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"How is it they don't take proper precautions?" said a third.

Madame Karenina seated herself in the carriage, and Stepan

Arkadyevitch saw with surprise that her lips were quivering, and

she was with difficulty restraining her tears.

"What is it, Anna?" he asked, when they had driven a few hundred

yards.

"It's an omen of evil," she said.

"What nonsense!" said Stepan Arkadyevitch. "You've come, that's

the chief thing. You can't conceive how I'm resting my hopes on

you."

"Have you known Vronsky long?" she asked.

"Yes. You know we're hoping he will marry Kitty."

"Yes?" said Anna softly. "Come now, let us talk of you," she

added, tossing her head, as though she would physically shake off

something superfluous oppressing her. "Let us talk of your

affairs. I got your letter, and here I am."

"Yes, all my hopes are in you," said Stepan Arkadyevitch.

"Well, tell me all about it."

And Stepan Arkadyevitch began to tell his story.