The end was expected every minute.

Vronsky had gone home, but in the morning he came to inquire, and

Alexey Alexandrovitch meeting him in the hall, said: "Better

stay, she might ask for you," and himself led him to his wife's

boudoir. Towards morning, there was a return again of

excitement, rapid thought and talk, and again it ended in

unconsciousness. On the third day it was the same thing, and the

doctors said there was hope. That day Alexey Alexandrovitch went

into the boudoir where Vronsky was sitting, and closing the door

sat down opposite him.

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"Alexey Alexandrovitch," said Vronsky, feeling that a statement

of the position was coming, "I can't speak, I can't understand.

Spare me! However hard it is for you, believe me, it is more

terrible for me."

He would have risen; but Alexey Alexandrovitch took him by the

hand and said: "I beg you to hear me out; it is necessary. I must explain my

feelings, the feelings that have guided me and will guide me, so

that you may not be in error regarding me. You know I had

resolved on a divorce, and had even begun to take proceedings.

I won't conceal from you that in beginning this I was in

uncertainty, I was in misery; I will confess that I was pursued

by a desire to revenge myself on you and on her. When I got the

telegram, I came here with the same feelings; I will say more, I

longed for her death. But...." He paused, pondering whether to

disclose or not to disclose his feeling to him. "But I saw her

and forgave her. And the happiness of forgiveness has revealed

to me my duty. I forgive completely. I would offer the other

cheek, I would give my cloak if my coat be taken. I pray to God

only not to take from me the bliss of forgiveness!"

Tears stood in his eyes, and the luminous, serene look in them

impressed Vronsky.

"This is my position: you can trample me in the mud, make me the

laughing-stock of the world, I will not abandon her, and I will

never utter a word of reproach to you," Alexey Alexandrovitch

went on. "My duty is clearly marked for me; I ought to be with

her, and I will be. If she wishes to see you, I will let you

know, but now I suppose it would be better for you to go away."

He got up, and sobs cut short his words. Vronsky too was getting

up, and in a stooping, not yet erect posture, looked up at him

from under his brows. He did not understand Alexey

Alexandrovitch's feeling, but he felt that it was something

higher and even unattainable for him with his view of life.




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