Chapter 24

           “Thenthereisallthemorereasonforyoutolegalizeyourposition,ifpossible,”saidDolly.

           “Yes,ifpossible,”saidAnna,speakingallatonceinanutterlydifferenttone,subduedandmournful.

           “Surelyyoudon’tmeanadivorceisimpossible?Iwastoldyourhusbandhadconsentedtoit.”

           “Dolly,Idon’twanttotalkaboutthat.”

           “Oh,wewon’tthen,”DaryaAlexandrovnahastenedtosay,noticingtheexpressionofsufferingonAnna’sface.“AllIseeisthatyoutaketoogloomyaviewofthings.”

           “I?Notatall!I’malwaysbrightandhappy.Yousee,jefaisdespassions.Veslovsky....”

           “Yes,totellthetruth,Idon’tlikeVeslovsky’stone,”saidDaryaAlexandrovna,anxioustochangethesubject.

           “Oh,that’snonsense!ItamusesAlexey,andthat’sall;buthe’saboy,andquiteundermycontrol.Youknow,IturnhimasIplease.It’sjustasitmightbewithyourGrisha....Dolly!”—shesuddenlychangedthesubject—“yousayItaketoogloomyaviewofthings.Youcan’tunderstand.It’stooawful!Itrynottotakeanyviewofitatall.”

           “ButIthinkyououghtto.Yououghttodoallyoucan.”

           “ButwhatcanIdo?Nothing.YoutellmetomarryAlexey,andsayIdon’tthinkaboutit.Idon’tthinkaboutit!”sherepeated,andaflushroseintoherface.Shegotup,straighteningherchest,andsighedheavily.Withherlightstepshebeganpacingupanddowntheroom,stoppingnowandthen.“Idon’tthinkofit?Notaday,notanhourpassesthatIdon’tthinkofit,andblamemyselfforthinkingofit...