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By Root 1420 0

he sees everything; what does he feel, then, if he can talk so calmly? If he were to kill me, if he were to kill Vronsky, I would respect him. But no, he needs only lies and propriety,’ Anna said to herself, not thinking of precisely what she wanted from her husband or how she wanted to see him. Nor did she understand that Alexei Alexandrovich’s particular loquacity that day, which so annoyed her, was only the expression of his inner anxiety and uneasiness. As a child who has hurt himself jumps about in order to move his muscles and stifle the pain, so for Alexei Alexandrovich mental movement was necessary in order to stifle those thoughts about his wife, which in her presence and that of Vronsky, and with his name constantly being repeated, clamoured for his attention. And as it is natural for a child to jump, so it was natural for him to speak well and intelligently. He said:

‘The danger in military and cavalry races is a necessary condition of the race. If England in her military history can point to the most brilliant cavalry exploits, it is only thanks to the fact that historically she has developed this strength in animals and people. Sport, in my opinion, has great importance, and, as usual, we see only what is most superficial.’

‘Not so superficial,’ Princess Tverskoy said. ‘They say one officer has broken two ribs.’

Alexei Alexandrovich smiled his smile which only revealed his teeth, but said nothing more.

‘Let’s suppose, Princess, that it is not superficial,’ he said, ‘but internal. But that is not the point,’ and he again turned to the general, with whom he was speaking seriously. ‘Don’t forget that racing is for military men, who have chosen that activity, and you must agree that every vocation has its reverse side of the coin. It’s a military man’s duty. The ugly sport of fist fighting or of the Spanish toreadors is a sign of barbarism. But a specialized sport is a sign of development.’

‘No, I won’t come next time; it upsets me too much,’ said Princess Betsy. ‘Isn’t that so, Anna?’

‘It’s upsetting, but you can’t tear yourself away,’ said another lady. ‘If I’d been a Roman, I wouldn’t have missed a single circus.’

Anna said nothing and looked at one spot without taking her binoculars away.

Just then a tall general passed through the pavilion. Interrupting his speech, Alexei Alexandrovich rose hastily, but with dignity, and bowed low to the passing military man.

‘You’re not racing?’ joked the officer.

‘Mine is a harder race,’ Alexei Alexandrovich replied respectfully.

And though the reply did not mean anything, the officer pretended that he had heard a clever phrase from a clever man and had perfectly understood la pointe de la sauce.j

‘There are two sides,’ Alexei Alexandrovich went on again, sitting down, ‘the performers and the spectators; and the love of such spectacles is the surest sign of low development in the spectators, I agree, but ...’

‘A bet, Princess!’ the voice of Stepan Arkadyich came from below, addressing Betsy. ‘Who are you backing?’

‘Anna and I are for Prince Kuzovlev,’ replied Betsy.

‘I’m for Vronsky. A pair of gloves.’

‘You’re on!’

‘It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?’

Alexei Alexandrovich paused while the people around him talked, but at once began again.

‘I agree, but manly games ...’ he tried to go on.

But at that moment the riders were given the start, and all conversation ceased. Alexei Alexandrovich also fell silent, and everyone rose and turned towards the stream. Alexei Alexandrovich was not interested in the race and therefore did not watch the riders, but began absentmindedly surveying the spectators with his weary eyes. His gaze rested on Anna.

Her face was pale and stern. She obviously saw nothing and no one except one man. Her hand convulsively clutched her fan, and she held her breath. He looked at her and hastily turned away, scrutinizing other faces.

‘Yes, that lady and the others are also very upset,’ Alexei Alexandrovich said to himself. He wanted not to look at her, but his glance was involuntarily drawn to her. He peered into that face again, trying not