wife, made a courtesy at every word. "We shall be very proud when we have made our Kationka unhappy, and when she really takes it into her head .... "
"But what makes you think so?"
"I don't think so, I know so; and that's why we have eyes, and you mothers have n't. I see a man who has serious intentions,—Levin; and I see a fine bird, like this good-for-nothing, who is merely amusing himself."
"Well! now you have taken it into your head .... "
"You will remember what I have said, but too late, as you did with Dashenka."
"Very well, very well, we will not say anything more about it," said the princess, who was cut short by the remembrance of Dolly's unhappiness.
"So much the better, and good-night."
The husband and wife, as they separated, kissed each other good-night, making the sign of the cross, but with the consciousness that each remained unchanged in opinion.
The princess had at first been firmly convinced that Kitty's fate was decided by the events of the evening, and that there could be no doubt of Vronsky's designs; but her husband's words troubled her. On her return to her room, as she thought in terror of the unknown future, she did just as Kitty had done, and prayed from the bottom of her heart, "Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!"
CHAPTER XVI
Vronsky had never known anything of family life. His mother, in her youth, had been a very brilliant society woman, who, in her husband's lifetime and after his death, had engaged in many love-affairs that had made talk. Vronsky scarcely remembered his father, and he had been educated in the School of Pages.
Graduating very young and with brilliancy as an officer, he immediately began to follow the course of
