select new Petersburg circle, nicknamed, in imitation of some imitation, les
sept merveilles du monde. These ladies belonged to a circle which, though of the highest
society, was utterly hostile to that in which Anna moved. Moreover, Stremov,
one of the most influential people in Petersburg, and the elderly admirer of Liza
Merkalova, was Alexey Alexandrovitch’s enemy in the political world. From all
these considerations Anna had not meant to go, and the hints in Princess Tverskaya’s
note referred to her refusal. But now Anna was eager to go, in the hope of seeing
Vronsky.
Anna arrived at Princess Tverskaya’s earlier than the other guests.
At the same moment as she entered, Vronsky’s footman, with side-whiskers
combed out like a Kammerjunker, went in too. He stopped at the door, and, taking off
his cap, let her pass. Anna recognized him, and only then recalled that Vronsky had
told her the day before that he would not come. Most likely he was sending a note
to say so.
As she took off her outer garment in the hall, she heard the footman, pronouncing
his “r’s” even like a Kammerjunker, say, “From the count for the princess,” and hand
the note.
She longed to question him as to where his master was. She longed to turn back
and send him a letter to come and see her, or to go herself to see him. But neither
the first nor the second nor the third course was possible. Already she heard bells
ringing to announce her arrival ahead of her, and Princess Tverskaya’s footman was
standing at the open door waiting for her to go forward into the inner rooms.
“The princess is in the garden; they will inform her immediately. Would you be
pleased to walk into the garden?” announced another footman in another room.
The position of uncertainty, of indecision, was still the same as at home–worse, in
fact, since it was impossible to take any step, impossible to see Vronsky, and she had
to remain here among outsiders, in company so uncongenial to her present mood.
But she was wearing a dress that she knew suited her. She was not alone; all around
was that luxurious setting of idleness that she was used to, and she felt less wretched
than at home. She was not forced to think what she was to do. Everything would be
done of itself. On meeting Betsy coming towards her in a white gown that struck her
by its elegance, Anna smiled at her just as she always did. Princess Tverskaya was
walking with Tushkevitch and a young lady, a relation, who, to the great joy of her
parents in the provinces, was spending the summer with the fashionable princess.
There was probably something unusual about Anna, for Betsy noticed it at once.
“I slept badly,” answered Anna, looking intently at the footman who came to meet
them, and, as she supposed, brought Vronsky’s note.
“How glad I am you’ve come!” said Betsy. “I’m tired, and was just longing to have
some tea before they come. You might go“– she turned to Tushkevitch–”with Masha,
and try the croquet ground over there where they’ve been cutting it. We shall have
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