Pagina 548 di 2288

Frou-Frou, excited and over-nervous, had lost the first moment,

and several horses had started before her, but before reaching

the stream, Vronsky, who was holding in the mare with all his

force as she tugged at the bridle, easily overtook three, and

there were left in front of him Mahotin's chestnut Gladiator,

whose hind-quarters were moving lightly and rhythmically up and

down exactly in front of Vronsky, and in front of all, the dainty

mare Diana bearing Kuzovlev more dead than alive.

For the first instant Vronsky was not master either of himself or

his mare. Up to the first obstacle, the stream, he could not

guide the motions of his mare.