Chapter 33

           AlexeyAlexandrovitchcamebackfromthemeetingoftheministersatfouro’clock,butasoftenhappened,hehadnottimetocomeintoher.Hewentintohisstudytoseethepeoplewaitingforhimwithpetitions,andtosignsomepapersbroughthimbyhischiefsecretary.Atdinnertime(therewerealwaysafewpeoplediningwiththeKarenins)therearrivedanoldlady,acousinofAlexeyAlexandrovitch,thechiefsecretaryofthedepartmentandhiswife,andayoungmanwhohadbeenrecommendedtoAlexeyAlexandrovitchfortheservice.Annawentintothedrawing-roomtoreceivetheseguests.Preciselyatfiveo’clock,beforethebronzePetertheFirstclockhadstruckthefifthstroke,AlexeyAlexandrovitchcamein,wearingawhitetieandeveningcoatwithtwostars,ashehadtogooutdirectlyafterdinner.EveryminuteofAlexeyAlexandrovitch’slifewasportionedoutandoccupied.Andtomaketimetogetthroughallthatlaybeforehimeveryday,headheredtothestrictestpunctuality.“Unhastingandunresting,”washismotto.Hecameintothedininghall,greetedeveryone,andhurriedlysatdown,smilingtohiswife.

           “Yes,mysolitudeisover.Youwouldn’tbelievehowuncomfortable”(helaidstressontheworduncomfortable)“itistodinealone.”

           AtdinnerhetalkedalittletohiswifeaboutMoscowmatters,and,withasarcasticsmile,askedherafterStepanArkadyevitch;buttheconversationwasforthemostpartgeneral,dealingwithPetersburgofficialandpublicnews.