Chapter 76 (1/2)
Mr. Gorman's arrangements are always so quick.
After Anna made that request, it was only the third day that he made arrangements.
Of course, she knew why it was inevitable to part, but she still hoped that time would go a little slower.
They haven't talked about it seriously, but Anna knows that the last thing a proud person needs is sympathy from others, as well as conceited help.
She sat in front of the dresser, touching a pearl necklace in her hand. She thought for a moment, then sighed, put it down and chose another skirt.
A little light color of the little high collar, very beautiful.
She was going to change, but Karenin stopped her.
”What's the matter?” She looked up in disbelief.
”Change it.” The man said.
Anna is a little puzzled. Karenin has never expressed any opinions on such matters.
Karenin held her by the shoulder and asked her to look at herself in the mirror before saying, ”Anna, a tight neckline is not good. You're anxious. ”
After he finished, he picked up the pearl necklace which had been abandoned by Anna and smoothed it carefully. Then he carefully put it on Anna.
Anna couldn't help touching the front end of the necklace. She looked at them in the mirror. Her heart gradually settled down, but she still couldn't help asking, ”no matter what happens, at least you won't leave me, will you?”
Karenin did not use any rational words to tell Anna that what she said was stupid. He just calmly gave her the answer she wanted most and the most real answer when she needed it most.
”Yes.”
Anna listened and took a deep breath. She couldn't help leaning gently, her cheek against her husband's palm.
The broad and slender fingers, with a little thin cocoon, rubbed on the delicate skin of her face, which was uncomfortable, but after all, it was true and reassured her.
She is like a fish leaving the water grass. Without those entanglements, she will not feel much happy, but a little frightened and uneasy.
”I don't like separation.”
”I don't like change either. Although I know that there are more good changes than bad ones. ”
”There's always not much that belongs to me, Alexis. But if I hold on too tightly, I'm afraid I'll lose them faster. ”
”I've always wanted to have a long-term connection.”
”But life is always like this, Anna.” Karenin gently raised his hand and stroked Anna's cheek. He allowed his wife to seek his arms like a baby, and he would always allow it, though unskilled.
He is always willing to do his best to solve her puzzles and relieve her anxiety. As long as he has, as long as he can do it, he is not afraid to try.
”I understand.” Anna said softly.
She closed her eyes and felt like a small boat floating on the sea, even the mast was shaking. She tries to balance, but she doesn't know if it can be achieved. Until there is a big ship in front of her, it does not even say anything, just let her see, then, many times that is comparable to all pacification.
Karenin, her husband, as long as he is here, where Anna can see him. Her anxiety will always ease.
That's why she loves him. Even if the truth has been understood, but if someone tells you with such a calm tone, and in addition, provides you with a hug and a harbor, then even the things that have been afraid of, will always be overcome.
In the evening, Anna found a fact that there are some coincidences in the world.
Like now. In the Grand Hotel in Petersburg, Anna is not seated yet. She is stunned when she sees the man opposite. After all, it wasn't long ago.
”You are”
the man was stunned for a moment, and then remembered that he got up and smile. Compared with that day's cramped, now he seems more relaxed, the whole person is like the breeze after the rain, has not hurt people's warmth.
”Do you know each other?” Asked Mr. Gorman, raising his eyebrows slightly. He was wearing a slim suit, looking a little thin, but his eyes were still bright and with a trace of unique arrogance.
People like him seem to be born for the vast stage of Petersburg. No one could have imagined that this man, who seemed to be created for freedom and randomness, chose such a path to be bound. But it won't be long, they all know.
Anna blinked and let the little bit of sadness go with the wind, and then she laughed: ”a little story.”
”Do you mind sharing it with us?” Mr. Gorman said that the smile was more entertaining and dramatic than the usual meaning of the smile itself.
”After all, it's always nice to start with a story.”
”Do you want to tell or shall I?” Asked the gentleman, strathoff, gently. Very gentlemanly.Anna looked at each other in surprise and said, ”can you come?”
Mr. strakhov nodded, and he began to tell the episode. At the end, he even looked at Miss aurea with a smile.
”But I didn't think it would be more suitable for you now.”
Anna followed Mr. strakhov's eyes to miss aurea, who had her brooch on today. It is the shape of Swan, simple but full of romantic color.
Miss aurea gently touched the swan's neck, then raised her eyes and smile: ”I like the story you told.”
”In fact, that's what my daughter Galina suggested.” The tone is gentle, and there is a little sincerity in the eyes that does not belong to this age.
Miss aurea looked at the little girl and once again said positively, ”I like it.”
The little girl blushed, gave a shy smile like a doll, and then whispered, ”I hope you like my father better in this way.”
Aurea did not blush like a teenage girl, but approached Galina and gently answered in the little girl's ear. Although Anna couldn't hear what aurea said, the shining eyes of the little girl must have satisfied her idea.
She raised her eyes to her husband, who felt her gaze. Under the table, Karenin gently pulled Anna's hand and let go.
He did it so naturally that Anna, who was a little surprised, was stunned for a moment, and then, soon, a smile appeared on her face again.
When she looked up again at Mr. Strahov and miss aurea, she found that she had noticed more. For example, questioning and eye contact, Mr. strakhov, who is much older than aurea, does make the former comfortable.
On her way home, Anna, sitting in the carriage, suddenly exclaimed, ”Mr. strakhov is not the best, but perhaps he is the most suitable one for Miss aurea.”
”Like that brooch.”
”People like him, whose clothes are of high quality but not up-to-date, are kept very well and look very comfortable and decent. He gave his daughter from top to bottom, but they were all brand new. At the neckline, he chose the most suitable fabric for children, which was obviously changed
Anna pauses, then looks at Karenin and smiles, because the other side gently holds her hand as before, and what Anna has to do is to make the gesture more intimate.
With her slender fingers clasped with her big hands, Anna knew that Karenin would always allow such intimacy when no one was watching.
”Alexey, a mild-natured man like him, who has no great pursuit of material things, opens his mouth to us for the brooch. It can be seen that he really takes Miss aurea in his heart.”
”But he didn't succeed, did he?” Said Karenin calmly.
Anna blinked her eyes. She knew that Karenin did not know the answer. In doing so, he was more in his own way, gently untiing a little melancholy in her heart.
She raised her other hand and covered it on her clasped hands. It was like a child's game of tying knots. She pretended to have such a thin rope, which fluctuated with her fingertips in the air. Every word she said, she untied a knot.
”But he tried. If he must have got it in any way, a man so strong, I think, is not so suitable for Miss aurea. But, ”Anna looked up with a smile,” he gave up to get it, but he also chose another unique gift for her. ”
”Mr. Strahov and miss aurea are very much alike in this respect.”
”Love may have only one form, but marriage, after all, has a variety of ways to operate, isn't it?”
”I agree with you on that, Anna.” Karenin thought for a moment and then said.
”A well managed marriage is not so bad, even if at first they were not so well matched. But the reason why love has to survive in marriage is that in a long time, as long as the fast people are willing to wait, and the slow ones are willing to speed up their pace, in the end, they can walk side by side. ” Anna said.