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Vronsky's mother, on hearing of his connection, was at first

pleased at it, because nothing to her mind gave such a finishing

touch to a brilliant young man as a liaison in the highest

society; she was pleased, too, that Madame Karenina, who had so

taken her fancy, and had talked so much of her son, was, after

all, just like all other pretty and well-bred women,-at least

according to the Countess Vronskaya's ideas. But she had heard of

late that her son had refused a position offered him of great

importance to his career, simply in order to remain in the

regiment, where he could be constantly seeing Madame Karenina.

She learned that great personages were displeased with him on

this account, and she changed her opinion. She was vexed, too,

that from all she could learn of this connection it was not that

brilliant, graceful, worldly liaison which she would have

welcomed, but a sort of Wertherish, desperate passion, so she was

told, which might well lead him into imprudence.