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"What you spoke of just now was a mistake, and not love."

"Remember that I have forbidden you to utter that word, that

hateful word," said Anna, with a shudder. But at once she felt

that by that very word "forbidden" she had shown that she

acknowledged certain rights over him, and by that very fact was

encouraging him to speak of love. "I have long meant to tell you

this," she went on, looking resolutely into his eyes, and hot all

over from the burning flush on her cheeks. "I've come on purpose

this evening, knowing I should meet you. I have come to tell you

that this must end. I have never blushed before anyone, and you

force me to feel to blame for something."

He looked at her and was struck by a new spiritual beauty in her

face.

"What do you wish of me?" he said simply and seriously.

"I want you to go to Moscow and ask for Kitty's forgiveness," she

said.

"You don't wish that?" he said.

He saw she was saying what she forced herself to say, not what

she wanted to say.