Karenin has always been a calm person, or to put it another way, he is a person who is always too calm.
When Karenin was young, maybe it was relatively easy for people to stir up his emotions, but now he is in a high position, and the corners of his eyes and brows have nothing to do with youthfulness and childishness. At that time, it was really difficult.
Except for one person, or because of the influence of this person on Karenin due to such or other relationship, he sometimes became a little unreasonably stubborn.
"I'm scheduled to travel with Stremov next week."
At breakfast, Karenin said this, because he had to deal with some official business last night, and Anna went to bed on time at his request.
"What kind of man is Mr. Stremov?" asked Anna. Because she thought about it, she had never heard of such a colleague beside Karenin, although she didn't know much about it.
And when she asked this sentence, the movement of Karenin's hand stopped, and the fried egg was picked up by the fork with a little force.
"It should be classified as someone I don't like." Karenin said calmly.
After hearing this, Anna felt even more curious. After all, the people whom Karenin rated as dislikes were the same as the people who were rated as his favorites, very few.
After Karenin left, Anna decided to ask the butler Kearney.
"Obviously, Mr. Stremov's honor is not directly proportional to his character." Kearney commented.
Many of the old butler's temperament and character are already similar to those of Karenin. It can be said that he is a rare and upright servant, neither arrogant nor timid.
Therefore, when she actually met this Mr. Stremov, Anna already blamed this Mr. Stremov in her heart as a person who was not very upright.
In the afternoon, Anna finally saw the gentleman.
"Good day, Madame Karenin."
Anna accepted Mr. Stremov's greeting, and looked at him carefully and seriously.
Stremov was also tall, athletic, with a handsome mustache, and dressed very stylishly without being too out of the ordinary. He looked a year or two younger than Karenin, but he was still in a high position.
Although Anna only had a few words with this gentleman, she could tell that he was a likable person.
Karenin's expression was always indifferent. He took Stremov to the study, and Anna noticed that it was his study specially used for receiving guests.
Perhaps others would only think that Karenin's mood at the moment was just the same as usual, but Anna felt that Karenin was in a state of irritability.
It seems that if you don't like the three words, you must add some adjectives to Stremov.
Anna looked back.
At dinner they were entertained by this Mr. Stremov, who also continued to praise the deliciousness of the meal and complimented the host and hostess appropriately. After the other party left, Karenin said that the weather was a bit hot and he needed some ice water.
"I didn't hear him complain when it was the hottest time." Anna thought, and then took over Anushka's job and brought Karenin ice water with lemon on it.
"I just want ice water." Karenin frowned, he was like a child throwing a temper tantrum.
The servants in this house never dared to speculate on the thoughts of the master. Usually, if Karenin ordered something to be done, they would just do it honestly.
After being married for so long, Anna also knew this, and at the same time realized Karenin's tolerance for her. Many times, Anna would use her own way to understand what Karenin meant. For example, even though she knew he didn't like sweets that much, occasionally she wanted him to taste them.
"Okay, then no lemon slices," Anna said kindly, and took off the lemon slices, placed them carefully in front of Karenin, and finally raised her hand and took Karenin's right hand, as if he were a Like babies, they need to be treated very carefully.
Karenin realized something and coughed slightly awkwardly.
"Lemon slices are all right," said Karenin. He added more lemon slices and drank slowly while Anna just looked at him with a smile.
The ice water made some drops in the glass, and Karenin seemed to have calmed down. He closed his eyes for a moment, then whispered, "Anna."
"What's the matter?" Anna was originally sitting on a chair a little wearily, but when she heard Karenin's call, she subconsciously straightened her body, slightly turned in the direction of the other party, and responded.
She looked at Karenin, but the latter said nothing, and then Anna thought she might understand.
"Maybe I'm wrong, but..." She chuckled in a low voice, then got up when Karenin looked at her, walked towards him, and gave Karenin a hug.
She felt that Karenin's body was a little stiff, that is to say, maybe the latter really didn't intend to get a comforting hug from her, but as long as he was not pushed away, then an occasional bit of willfulness is not counted. what? Anna thought so.
"Alexey, because we are two people after all, I can't fully understand your thoughts. So sometimes, I may act directly with my own understanding. Maybe some are right, and some are wrong, But I hope you can tell me when I'm not doing it right."
"I am your wife, you can always tell me."
After Anna finished speaking, she gently stroked Karenin's hair with her right hand.
After all, it is summer now, and when the skin touches, it always feels uncomfortable and sticky. And the man who has always disliked the hot summer, did not push the woman away, but raised his hands and hugged her gently.
"Why don't you like Stremov?" asked Anna.
"Actually, I was very curious in the morning." Anna said to herself again, "I asked Kearney, and what he meant was that Mr. Stremov seems to be not an upright person."
"Yes," replied Karenin, who seemed to be in a bad mood again.
"Stremov is nothing special." Karenin let go of his hand. He was used to leaving himself alone when he was talking about something, lest any factors interfere with his judgment.
Anna didn't care about this. She drew up a chair and sat down beside Karenin.
"But," Karenin pondered for a while, his blue eyes rarely showed a trace of contempt and irritation, "a person like him, who can only talk empty words and beautiful words, takes his empty mind all the way. It came over smoothly. But those who are truly talented and knowledgeable can only be trampled on the ground."
When it came to this, Karenin was already a little excited. Realizing this himself, he pressed his hand over his fingers to calm himself down.
Anna noticed this, she raised her hand, and lightly covered the back of Karenin's hand.
The soft feeling made Karenin recover from the silence. After a long time, he pulled out his left hand that was originally underneath, and held Anna's hand tenderly instead.
It was still hot and slightly sweaty, but he didn't care.
"It's very irrational." Karenin himself reflected that these past activities and comments only existed in his own mind, rather than revealing them to anyone. Because he has long been used to solving these things alone.
Regardless of the early death of his parents or brother, although Karenin is already an adult who has experienced many storms, he still retains some natural sensitivity in his heart.
As a powerful official, Karenin had to keep these things secret, including the fact that he could easily bear the tears of women and children.
But at this moment, he decided to confide in his wife.
"I understand these things better than anyone else. If a person is really talented and qualified for this position, then he will always succeed. And a person who only has knowledge but lacks ambition and means, even if he gets this position , he can't do anything big."
"In this way, people like Stremov are not worthless." Karenin said calmly, as if trying to persuade some sense of justice in his bones. However, his words and expression did not match, strangely tinged with sarcasm.
Anna felt that Karenin was like a teenager now, and she rarely saw him so restless, but no matter what, she felt that it brought her joy. In a sense, yes, the sense of dependence and trust makes Anna feel happy.
She felt sorry for the joy in her heart, because her husband was actually in a state of emotional distress.
So she kissed him.
In his dazed eyes, Anna knew that he was gentle.
Since they got married, as a wife, the innocence and cunning of a little girl in her heart, and even impulsiveness and complacency have become less. Gentleness and love will gradually breed in her heart.
"There's nothing wrong with that." Anna said in a casual tone, but her expression was firm.
Like a doting parent, she said deliberately very partial: "In my opinion, Mr. Stremov's rhetoric is indeed unworthy of his current position."
"He has gained such great power, but will he do anything for the people?"
"I don't mean by this to say that people like Mr. Stremov don't deserve wealth or power. I just want to say that if this position needs such a person, then Stremov Mister is clearly not for it."
How could someone as smart as Karenin not understand Anna's eccentric words? He even felt that these words were obviously unfair when he heard them.
He should have pointed it out, but something seemed to stop the gentleman in the officer's throat.
In the end, he nodded slightly, agreeing with his wife in such an obvious lack of calm and rational analysis, which was rare.