"Not all," said Dolly. "You judge by your husband. I believe he is even now tormented by the remembrance of Vronsky; isn't that so?"
"He is!" replied Kitty, with a pensive smile in her eyes.
"Well, I don't know what there is in your past life to disquiet him," exclaimed the princess, her mother, resenting the inference that her maternal vigilance was called in question. "Is it because Vronsky paid you some attention? That happens to every young girl."
"Yes, but we were not talking about that," said Kitty, blushing.
"No, permit me to finish what I was saying," pursued the princess; "and besides, you yourself would not permit me to have an explanation with Vronsky, do you remember?"
"Oh, mamma!" exclaimed Kitty, with an exclamation of pain.
"There is no need of your being vexed. .... Your behavior toward him could never have been anything but perfectly proper. I myself should have challenged him! However, my darling, don't allow yourself to get excited. Please remember this, and calm yourself."
"I am perfectly calm, maman."
"How fortunate it turned out for Kitty that Anna appeared on the scene," said Dolly, "and how unfortunate for her. How their positions are reversed," she added, overwhelmed by her own thought. "Anna was so happy then and Kitty thought herself so miserable. I often think of her. What a complete change!"
"What is the use of thinking about her? She is a vile, disgusting, heartless woman," exclaimed the princess, who could not forget that Kitty had married Levin instead of Vronsky.
"What is the good of speaking about her, anyway!" said Kitty, in disgust. "I do not think about her nor do I wish to think of her at all. .... I do not wish to think about her," she repeated, hearing her husband's well-known step on the steps leading to the terrace.
"Whom do you wish not to think about?" asked Levin, appearing on the terrace.
