Pagina 503 di 2288

He opened the door, and Vronsky went into the horse-box, dimly

lighted by one little window. In the horse-box stood a dark bay

mare, with a muzzle on, picking at the fresh straw with her

hoofs. Looking round him in the twilight of the horse-box,

Vronsky unconsciously took in once more in a comprehensive glance

all the points of his favorite mare. Frou-Frou was a beast of

medium size, not altogether free from reproach, from a breeder's

point of view. She was small-boned all over; though her chest was

extremely prominent in front, it was narrow. Her hind-quarters

were a little drooping, and in her fore-legs, and still more in

her hind-legs, there was a noticeable curvature. The muscles of

both hind- and fore-legs were not very thick; but across her

shoulders the mare was exceptionally broad, a peculiarity

specially striking now that she was lean from training.