Vronsky realized that Anna saw him, and he subconsciously turned his eyes away first, but after a while, he tilted his head and looked at Anna again.
Anna looked away.
Not long after, the thirteen-year-old boy approached her and asked bluntly: "You seem to be a little dissatisfied with this." Vronsky asked in a low voice.
"What?"
Vronsky gestured with his lips in the direction of his sister's departure, then he shrugged his shoulders: "It's not such a big deal, is it?"
Even though he said so, there are actually some young people's posturing. To be honest, it was only half a year ago that Vronsky entered this circle. After he turned twelve, his sister thought it was time to look at him with mature eyes.
Vronsky was eager to be recognized, so even if some things in this circle really surprised him at first, he now told himself that 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 universal 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 eyes at the moment, she didn't argue about anything, but 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 hidden 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 demise 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."