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As a child that has been hurt skips about, putting all his

muscles into movement to drown the pain, in the same way Alexey

Alexandrovitch needed mental exercise to drown the thoughts of

his wife that in her presence and in Vronsky's, and with the

continual iteration of his name, would force themselves on his

attention. And it was as natural for him to talk well and

cleverly, as it is natural for a child to skip about. He was

saying:

"Danger in the races of officers, of cavalry men, is an essential

element in the race. If England can point to the most brilliant

feats of cavalry in military history, it is simply owing to the

fact that she has historically developed this force both in

beasts and in men. Sport has, in my opinion, a great value, and

as is always the case, we see nothing but what is most

superficial."

"It's not superficial," said Princess Tverskaya. "One of the

officers, they say, has broken two ribs."