Episode 314

Unnatural!' She suddenly recalled the word that had stung her most of all, not so much the word itself as the intent to wound her with which it was said.I know what he meant; he meant - unnatural, not loving my own daughter to love another person's child. What does he know of love for children, of my love for Seriozha, whom I've sacrificed for him? But that wish to wound me! No, he loves another woman, it can't be otherwise.'

And perceiving that, while trying to regain her peace of mind, she had gone round the same circle that she had been round so often before, and had come back to her former state of exasperation, she was horrified at herself. `Can it be impossible? Can I really take the blame on myself?'

she said to herself, and began again from the beginning. `He's truthful, he's honest, he loves me. I love him, and in a few days the divorce will come. What more do I want? I want peace of mind and trust, and I will take the blame on myself. Yes, now when he comes in, I will tell him I was wrong, though I was not wrong, and we will go away.'

And to escape thinking any more, and being overcome by irritability, she rang and ordered the boxes to be brought up for packing their things for the country.

At ten o'clock Vronsky came in.

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TOLSTOY: Anna Karenina Part 7, Chapter 24[Previous Chapter] [Table of Contents] Chapter 24 `Well, was it amusing?' she asked, coming out to meet him with a penitent and meek expression.

`Just as usual,' he answered, seeing at a glance that she was in one of her good moods. He was used by now to these transitions, and he was particularly glad to see it today, as he was in a specially good humor himself.