Anna was talking to Mademoiselle Alina when Anna received the telegram.
Although many public opinions were more in favor of Ms. Elisa, after getting along carefully, Anna found that Ms. Alina was a very interesting person.
What's interesting about her is not how many popular rumors she knows, but what she thinks.
It is true that Miss Alina has never been ashamed of being a courtesan, and of course, she has not tried to beautify this profession.
Perhaps, calmness is the best way to describe her.
“At least I’m alive, I’m eating good food, I’m wearing nice and expensive clothes. What I’m doing now can feed me and my sister.”
They then talked about some new clothes, which Anna was going to ask Miss Alina to wear after the redecoration of the store, when the conversation was interrupted by this telegram.
"You read the telegram first, madam." Miss Alina said, and she took a sip of black tea.
Anna took the telegram from Annushka, looked at it, and then smiled.
"It seems that something good has happened." Alina put down the teacup in her hand, licked her hair and said with a smile.
"Indeed. My sister-in-law Dolly is pregnant."
"Congratulations, ma'am. But," Alina blinked, "maybe this is not good news for Mr. Karenin." Then she smiled and brushed her hair.
"I heard from the Duke that their department has been very busy recently. A certain gentleman is trying to make some noise." Miss Alina threw out a message lightly.
Anna looked up at the other party, then nodded slightly.
"But I'm sure he won't succeed."
"Indeed." Alina touched the diamond earring beside her earlobe, and then changed the subject lightly.
When Karenin returned, Anna showed him the telegram.
"I think I'll have to go back," said Anna, though she and Oblonsky were not really brother and sister. But the latter has always been very kind to her, and, out of reason, her sister-in-law is pregnant, so as a sister-in-law, she should naturally take time to visit her.
She calculated that she would be a bit busy next time, so it would be better to go now than to go later. Although it is a pity that Karenin will not have a holiday to accompany her.
"Alina came to drink tea in the afternoon. She said that your department will be very busy recently. She reminded me that your competitors are making trouble for you."
Karenin put down the telegram, looked at Anna and said: "She is right. She must have heard it from the prince, who has been enjoying her company lately."
"Alina is a good girl."
Karenin was sitting on a chair in the study, and after hearing what Anna said, he raised his eyebrows and glanced at her, which made the latter a little nervous.
"Well… "
"No."
Anna breathed a sigh of relief, and then said, "I thought..." She didn't finish.
Karenin stretched out his hand to hold Anna's hand and let her sit on the chair next to her. Now, this study room has completely changed into this form of rows.
Compared with Karenin's heavy desk, Anna's desk is lighter and narrower, with more colors on it. Although it is very tidy, it still has a lovely sense of disobedience. For example, her exquisite knick-knacks sometimes wandered among Karenin's serious documents by accident.
"No." Karenin answered her previous question.
"I'll ask Vorobev to book the bus tickets for you, and let Anushka accompany you."
"OK."
"How long do you want to stay?" Karenin asked.
Ana was going to say a week, and Alina's joke from the day rang out, so she replied, "A month?"
Karenin, who was about to write a note, paused for a moment.
He looked at his wife.
"Then, half a month?"
Seeing that the other party still didn't move, Anna finally couldn't help laughing.
"Okay okay, I'll be honest, a week."
"It's meaningless, Anna." Karenin said with a straight face, and then carefully wrote down the note, which, by the way, was given to Karenin by Anna. It is made of parchment, which is very resilient, and then cut into long strips, strung up with rope, and the cover is the Russian flag.
Although Karenin didn't say it, Anna knew he liked it.
In fact, Karenin doesn't like those fancy things. He is more traditional in his bones, and he is keen on everything related to the national culture, as well as things that are completely orderly, and he never gets bored. It can be seen from the fact that he can read Russian law over and over again.
When there is no need for entertainment, other Russian officials like to go to pubs or various theaters, or play cards in clubs, but Karenin chooses to spend his day in the study.
His life, apart from work, is really too simple. So Anna always likes to put more things into Karenin's life.
Although not all of them are his favorite, but the former almost always let her mess around like this.
This is not not caring, but the greatest permission and favor. It may not be so warm, but you can know the deep meaning if you savor it carefully.
When Karenin returned the next evening, he told Anna that the train tickets were for tomorrow evening.
Anna nodded. She had packed all her things, including gifts for her elder brother and others, as well as those from her aunt's house. Although she didn't like it, she had to do it this way.
Karenin handled official business in his study as usual, and Anna, the cook and the housekeeper, Mr. Kearney, explained in detail what had happened in the past few days.
After dinner Karenin told her that tomorrow he would have a day off.
"What's the matter?" Anna didn't understand at once.
"No." Karenin said, he drank his saliva and said nothing.
Anna suddenly had an epiphany, she laughed, and couldn't help getting up and kissing the other party's cheek.
"That means tomorrow I can have half a day more of your time than your job?"
"This metaphor is not appropriate." Karenin said, motioning for Anna to let go, there were still people in the living room.
Anna knew that Karenin was actually a bit shy, so she let go and sat beside her, holding her face in her hands and staring at her husband intently. The latter finally seemed a little uncomfortable when he drank water.
"I have to sleep late tonight, some business needs to be stepped up."
"Then I will accompany you."
"You should take a good rest." Karenin frowned, "It's not easy to take the train." He always remembered Anna's illness when they first got married.
"But I want to be with you. If you are afraid that I will disturb you, I will read a book in the bedroom." Anna said compromised.
"It's no different, Anna." Karenin said in a tone of disapproval, but it was clear that someone was always reluctant to give up. In the end, Karenin could only put down his teacup, his tone almost helpless: "If you insist, let's go."
Anna stood up with a smile and took her husband's arm.
The servants at home have long been accustomed to this, even if they want to say something, they can't say it, after all, Mr. Butler is everywhere.
That night, they went to bed an hour later than usual.
Anna didn't doze off on the sidelines, sometimes she would bring over hot water.
Russians don't have the habit of drinking hot water. Anna didn't like drinking tea at first. After marrying Karenin, she always kept drinking hot water except for necessary entertainment.
No matter how clean the water is, if left for a long time, it will not prevent the growth of bacteria. Although boiling water cannot completely kill bacteria, it is always better.
Karenin was not used to eating extra food after three meals, so Anna ensured that there was a jug of hot water for him. In her free time she learns to knit, which Annushka taught her. Occasionally look up at Karenin's work progress.
Almost every time he raised his head, the other party kept the same posture.
Scan the file carefully, frowning occasionally.
Anna was a little worried about Karenin's cervical spine, but when he was working, she thought it would be better not to bother him. She can mention it when she's done, though.
These thoughts were running in her mind and hands, and then she realized that she was indeed married.
While thinking about it, there was some movement from Karenin. It appears to be done.
Anna put down what she was doing and walked over. She stood behind Karenin and gave him a massage. You must know that when she did this at first, Karenin seemed to be subconsciously defensive. After all, the lives of political officials have never been guaranteed much.
"In the future you'd better stop and get up and walk around, it's good for your health, Alexis."
Some worried that Karenin would not really take it to heart, so Anna got closer to him and said in a soft tone: "I mean it, please don't make me worry about your health."
"Just like you worried about me."
Karenin raised his hand, lightly pressed it on the back of his wife's hand, and responded.
Anna relaxed because she knew Karenin would do it.
On the day of departure, they went to the station together in a carriage.
On the platform, Anushka stood aside thoughtfully, doing her part.
The train hasn't arrived yet, but it's not quiet at all on the platform, in fact, it's very noisy here, with people coming and going.
Karenin found a fairly quiet place for them. He looked at his pocket watch, and it was ten minutes before the departure time.
Before he had time to say anything, the little wife in front of him had already let out a small sigh.
"We're going to be parting for a week soon."
She wrinkled her nose like it was really, really hard for her.
The emotion of parting enveloped almost everyone.
In the past, Karenin did not have any deep feelings about this. Although he is not the kind of official who often needs to go out, there are quite a few times when he picks up his luggage and leaves.
He is used to taking less necessary luggage and arranging every minute with precise time. Even on the train there is some work that can be done.
But now, he gave himself a day off. Up to now, he has hardly touched any work for a day.
Although everything can be recalled, it is a worthless waste of time to think about it rationally, but he does not intend to use these comments on this day.
"Take care of yourself, Anna." Karenin said, his voice didn't contain much romantic emotion, and he didn't show much reluctance.
He just turned his blue eyes, which were always focused on work, away for a while, just looking at his wife.
"Don't be sick, don't be kind to people casually. Send me a telegram if you have anything."
"You make me feel that my previous life was not smart enough." Anna joked, but Karenin didn't laugh, but said, "I didn't mean that, Anna."
"I know." Anna blinked, but didn't bother to correct her.
A burst of laughter came from beside them, which caught Anna's attention.
Next to them, a pair of young people were saying goodbye in an arguably overly bold gesture. Anna blushed and turned her face away.
Karenin also glanced at the young couple. He didn't feel uncomfortable, but frowned slightly.
In fact, he thought it was a little inappropriate.
However, he also realized that this kind of unscrupulous demonstration seemed to be quite welcomed by those noble ladies. Although they would turn their heads aside to declare their decent and noble status, he had seen them in private. Fiery longing eyes.
Therefore, Karenin hesitated for a moment, and distractedly checked his wife's expression.
But soon, he found that Anna didn't seem to have that meaning.
So, for an instant, Karenin almost breathed a sigh of relief.
He didn't have time to think that this cautious behavior almost made him look like a young man, because the whistle of the train was already sounding, and the train was coming into the station.
It was so loud when the train came that Anna could only see Karenin looking at her and saying something with his lips parted, but she couldn't hear it.
She didn't have time to wait for the train to stop before listening to Karenin, so she took a quick look around and saw that everyone was paying attention to the incoming train. neck, and kissed him.
She saw Karenin slightly surprised, but soon, just as she was about to push away, the former hugged her waist tightly, deepening the kiss.
The train heard about it, and a large crowd of hula-la flocked into the train.
Anna stood up, her face was flushed, her lips were moist and full. Her hands slipped down and were intercepted by the opponent halfway.
On the fifth button of Karenin's overcoat.
His hands are really big and warm. There is a little callus on the place where he holds the pen, but it is not obtrusive, like some kind of serious mark, like a medal of honor.
"The train is coming, I'm going up." She whispered, still embarrassed by the unplanned kiss.
"Yes." Karenin replied.
Anna worked up the courage to look up, and the man was staring down at her.
She saw the other person's slender eyelashes, and when he lowered his head to relax, the corners of his eyes would appear gentle. The upper lip was a little thinner than the lower lip, and when he relaxed, he had a romantic softness.
However, his words were as calm and composed as ever.
But this just soothes Anna's impending parting mood.
"Don't forget the promise, Anna. Take care of yourself, and I will keep it."
"Okay." Anna laughed, leaving Karenin with the sparkling eyes that never changed.
The train started, and Anna slowly looked away when the platform was out of sight.
Her eyes were a little wet, Anushka thought she was crying, and hurriedly took out the handkerchief.
"I didn't cry." Anna quickly waved her hand, "I'm just so happy, Anushka, I really love him."
Her blunt words made the young girl blush too.
Ana covered her mouth, then buried herself in her arms. She felt so happy, and she began to miss him after the train left for a while.
"Are you going to Moscow too?" A boy's voice rang out.