what seemed to him wise and good, and that he would be obliged to do what was bad, but necessary to be done.
CHAPTER XXI
Betsy had not left the "hall" when Stepan Arkadyevitch appeared on the threshold. He had come from Eliseyef's, where they had just received fresh oysters.
"Ah, princess! you here? What a fortunate meeting! I have just been at your house."
"The meeting is but for a moment; I am going," replied Betsy, smiling, as she buttoned her gloves.
"Wait just a moment, princess; allow me to kiss your little hand before you put on your glove. Nothing pleases me so much, in returning to ancient ways, as the custom of kissing a lady's hand."
He kissed Betsy's hand.
"When shall we meet again?"
"You don't deserve to see me," replied Betsy, laughing.
"Oh, yes, I do! for I have become a very serious man. I regulate not only my own family affairs, but also other people's," said he, with a significant expression in his face.
"Ah! I am delighted to hear it," replied Betsy, instantly knowing that he referred to Anna.
Going back into the "hall," they stood in a corner.
"He is killing her," she whispered, with conviction. "It is impossible, impossible...."
"I am very glad that you think so," replied Stepan Arkadyevitch, shaking his head with sympathetic commiseration. "That is why I am in Petersburg."
"The whole town are talking about it," said she; "this situation is intolerable. She is fading away before our very eyes. He doesn't understand that she is one of those women whose feelings cannot be treated lightly. One of two things,—either he ought to take her away, and act decidedly, or else be divorced. But this is killing her."
"Yes, yes.... exactly ...." said Oblonsky, with a sigh.
