Страница 589 из 2288

She drew back from him with aversion, and without looking in his

face answered:

"No, no, let me be, I'll stay."

She saw now that from the place of Vronsky's accident an officer

was running across the course towards the pavilion. Betsy waved

her handkerchief to him. The officer brought the news that the

rider was not killed, but the horse had broken its back.

On hearing this Anna sat down hurriedly, and hid her face in her

fan. Alexey Alexandrovitch saw that she was weeping, and could

not control her tears, nor even the sobs that were shaking her

bosom. Alexey Alexandrovitch stood so as to screen her, giving

her time to recover herself.

"For the third time I offer you my arm," he said to her after a

little time, turning to her. Anna gazed at him and did not know

what to say. Princess Betsy came to her rescue.

"No, Alexey Alexandrovitch; I brought Anna and I promised to take

her home," put in Betsy.