This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
92
ANNA KARENINA

Anna, after a moment's thought, apprehending the gravity of the situation and weighing it in her mental scales. "I could, I could, I could! Yes, I could forgive him, but I should not be the same; but I should forgive him, and I should forgive him in such a way as to show that the past was forgotten, absolutely forgotten." ....

"Well! of course," interrupted Dolly, impetuously, as if she was saying what she had said many times to herself — " otherwise it would not be forgiveness. If you forgive, it must be absolutely, absolutely. — Well! let me show you to your room," said she, rising, and throwing her arm around her sister-in-law.

"My dear, how glad I am that you came. My heart is already lighter, much lighter."


CHAPTER XX

Anna spent the whole day at home, that is to say, at the Oblonskys', and refused to see any callers, although some of her friends, having learned of her arrival, came to see her. The whole morning was given to Dolly and the children. She sent a note to her brother that he must dine at home.

"Come, God is merciful," she wrote.

Oblonsky accordingly dined at home. The conversation was general, and his wife, when she spoke to him, called him tui (thou), which had not been the case before. The relations between husband and wife remained cool, but nothing more was said about a separation, and Stepan Arkadyevitch saw the possibility of a reconciliation.

Kitty came in soon after dinner. Her acquaintance with Anna Arkadyevna was very slight, and she was not without solicitude as to the welcome which she would receive from this great Petersburg lady, whose praise was in everybody's mouth. But she made a pleasing impression on Anna Arkadyevna; this she immediately realized. Anna evidently admired her