第821页 / 共2288页

All the rooms of the summer villa were full of porters,

gardeners, and footmen going to and fro carrying out things.

Cupboards and chests were open; twice they had sent to the shop

for cord; pieces of newspaper were tossing about on the floor.

Two trunks, some bags and strapped-up rugs, had been carried down

into the hall. The carriage and two hired cabs were waiting at

the steps. Anna, forgetting her inward agitation in the work of

packing, was standing at a table in her boudoir, packing her

traveling bag, when Annushka called her attention to the rattle

of some carriage driving up. Anna looked out of the window and

saw Alexey Alexandrovitch's courier on the steps, ringing at the

front door bell.

"Run and find out what it is," she said, and with a calm sense of

being prepared for anything, she sat down in a low chair, folding

her hands on her knees. A footman brought in a thick packet

directed in Alexey Alexandrovitch's hand.

"The courier has orders to wait for an answer," he said.