Anna Karenina - LimpidSoft

PART FIVE CHAPTER 7
this direct and simple attitude to her own position. Looking at Anna’s manner of
simple-hearted, spirited gaiety, and knowing Alexey Alexandrovitch and Vronsky,
Golenishtchev fancied that he understood her perfectly. He fancied that he understood
what she was utterly unable to understand: how it was that, having made her
husband wretched, having abandoned him and her son and lost her good name, she
yet felt full of spirits, gaiety, and happiness.
“It’s in the guide-book,” said Golenishtchev, referring to the palazzo Vronsky had
taken. “There’s a first-rate Tintoretto there. One of his latest period.”
“I tell you what: it’s a lovely day, let’s go and have another look at it,” said Vronsky,
addressing Anna.
“I shall be very glad to; I’ll go and put on my hat. Would you say it’s hot?” she
said, stopping short in the doorway and looking inquiringly at Vronsky. And again
a vivid flush overspread her face.
Vronsky saw from her eyes that she did not know on what terms he cared to be
with Golenishtchev, and so was afraid of not behaving as he would wish.
He looked a long, tender look at her.
“No, not very,” he said.
And it seemed to her that she understood everything, most of all, that he was
pleased with her; and smiling to him, she walked with her rapid step out at the door.
The friends glanced at one another, and a look of hesitation came into both faces,
as though Golenishtchev, unmistakably admiring her, would have liked to say something
about her, and could not find the right thing to say, while Vronsky desired and
dreaded his doing so.
“Well then,” Vronsky began to start a conversation of some sort; “so you’re settled
here? You’re still at the same work, then?” he went on, recalling that he had been
told Golenishtchev was writing something.
“Yes, I’m writing the second part of the Two Elements,” said Golenishtchev, coloring
with pleasure at the question–”that is, to be exact, I am not writing it yet; I am
preparing, collecting materials. It will be of far wider scope, and will touch on almost
all questions. We in Russia refuse to see that we are the heirs of Byzantium,”
and he launched into a long and heated explanation of his views.
Vronsky at the first moment felt embarrassed at not even knowing of the first part
of the Two Elements, of which the author spoke as something well known. But as
Golenishtchev began to lay down his opinions and Vronsky was able to follow them
even without knowing the Two Elements, he listened to him with some interest, for
Golenishtchev spoke well. But Vronsky was startled and annoyed by the nervous
irascibility with which Golenishtchev talked of the subject that engrossed him. As
he went on talking, his eyes glittered more and more angrily; he was more and more
hurried in his replies to imaginary opponents, and his face grew more and more
excited and worried. Remembering Golenishtchev, a thin, lively, good-natured and
well-bred boy, always at the head of the class, Vronsky could not make out the reason
of his irritability, and he did not like it. What he particularly disliked was that
Golenishtchev, a man belonging to a good set, should put himself on a level with
some scribbling fellows, with whom he was irritated and angry. Was it worth it?
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