Anna Karenina - LimpidSoft

PART ONE CHAPTER 13
“Oh, no,” said Kitty, and sat down at the table.
“But this was just what I wanted, to find you alone,” he began, not sitting down,
and not looking at her, so as not to lose courage.
“Mamma will be down directly. She was very much tired.... Yesterday...”
She talked on, not knowing what her lips were uttering, and not taking her supplicating
and caressing eyes off him.
He glanced at her; she blushed, and ceased speaking.
“I told you I did not know whether I should be here long...that it depended on
you...”
She dropped her head lower and lower, not knowing herself what answer she
should make to what was coming.
“That it depended on you,” he repeated. “I meant to say...I meant to say...I came for
this...to be my wife!” he brought out, not knowing what he was saying; but feeling
that the most terrible thing was said, he stopped short and looked at her...
She was breathing heavily, not looking at him. She was feeling ecstasy. Her soul
was flooded with happiness. She had never anticipated that the utterance of love
would produce such a powerful effect on her. But it lasted only an instant. She
remembered Vronsky. She lifted her clear, truthful eyes, and seeing his desperate
face, she answered hastily:
“That cannot be...forgive me.”
A moment ago, and how close she had been to him, of what importance in his life!
And how aloof and remote from him she had become now!
“It was bound to be so,” he said, not looking at her.
He bowed, and was meaning to retreat.
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