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"All the same, Anna, to tell you the truth, I'm not very anxious

for this marriage for Kitty. And it's better it should come to

nothing, if he, Vronsky, is capable of falling in love with you

in a single day."

"Oh, heavens, that would be too silly!" said Anna, and again a

deep flush of pleasure came out on her face, when she heard the

idea, that absorbed her, put into words. "And so here I am going

away, having made an enemy of Kitty, whom I liked so much! Ah,

how sweet she is! But you'll make it right, Dolly? Eh?"

Dolly could scarcely suppress a smile. She loved Anna, but she

enjoyed seeing that she too had her weaknesses.

"An enemy? That can't be."

"I did so want you all to care for me, as I do for you, and now I

care for you more than ever," said Anna, with tears in her eyes.

"Ah, how silly I am today!"

She passed her handkerchief over her face and began dressing.

At the very moment of starting Stepan Arkadyevitch arrived, late,

rosy and good-humored, smelling of wine and cigars.