She had come as usual to say good-night to her husband, feeling very happy and satisfied over her conversation with her daughter; and, though she had not ventured to breathe a word of Levin's proposal and Kitty's rejection of him, she allowed herself to hint to her husband that she thought the affair with Vronsky was settled, that it would be decided as soon as the countess should arrive. At these words the prince had fallen into a passion, and had addressed her with unpleasant reproaches:—
"What have you done? This is what: In the first place you have decoyed a husband for her; and all Moscow will say so, and with justice. If you want to give receptions, give them, by all means, but invite every one, and not suitors of your own choice. Invite all these mashers,"—thus the prince called the young men of Moscow,—"have somebody to play and let 'em dance; but not like to-night, inviting only suitors! It seems to me shameful, shameful, the way you've pushed! You have turned the girl's head. Levin is a thousand times the better man. And as to this Petersburg dandy, he's one of those turned out by machinery, they are all on one pattern, and all trash! My daughter has no need of going out of her way, even for a prince of the blood."
"But what have I done?"
"Why, this .... " cried the prince, angrily.
"I know well enough that, if I listen to you," interrupted the princess, "we shall never see our daughter married; and, in that case, we might just as well go into the country."
"We'd better go!"
"Now wait! Have I made any advances? No, I have not. But a young man, and a very handsome young man, is in love with her; and she, it seems .... "
"Yes, so it seems to you. But suppose she should be in love with him, and he have as much intention of getting married as I myself? Okh! Have n't I eyes to see? 'Akh, spiritism! akh, Nice! akh, the ball!'" .... Here the prince, attempting to imitate his
