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ANNA KARENINA
145

"I grew up with Anna Arkadyevna, and love her more than the whole world. It's not for us to judge her, and she seems to love ...."

"Please have these washed, if it is possible," said Darya Aleksandrovna, interrupting her.

"I will do so. We have two women especially for the laundry, but the washing is done all by machinery. The count looks out for everything. He is such a husband ...."

Dolly was glad when Anna came in and put an end to the babbling Annushka's confidences.

Anna had put on a very simple batiste gown. Dolly noticed particularly this simple gown. She knew what this simplicity meant, and how much money it represented.

"An old acquaintance," said Anna to Annushka.

Anna now was no longer confused. She was perfectly calm and self-possessed. Dolly saw that now she was entirely free from the impression which her coming had at first produced, and had assumed that superficial tone of indifference which, as it were, closed the door to the expression of real thought and feelings.

"Well, and how is your little daughter?" asked Dolly.

"Ani?" — for so she called her daughter Anna — "very well. Her health is much better. Should you like to see her? Come, and I'll show her to you. We have had great trouble with her," she went on to relate. "We had an Italian for her nurse; good, but so stupid; we wanted to send her back, but the little thing is so much attached to her, we still keep her."

"But how have you done about...." began Dolly, wishing to ask about the child's name; but, as she saw Anna's countenance grow suddenly dark, she changed the ending of the question. "Have you weaned her?"

Anna understood.

"That is not what you were going to ask. You were thinking of the child's name, weren't you? This torments Alekseï; she has no name; that is, she is a Karenin," and she closed her eyes so that only the lashes