Chapter 18

           “NowthereissomethingIwanttotalkabout,andyouknowwhatitis.AboutAnna,”StepanArkadyevitchsaid,pausingforabriefspace,andshakingofftheunpleasantimpression.

           AssoonasOblonskyutteredAnna’sname,thefaceofAlexeyAlexandrovitchwascompletelytransformed;allthelifewasgoneoutofit,anditlookedwearyanddead.

           “Whatisitexactlythatyouwantfromme?”hesaid,movinginhischairandsnappinghispince-nez.

           “Adefinitesettlement,AlexeyAlexandrovitch,somesettlementoftheposition.I’mappealingtoyou”(“notasaninjuredhusband,”StepanArkadyevitchwasgoingtosay,butafraidofwreckinghisnegotiationbythis,hechangedthewords)“notasastatesman”(whichdidnotsoundàpropos),“butsimplyasaman,andagood-heartedmanandaChristian.Youmusthavepityonher,”hesaid.

           “Thatis,inwhatwayprecisely?”Kareninsaidsoftly.

           “Yes,pityonher.IfyouhadseenherasIhave!—Ihavebeenspendingallthewinterwithher—youwouldhavepityonher.Herpositionisawful,simplyawful!”

           “Ihadimagined,”answeredAlexeyAlexandrovitchinahigher,almostshrillvoice,“thatAnnaArkadyevnahadeverythingshehaddesiredforherself.”

           “Oh,AlexeyAlexandrovitch,forheaven’ssake,don’tletusindulgeinrecriminations!Whatispastispast,andyouknowwhatshewantsandiswaitingfor—divorce.”

           “ButIbelieveAnnaArkadyevnarefusesadivorce,ifImakeitaconditiontoleavememyson.Irepliedinthatsense,andsupposedthatthematterwasended.