Chapter 96 (1/2)
It was late at night when Karenin came back.
He doesn't usually come back late. There will be more social intercourse in summer, and less in late autumn. The cold will freeze people's will. But there are always some people who like to fight against the season.
Mr. streimov, who came from Moscow, who was to go on business with Karenin, was obviously a social enthusiast. People like him, no matter how long they stay in Petersburg, don't learn to adapt themselves to the environment rather than change a good place.
Think about it!
The good-looking face, with its glib tongue, successfully transformed Petersburg, a place that seemed a little quiet under the influence of Karenin, into another joyful Moscow.
”Don't you like these? Karenin. ”
The man, a year or two younger than Karenin, asked with a smile. The secular trace in his eyes made his eyes twitch in his heart.
”It's just not keen.” He said faintly, some bad temper, even false to deal with all lazy.
Streimov turned his eyes, with his glass in his hand. Naturally, a tactful person like him knew that he was not popular with Karenin. However, streimov was not willing to fulfill Karenin's desire to stay away from him.
”It's a great honor for me to go out with you. I'm sure we'll get a lot from this trip. ”
Karenin's lips twitched sarcastically.
”Yes, naturally.”
Streimov smiles and makes a witty remark that he wants to clink a cup with Karenin. The latter looks at him without a smile, but accepts it.
On the surface, the friendship between the two seemed to have eased, and Mikhail vasiliyevich sloudin, who was supposed to take care of the aftermath, blinked, letting the amber liquid slide into his throat like drinking water.
After drinking, even Karenin's face turned reddish, slutin made an excuse to let them go.
”I have to take you back.”
Muttered the young secretary, his cheeks red, making him look younger.
Every time he drinks, slythin has to keep a straight face, or he won't be able to do what a secretary should do.
”You go back, I can do it myself.” Karenin refused. He seemed to take a serious look at the drunkenness of the two men and tried to speak in a smooth tone. But in fact, he was also drunk, otherwise he should not have refused the escort of his secretary.
”No, sir. I have to get you back safely.” Striding is still trying to remember his responsibilities.
Karenin became a little impatient under the influence of alcohol.
”I don't need it.”
What else did he want to say, but Karenin had asked Peter, the coachman, to call for him.
”Go back.” He is concise and to the point.
The young secretary obeyed the instructions subconsciously. When he got on the car, the horse ran for a long time and was awakened by the cold wind for a while. When he turned around, he was a little nervous.
Of course, by the time he returned, Karenin and the carriage had already left.
”I hope it's OK.” Sloutin mumbled, and then went to the hall to ask the guard. After confirming that Karenin had gone back in his own carriage, he was relieved to let himself return to the carriage with some shaking.
”Oh, go home.” Said slythin, covering his eyes with his right hand.
On the other side, Karenin, who was in the carriage, was leaning back with some headache. He frowned as if he was enduring something.
He's drunk.
He knows.
Although Karenin had strong self-control, he still vomited on the way due to the bumps of the carriage.
”Are you all right, sir?” Asked the driver, Peter, with concern.
After working under Karenin for so long, he seldom saw his husband drunk, let alone like this.
Karenin straightened up a little and swayed so slightly that he had to help the carriage.
”I want to walk for a while.”
Karenin said he had taken out his handkerchief and wiped his mouth.
”It's freezing, sir. You'd better go back soon.” Karpeter did not dare to directly ask for anything, but he did not agree with it.
Karenin waved his hand, meaning that there was no need to say more.
The cold wind blows on people's cheeks, which makes people squint unconsciously.
Karenin took a deep breath.
Although it was cold, he was much more sober now.
Peter didn't dare to talk much, so the only sound of carriage accompanied Karenin.
He looked up. There were some lonely stars in the night sky.
That star is no different. From Karenin's memory, he has not paid special attention to these things.
They never seem to have changed, and the words of the upper class in Petersburg naturally do not fall on them. It was his wife who made him want to pay attention to them.One night in the summer, Karenin remembered Anna's words:
”I heard that it took a long time for the stars we saw to appear in front of us. The starlight we see now is not the present itself, but a long time ago, like a miracle, isn't it? It's not an era, but some people have witnessed and cared about it, so they become very meaningful. ”
At that time, Karenin always felt that Anna wanted to explain something, but when she asked, she just smile.
It was Karenin who didn't tell each other, but the latter seemed to know the smile.
Therefore, people like Karenin who like to pursue understanding in everything, in that case, can only kiss each other.
”Are you going to get on the carriage?”
The voice of the coachman made Karenin aware of his present situation.
He is smiling.
Although he was sure that the other side could not see his face clearly in the dark, Karenin still felt a certain heat rising on his face, which was different from that caused by alcohol.
”Yes.” He said simply.
The night wind took away the wine gas of Karenin, but it seemed that something was added to it quietly.
When Karenin returned home, the whole house seemed quiet.
Colney is used to it.
He took kalenin's coat with the lamp in his hand, and replied in the usual way.
After the gentleman went up the second floor, Colney returned to his apartment with a light.