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Dolly was crushed by her sorrow, utterly swallowed up by it.

Still she did not forget that Anna, her sister-in-law, was the

wife of one of the most important personages in Petersburg, and

was a Petersburg _grande dame_. And, thanks to this circumstance,

she did not carry out her threat to her husband-that is to say,

she remembered that her sister-in-law was coming. "And, after

all, Anna is in no wise to blame," thought Dolly. "I know nothing

of her except the very best, and I have seen nothing but kindness

and affection from her towards myself." It was true that as far

as she could recall her impressions at Petersburg at the

Karenins', she did not like their household itself; there was

something artificial in the whole framework of their family life.

"But why should I not receive her? If only she doesn't take it

into her head to console me!" thought Dolly. "All consolation and

counsel and Christian forgiveness, all that I have thought over a

thousand times, and it's all no use."