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Still in the same anxious frame of mind, as she had been all that

day, Anna took pleasure in arranging herself for the journey with

great care. With her little deft hands she opened and shut her

little red bag, took out a cushion, laid it on her knees, and

carefully wrapping up her feet, settled herself comfortably. An

invalid lady had already lain down to sleep. Two other ladies

began talking to Anna, and a stout elderly lady tucked up her

feet, and made observations about the heating of the train. Anna

answered a few words, but not foreseeing any entertainment from

the conversation, she asked Annushka to get a lamp, hooked it

onto the arm of her seat, and took from her bag a paper-knife and

an English novel. At first her reading made no progress.