"I must make her understand as follows: First, The meaning and importance of public opinion and decorum; Secondly, The religious significance of marriage; Thirdly, if necessary, The unhappiness which it might cause her son; Fourthly, The unhappiness which might befall herself."
And Alekseï Aleksandrovitch twisted his fingers together, palms down, and made the joints crack.
This gesture, of joining his hands and stretching his finger-joints, — a bad habit, — calmed him, and conduced to the precision of which he now stood in such need.
A carriage was heard driving up to the house. Alekseï Aleksandrovitch stopped in the middle of the hall. He heard his wife's step on the stairway. Alekseï Aleksandrovitch had his sermon all ready; but still he stood there, squeezing his crossed fingers and trying to make the joints crack. One joint cracked.
Even as he heard her light steps on the stairs he was conscious of her presence, and, though he was satisfied with his sermon, he dreaded the explanation that was imminent. ....
CHAPTER IX
Anna entered with bent head, playing with the tassels of her bashluik or Turkish hood. Her face shone with a bright glow, but this bright glow did not betoken joy; it reminded one of the terrible glow of a conflagration against a midnight sky. When she saw her husband, she raised her head and smiled, as if she had awakened from a dream.
"You are not abed yet? what a miracle!" she said, taking off her bashluik; and, without pausing, she went into her dressing-room, crying, "It is late, Alekseï Aleksandrovitch," as she got to the door.
"Anna, I must have a talk with you."
"With me?" she said, in astonishment, coming out into the hall, and looking at him. "What is it? What about?" she asked, and sat down. "Well, let us talk,
