Alexander

Also known as: the old prince · Family: Shcherbatsky · Role: Countess Vronskaya's son · First appears: PART ONE · Chapter 18

PART ONE · Chapter 18

parent: Countess Vronskaya “Everything has been delightful. Alexander has been very good, and Marie has grown very pretty.”

child: Darya Alexandrovna “‘I suppose you had better stay here, Alexander,’ said his wife. ‘That’s as you like.’ ‘Mamma, why shouldn’t father come with us?’ said Kitty. ‘It would be nicer for him and for us too.’ The old prince got up and stroked Kitty’s hair. She lifted her head and looked at him with a forced smile. It always seemed to her that he understood her better than anyone in the family, though he did not say much about her. Being the youngest, she was her father’s favorite, and she fancied that his love gave him insight. When now her glance met his blue kindly eyes looking intently at her, it seemed to her that he saw right through her, and understood all that was not good that was passing within her. Reddening, she stretched out towards him expecting a kiss, but he only patted her hair and said: ‘These stupid chignons! There’s no getting at the real daughter. One simply strokes the bristles of dead women. Well, Dolinka,’ he turned to his elder daughter, ‘what’s your young buck about, hey?’”
child: Kitty “The old prince got up and stroked Kitty’s hair. She lifted her head and looked at him with a forced smile. It always seemed to her that he understood her better than anyone in the family, though he did not say much about her. Being the youngest, she was her father’s favorite, and she fancied that his love gave him insight.”

child: Kitty “Kitty stood by her father’s chair, still holding his hand. All were silent. The princess was the first to put everything into words, and to translate all thoughts and feelings into practical questions. And all equally felt this strange and painful for the first minute. ‘When is it to be? We must have the benediction and announcement. And when’s the wedding to be? What do you think, Alexander?’”

Extracted from the original text of Anna Karenina. Made with Rho MD.