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Stereotyped as the phrase was, Madame Karenina obviously believed

it and was delighted by it. She flushed, bent down slightly, and

put her cheek to the countess's lips, drew herself up again, and

with the same smile fluttering between her lips and her eyes, she

gave her hand to Vronsky. He pressed the little hand she gave

him, and was delighted, as though at something special, by the

energetic squeeze with which she freely and vigorously shook his

hand. She went out with the rapid step which bore her rather

fully-developed figure with such strange lightness.

"Very charming," said the countess.

That was just what her son was thinking. His eyes followed her

till her graceful figure was out of sight, and then the smile

remained on his face. He saw out of the window how she went up to

her brother, put her arm in his, and began telling him something

eagerly, obviously something that had nothing to do with him,

Vronsky, and at that he felt annoyed.