And his look replied, "I hate the whole world,—you and myself." And he took up his hat.
But it was not his fate to go. The guests were just taking their places around the table, and he was on the point of starting, when the old prince entered, and, after greeting the ladies, went straight to Levin.
"Ah!" he cried joyfully. "What a stranger! I did not know that you were here. Very glad to see you!"
In speaking to Levin the prince sometimes used the familiar tui, thou, and sometimes the formal vui, you. He took him by the arm, and, while conversing with him, gave no notice to Vronsky, who stood waiting patiently for the prince to speak to him.
Kitty felt that her father's friendliness must be hard for Levin after what had happened. She also noticed how coldly her father at last acknowledged Vronsky's bow, and how Vronsky looked at her father, with good-humored perplexity striving in vain to make out what this icy reception meant, and she blushed.
"Prince, let us have Konstantin Dmitritch," said the Countess Nordstone. "We want to try an experiment."
"What sort of an experiment? table-tipping? Well! excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, but, in my opinion, grace-hoops[1] would be a better game," said the prince, looking at Vronsky, whom he took to be the originator of this sport. "At least there's some sense in grace-hoops."
Vronsky, astonished, turned his steady eyes upon the old prince, and, slightly smiling, began to talk with the Countess Nordstone about the arrangements for a great ball to be given the following week.
"I hope that you will be there," said he, turning to Kitty.
As soon as the old prince turned from him Levin made his escape; and the last impression which he bore away from this reception was Kitty's happy, smiling face, answering Vronsky's question in regard to the ball.
- ↑ Kaletchki.
