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"Well, countess, you have met your son, and I my brother," she

said. "And all my gossip is exhausted. I should have nothing more

to tell you."

"Oh, no," said the countess, taking her hand. "I could go all

around the world with you and never be dull. You are one of those

delightful women in whose company it's sweet to be silent as well

as to talk. Now please don't fret over your son; you can't expect

never to be parted."

Madame Karenina stood quite still, holding herself very erect,

and her eyes were smiling.

"Anna Arkadyevna," the countess said in explanation to her son,

"has a little son eight years old, I believe, and she has never

been parted from him before, and she keeps fretting over leaving

him."

"Yes, the countess and I have been talking all the time, I of my

son and she of hers," said Madame Karenina, and again a smile

lighted up her face, a caressing smile intended for him.