Anna Karenina - Part 5 - Page 34/117

"I tell you what," said Anna, who had for a long while been

exchanging wary glances with Vronsky, and knew that he was not in

the least interested in the education of this artist, but was

simply absorbed by the idea of assisting him, and ordering a

portrait of him; "I tell you what," she said, resolutely

interrupting Golenishtchev, who was still talking away, "let's go

and see him!"

Golenishtchev recovered his self-possession and readily agreed.

But as the artist lived in a remote suburb, it was decided to

take the carriage.

An hour later Anna, with Golenishtchev by her side and Vronsky on

the front seat of the carriage, facing them, drove up to a new

ugly house in the remote suburb. On learning from the porter's

wife, who came out to them, that Mihailov saw visitors at his

studio, but that at that moment he was in his lodging only a

couple of steps off, they sent her to him with their cards,

asking permission to see his picture.