"Yes, yes, that's better, a thousand times better! I know how painful it was," he said.

But she was not listening to his words, she was reading his thoughts from the expression of his face.

She could not guess that that expression arose from the first idea that presented itself to Vronsky--that a duel was now inevitable.

The idea of a duel had never crossed her mind, and so she put a different interpretation on this passing expression of hardness.

When she got her husband's letter, she knew then at the bottom of her heart that everything would go on in the old way, that she would not have the strength of will to forego her position, to abandon her son, and to join her lover.