“These are the servants’ houses, barns, and stables,” answered Anna.  “And there the park begins.  It had all gone to ruin, but Alexey had everything renewed.  He is very fond of this place, and, what I never expected, he has become intensely interested in looking after it.  But his is such a rich nature!  Whatever he takes up, he does splendidly.  So far from being bored by it, he works with passionate interest.  He—­with his temperament as I know it—­he has become careful and businesslike, a first-rate manager, he positively reckons every penny in his management of the land.  But only in that.  When it’s a question of tens of thousands, he doesn’t think of money.”  She spoke with that gleefully sly smile with which women often talk of the secret characteristics only known to them—­of those they love.  “Do you see that big building? that’s the new hospital.  I believe it will cost over a hundred thousand; that’s his hobby just now.  And do you know how it all came about?  The peasants asked him for some meadowland, I think it was, at a cheaper rate, and he refused, and I accused him of being miserly.  Of course it was not really because of that, but everything together, he began this hospital to prove, do you see, that he was not miserly about money. C’est une petitesse, if you like, but I love him all the more for it.  And now you’ll see the house in a moment.  It was his grandfather’s house, and he has had nothing changed outside.”

“How beautiful!” said Dolly, looking with involuntary admiration at the handsome house with columns, standing out among the different-colored greens of the old trees in the garden.

“Isn’t it fine?  And from the house, from the top, the view is wonderful.”

They drove into a courtyard strewn with gravel and bright with flowers, in which two laborers were at work putting an edging of stones round the light mould of a flower bed, and drew up in a covered entry.

“Ah, they’re here already!” said Anna, looking at the saddle horses, which were just being led away from the steps.  “It is a nice horse, isn’t it?  It’s my cob; my favorite.  Lead him here and bring me some sugar.  Where is the count?” she inquired of two smart footmen who darted out.  “Ah, there he is!” she said, seeing Vronsky coming to meet her with Veslovsky.

“Where are you going to put the princess?” said Vronsky in French, addressing Anna, and without waiting for a reply, he once more greeted Darya Alexandrovna, and this time he kissed her hand.  “I think the big balcony room.”

“Oh, no, that’s too far off!  Better in the corner room, we shall see each other more.  Come, let’s go up,” said Anna, as she gave her favorite horse the sugar the footman had brought her.

“Et vous oubliez votre devoir,” she said to Veslovsky, who came out too on the steps.

“Pardon, j’en ai tout plein les poches,” he answered, smiling, putting his fingers in his waistcoat pocket.