Pagina 180 di 2288

Oblonsky and Vronsky had both seen the mutilated corpse. Oblonsky

was evidently upset. He frowned and seemed ready to cry.

"Ah, how awful! Ah, Anna, if you had seen it! Ah, how awful!" he

said.

Vronsky did not speak; his handsome face was serious, but

perfectly composed.

"Oh, if you had seen it, countess," said Stepan Arkadyevitch.

"And his wife was there.... It was awful to see her!... She flung

herself on the body. They say he was the only support of an

immense family. How awful!"

"Couldn't one do anything for her?" said Madame Karenina in an

agitated whisper.

Vronsky glanced at her, and immediately got out of the carriage.

"I'll be back directly, maman," he remarked, turning round in the

doorway.

When he came back a few minutes later, Stepan Arkadyevitch was

already in conversation with the countess about the new singer,

while the countess was impatiently looking towards the door,

waiting for her son.