Sayfa 860 / 2288

Only quite lately in regard to his relations with Anna, Vronsky

had begun to feel that his code of principles did not fully cover

all possible contingencies, and to foresee in the future

difficulties and perplexities for which he could find no guiding

clue.

His present relation to Anna and to her husband was to his mind

clear and simple. It was clearly and precisely defined in the

code of principles by which he was guided.

She was an honorable woman who had bestowed her love upon him,

and he loved her, and therefore she was in his eyes a woman who

had a right to the same, or even more, respect than a lawful

wife. He would have had his hand chopped off before he would have

allowed himself by a word, by a hint, to humiliate her, or even

to fall short of the fullest respect a woman could look for.