Vronsky gestured with his lips in the direction of his sister's departure, and shrugged his shoulders: "It's not such a big deal, is it?"
In spite of what he said, there were still some teenage airs. To be honest, it was only half a year ago that Vronsky stepped into this circle. After he turned twelve, his sister thought it was time to look at him with mature eyes.
Vronsky craved approval, so even if some things in this circle really surprised him at first, he now told himself it was no big deal. All of us go through this. It is a sad thing for a beautiful woman of wealth and status if only her husband admires her.
A single woman needs to be reserved, but once married, a lot of admiration will not damage her reputation, and a lot of love will make her very attractive in the social world. Vronsky's mother was like this when she was young, but now, they are just accepting and loving the laws of this society step by step.
Anna understood what Vronsky meant, and she was a little surprised. But combined with Vronsky's indifferent gaze at the moment, she didn't argue about anything, but just showed a careless and somewhat apologetic smile.
Vronsky looked at her suspiciously.
"Would you like some cake?" Anna asked.
Her performance was so sincere that it was almost impossible to feel the intentional element lurking in it, so she only received a slightly annoyed look.
"No, thank you. I'm not a child anymore," said Vronsky stiffly.
He curled up a wrinkled expression, because he didn't intend to show unpleasant emotions, which was immature, but there was no way to fully do it. So he decided to leave Anna's side, so that he could be more comfortable, instead of being emotional like a baby.
Anna watched the boy leave and joined Princess Mijakhki in their conversation. She glanced again at the direction in which Vronsky's sister had left, blinked at last, and ate a cookie herself.
At half past three, an unusual person came to their tea party.
"You are really a rare visitor." Betsy said with a smile, her charming eyes always like to apply to everyone, even though she thought Karenin was boring, she didn't intend to skip him.
Karenin kissed the back of Princess Betsy's hand.
He didn't like this frivolous lady, but he had to admire her social skills. There is no need to express your preferences.
Karenin straightened up, he scanned the audience politely, and in that short time quickly caught his wife's position, and the latter's big eyes were looking at him with some surprise.
Karenin didn't intend to smile, he intended to show a social smirk, but after his eyes touched his little wife, he couldn't help becoming sincere.
"Your Rumbrier seems to have been very successful. I think next time you will become the best hostess in Petersburg for hosting a tea party." He pursed his lips and complimented Betsy, but his eyes were indifferent The land still fell on his wife.
Betsy giggled.
She loved receiving compliments, especially in matters of dress, beauty, and tea parties. But she was not like a 14-year-old girl who attended a prom for the first time, she was so moved by a compliment or encouragement, and swore that the person in front of her must be the best and cutest person in the world.
"Come on, sit with your wife and talk to us," said Betsy affectionately, who was such a good host and took care of the newlyweds completely.
"Why are you here?" Anna asked in a low voice after Karenin took her seat. Although her voice was small, she could still feel the excitement in it.
"The matter in the department has been dealt with ahead of time." Karenin replied, and then shifted his gaze to the ambassador's wife, talking with her.
Anna lightly bit the soft flesh inside her lower lip, and she moved a little closer to her husband.
Karenin felt his wife approaching him, and out of politeness he moved aside a little. But it didn't take long for his wife to move closer to him.
So Karenin had to stop talking for a while, take a moment to look at his wife, and ask her if there was anything wrong. The latter just opened those bright eyes and smiled contentedly at him.
Karenin turned his gaze away, and this time he didn't foolishly think that his wife felt crowded, so he moved to the side. Although, logically speaking, he didn't think there was any point in this kind of movement at all, it was obvious that his wife liked such a narrow and crowded distance.
If it weren't for them being in front of a crowd of people, Anna felt that she couldn't help but want to kiss Karenin.
Of course, if your husband changed his schedule for more than ten years for you, wouldn't you feel a great sense of honor
If she put her hand on Karenin's arm at this time, it would always look too sticky, so Anna could only suppress this impulse and express her joy by constantly getting close to him.
"I went to the dressing room, and then we got a new partner, didn't we?"
Vronsky's sister came back, her hair and dress were not messed up at all, but her blush was deeper, her eyes were still bright, she looked like a flower, with a different kind of freshness .
"Yes," agreed Betsy sweetly, introducing Karenin to Vronsky's sister.
Karenin had a few words with Vronsky's sister, and Princess Mijakhki mentioned a bill which Karenin and the others were discussing at this time.
Duchess Mijaheki had no intention of talking about such serious matters, and in fact she didn't care much, but she liked Anna, and she was happy to talk to her husband a little bit about the latter's favorite things.
They exchanged some views.
Karenin knew what the Duchess Mijahki wanted to hear. He liked politics and bills, and talking about them was exactly what he liked, but he also knew that he was facing some noble ladies. If he followed his own temper, the conversation would either break up unhappily, or be embarrassing because it was boring. So he brought out that set of rhetoric and cleverly perfunctory the other party.
They sat for another half hour, at which point it would not have been impolite to say goodbye. Karenin privately asked Anna if she wanted to go back together. Anna gave him an affirmative answer.
Karenin bid farewell to the mistress.
"Aren't you staying for supper?" asked Betsy, looking desperate to keep them.
Karenin was just about to use the excuse he had calculated in his mind to politely refuse, but Vronsky's sister spoke for them.
"Oh, Betsy, don't forget that they're newlyweds, not like us," said Vronsky's sister, expressively, and looking still in high spirits.
Betsy laughed too, exchanged a glance with Vronsky's sister that only they could understand, and then turned to Anna and Karenin.
"I look forward to having dinner with you next time."
Karenin kissed the back of Betsy's hand again, and then let Anna take his arm to leave together.
The Karenins' coachman was already waiting at the door, and the gray horse wagged its tail, and the Tatars opened the carriage door for them.
When the carriage began to drive in the direction of the house, Anna stared at Karenin for a while, and the latter turned his head to ask her.
"Actually, I have an unusual idea to tell you."
The man put on a posture and expression of listening carefully.
Anna stroked the folds of the skirt with both hands, and after careful consideration, she said, "I didn't realize this would be a problem at first, but I found out today that maybe I should state my opinion first. Even if most people think It's ridiculous, it's inappropriate, and I want to tell you that too."
"Alexis, I don't want a third person in our marriage."
Anna saw Karenin blink slowly, and she sighed softly.
"I know for most people this is not to blame, but..."
Anna didn't finish speaking, her words were interrupted slightly by Karenin.
"If you mean what you saw at the Duchess of Betsy today, Anna, I have to express my opinion again. Even if this society is like this, some ethos will not be publicly criticized, and some people even secretly do it Appreciation. I have no intention to criticize them, all I can do is abide by my own principles and beliefs. As I have always believed in the sanctity of marriage, once united, there should be no power to separate a couple except death .”
Karenin paused for a moment, his blue eyes showed so intently that there were two little hers reflected in them, and nothing else.
His words are calm and methodical, and his eyes are calm and authoritative and possessive.
"Maybe you had some misunderstandings before, and I think, since you are quite concerned about this issue, I'd better make it clear to you completely."
"The death and separation I am talking about at this moment means not only the death of the body, but also the most noble will of man."
"If you still have any doubts about our relationship and relationship at the moment, or if you don't approve of it, you can tell me now. After this moment, Anna, I will no longer accept arbitrary amendments and appeals."
The fundamental reason why this type of woman is popular is that ordinary people can't get it, but Anna knows that she has been mixed with this type of woman since she was twelve years old. There is no shortage of cute and smart and excellent ones.
If a woman's meddling targets a man's purse, they will try their best to seduce him.
And a smart woman, if she accidentally loses her heart on someone, she will not be found out easily.
"I've heard about you before, but I haven't seen you. Now that I see you, I realize that the rumors are not true. You are even more beautiful than the rumors, Mrs. Karenin."
Madame de Marelle said kindly that she was so well-mannered, and perfectly displayed the grace of a pretty hostess.
Some men looked away from Anna, they were completely attracted by Madame de Mallelle's beauty and generosity, as if she was singing.
Anna smiled and exchanged greetings with Madame de Marelle. She pretended not to know anything, there was no need to tear her face apart first.
The men were going to get together to discuss government affairs, and Karenin asked Anna if she could be alone.
"What are you worried about? Will she still get lost in our house?" Madame de Marelle teased Karenin, holding Anna's hand affectionately.
If it were an ordinary man, facing such words, he would always respond with one or two affectionate responses or make fun of him, but Karenin was such a serious person.
He completely ignores this art of conversation between men and women, and only interprets it in its most innocent aspects.
"If you are taking care of me, I naturally don't have to worry about these problems."
Anna smiled secretly in her heart, this time she was not going to tell Karenin the truth.
"Come on, Madame Karenin, many ladies want to see you!" Madame de Marelle said in an elegant tone, she had naturally let go of Anna's hand, and changed Returning to a dignified yet cordial look.
Anna thought to herself, what are these people looking at me for? I am not a monkey in the zoo, but I kept a curious smile on my face.
She followed Madame de Mallelle and was surrounded. But she was not familiar with these ladies at all, and the final result was that she became a monkey, and Mrs. de Marelle became the commentator of the stars.
It's not that no one paid attention to her, but Anna couldn't fully answer the questions raised by the ladies. Such as the scenery of Petersburg, the banquet, the theater.
"Sorry, Mrs. Karenin, I forgot that you haven't been married for long." said a lady with a powdered face, her white breasts trembling.
"Mrs. de Funes, I heard from my husband that the popular play in Petersburg these days is..."
Madame de Mallelle would always relieve Ana of the embarrassment, and then once again become the focus of everyone in the scene.
These people think in their hearts: "Look, so what if she is beautiful? She doesn't know anything, maybe her rich dowry is just a rumor, and there are many families with empty names and no strength these days. On the other hand, our dear De Madame Malele, she is beautiful, elegant and learned."
Anna knew what these people were thinking in their hearts. She felt bored and couldn't say anything. After all, she was not just representing herself now. It is irresponsible to walk away willfully.
Pretending to be listening to these high-spirited conversations, she took advantage of tea to look at Karenin, but she did not notice her husband.
"Sorry, I have to go to the dressing room." Madame de Marelle said apologetically, stopping.
"Anyone else want to join me?"
"Yeah, I'm going to the dressing room too," said a buxom young woman in an overly flashy dress that was, frankly, kind of awful, look at those freckles that couldn't be concealed, in the perfume Under the print of the golden satin neckline, it looks like wheat that has just shed its husk.
After Madame de Mallelle left for a while, the women's interest returned to Anna, or to be precise, to her gown.
"Which tailor did you hire to make it?" asked a young lady of seventeen or eighteen.
"I made it myself, it was a pretty ordinary velvet dress," Anna said honestly, and finally she was a little happy, she likes to talk about clothes, about the little designs, the cuts, not just piled up in rubles Expensive, but apparently she committed a no-no.