The day after his arrival Vronsky went to her, and finding her alone, expressed his wishes directly.

"You know, Alexey," she said after hearing him, "how fond I am of you, and how ready I am to do anything for you; but I have not spoken, because I knew I could be of no use to you and to Anna Arkadyevna," she said, articulating the name "Anna Arkadyevna" with particular care.

" Don't suppose, please, that I judge her.

Never; perhaps in her place I should have done the same.

I don't and can't enter into that," she said, glancing timidly at his gloomy face.