When Vronsky looked at his watch on the Karenins' balcony, he was

so greatly agitated and lost in his thoughts that he saw the

figures on the watch's face, but could not take in what time it

was. He came out on to the high road and walked, picking his way

carefully through the mud, to his carriage. He was so completely

absorbed in his feeling for Anna, that he did not even think what

o'clock it was, and whether he had time to go to Bryansky's. He

had left him, as often happens, only the external faculty of

memory, that points out each step one has to take, one after the

other. He went up to his coachman, who was dozing on the box in

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the shadow, already lengthening, of a thick limetree; he admired

the shifting clouds of midges circling over the hot horses, and,

waking the coachman, he jumped into the carriage, and told him to

drive to Bryansky's. It was only after driving nearly five miles

that he had sufficiently recovered himself to look at his watch,

and realize that it was half-past five, and he was late.

There were several races fixed for that day: the Mounted Guards'

race, then the officers' mile-and-a-half race, then the

three-mile race, and then the race for which he was entered. He

could still be in time for his race, but if he went to Bryansky's

he could only just be in time, and he would arrive when the whole

of the court would be in their places. That would be a pity.

But he had promised Bryansky to come, and so he decided to drive

on, telling the coachman not to spare the horses.

He reached Bryansky's, spent five minutes there, and galloped

back. This rapid drive calmed him. All that was painful in his

relations with Anna, all the feeling of indefiniteness left by

their conversation, had slipped out of his mind. He was thinking

now with pleasure and excitement of the race, of his being

anyhow, in time, and now and then the thought of the blissful

interview awaiting him that night flashed across his imagination

like a flaming light.

The excitement of the approaching race gained upon him as he

drove further and further into the atmosphere of the races,

overtaking carriages driving up from the summer villas or out of

Petersburg.

At his quarters no one was left at home; all were at the races,

and his valet was looking out for him at the gate. While he was

changing his clothes, his valet told him that the second race had

begun already, that a lot of gentlemen had been to ask for him,

and a boy had twice run up from the stables. Dressing without

hurry (he never hurried himself, and never lost his

self-possession), Vronsky drove to the sheds. From the sheds he

could see a perfect sea of carriages, and people on foot,

soldiers surrounding the race course, and pavilions swarming with

people. The second race was apparently going on, for just as he

went into the sheds he heard a bell ringing. Going towards the

stable, he met the white-legged chestnut, Mahotin's Gladiator,

being led to the race-course in a blue forage horsecloth, with

what looked like huge ears edged with blue.




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