Pagina 174 di 2288

Madame Karenina, however, did not wait for her brother, but

catching sight of him she stepped out with her light, resolute

step. And as soon as her brother had reached her, with a gesture

that struck Vronsky by its decision and its grace, she flung her

left arm around his neck, drew him rapidly to her, and kissed him

warmly. Vronsky gazed, never taking his eyes from her, and

smiled, he could not have said why. But recollecting that his

mother was waiting for him, he went back again into the carriage.

"She's very sweet, isn't she?" said the countess of Madame

Karenina. "Her husband put her with me, and I was delighted to

have her. We've been talking all the way. And so you, I hear ...

_vous filez le parfait amour. Tant mieux, mon cher, tant mieux._"

"I don't know what you are referring to, maman," he answered

coldly. "Come, maman, let us go."

Madame Karenina entered the carriage again to say good-bye to the

countess.