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But the nearer he came, the more excited she grew. Only when he

stood by her head, she was suddenly quieter, while the muscles

quivered under her soft, delicate coat. Vronsky patted her strong

neck, straightened over her sharp withers a stray lock of her

mane that had fallen on the other side, and moved his face near

her dilated nostrils, transparent as a bat's wing. She drew a

loud breath and snorted out through her tense nostrils, started,

pricked up her sharp ear, and put out her strong, black lip

towards Vronsky, as though she would nip hold of his sleeve. But

remembering the muzzle, she shook it and again began restlessly

stamping one after the other her shapely legs.

"Quiet, darling, quiet!" he said, patting her again over her

hind-quarters; and with a glad sense that his mare was in the

best possible condition, he went out of the horse-box.