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156
ANNA KARENINA

princess when Kitty had gone from the room. "However, I had finished." ....

And the celebrated doctor explained the young princess's condition to her mother, treating her as a woman of remarkable intelligence, and concluded with directions how to drink those waters which were valueless.

On the question, "Is it best to take her abroad?" the doctor pondered deeply, as if he were deciding a difficult problem. The decision was at last expressed: 'Go, but put no faith in charlatans, and consult him in everything.'

After the doctor's departure, everybody felt as if something jolly had happened. The mother, in much better spirits, rejoined her daughter, and Kitty declared that she was better already. Often, almost all the time, of late, she felt obliged to pretend.

"Truly, I am well, maman, but if you desire it, let us go," said she; and in her endeavor to show that she was interested in the journey, she began to speak of their preparations.


CHAPTER II

Shortly after the doctor went, Dolly came. She knew that the consultation was to take place that day; and though she was as yet scarcely able to go out, having had a little daughter toward the end of the winter, and although she had many trials and cares of her own, she left her nursing baby and one of the little girls who was ailing, and came to learn what Kitty's fate should be.

"Well! how is it it? " she said, as she came into the drawing-room with her hat on. "You are all happy! Then all is well?"

They endeavored to tell her what the doctor had said; but it seemed that, although the doctor had spoken very fluently and lengthily, no one was able to tell what he had said. The only interesting point was the decision in regard to the journey abroad.

Dolly sighed involuntarily. Her sister, her best