Anna Karenina

Vronsky experiences something new: anger toward Anna, almost hatred, for refusing to understand her position. He can't tell her what he's thinking—that appearing at the theater is "flinging down a challenge to society" and cutting herself off forever. His respect diminishes while his sense of her beauty intensifies. He sits drinking brandy with Yashvin, listening for Anna. When told she's left for the theater, Yashvin invites him along. Vronsky refuses. "A wife is a care, but it's worse when she's not a wife," Yashvin thinks leaving. Alone, Vronsky paces, imagining the scene: "Now she's gone in, taken off her cloak and come into the light." He pictures all of Petersburg there—his mother, everyone. In frustration, he kicks over a table and snaps at his valet. Then he changes his mind and goes to the theater. He enters during applause, scanning the crowd with his opera-glass. He spots Anna in the fifth box—head proud, strikingly beautiful, smiling. But he feels utterly different toward her beauty now; it gives him "a sense of injury." He notices Princess Varvara laughing unnaturally. Yashvin looks like he's losing at cards. Something is wrong. In the next box, Madame Kartasova stands with her back to Anna, pale and angry, talking excitedly. Her husband tries to catch Anna's eye to bow, but Anna deliberately avoids him. Vronsky realizes something humiliating has happened. Anna maintains external composure, but he can see she's "taxing every nerve." His sister-in-law Varya explains: Madame Kartasova insulted Anna, saying something aloud, calling it a disgrace to sit beside her. Vronsky's mother sarcastically asks why he isn't courting Madame Karenina—"She's making a sensation. They're forgetting Patti for her." Vronsky goes to Anna's box. She acts ironically. Her face suddenly quivers. She leaves. He follows home. Anna's waiting: "You are to blame for everything!" With tears of despair and hatred, she cries: "She said it was a disgrace to sit beside me." Vronsky calls it "silly woman's chatter" but wonders why she provoked it. Anna erupts: "If you had loved me..." He soothes her with assurances that feel vulgar to him. The next day, reconciled, they leave for the country.