`Now，it’sallover-Godbepraised！’wasthefirstthoughtthatcametoAnnaArkadyevna，whenshehadsaidgood-byforthelasttimetoherbrother，whohadstoodblockinguptheentrancetothecarriagetillthethirdbellrang。ShesatdownonherloungebesideAnnushka，andlookedaboutherinthetwilightofthesleepingcarriage。`ThankGod！tomorrowIshallseeSeriozhaandAlexeiAlexandrovich，andmylife，goodandfamiliar，willgoonintheoldway。’
Stillinthesameanxiousframeofmindinwhichshehadbeenallthatday，Annatookameticulouspleasureinmakingherselfcomfortableforthejourney。Withhertiny，defthandssheopenedandshutherlittleredbag，tookoutacushion，laiditonherknees，and，carefullywrappingupherfeet，settledherselfcomfortably。Aninvalidladyhadalreadylaindowntosleep。TwootherladiesbegantalkingtoAnna，andastoutelderlyladytuckedupherfeet，andmadeobservationsabouttheheatingofthetrain。Annaansweredtheladiesinafewwords，butnotforeseeinganyentertainmentfromtheconversation，sheaskedAnnushkatogetasmalllantern，hookeditonthearmofherseat，andtookfromherbagapaperknifeandanEnglishnovel。Atfirstshecouldnotgetinterestedinherreading。Thefussandstirweredisturbing；then，whenthetrainhadstarted，shecouldnothelplisteningtothenoises；thenthesnowbeatingontheleftwindowandstickingtothepane，andthesightofthemuffledguardpassingby，coveredwithsnowononeside，andtheconversationsabouttheterribleblizzardragingoutside，distractedherattention。Andafterthateverythingwasthesameandthesame:thesamejouncingandrattling，thesamesnowlashingthewindow，thesamerapidtransitionsfromsteamingheattocold，andbackagaintoheat，thesameflittingofthesamefacesinthehalf-murk，andthesamevoices；andthenAnnabegantoread，andtograspwhatsheread。Annushkawasalreadydozing，theredbagonherlap，clutchedbyherbroadhands，ingloves，ofwhichonewastorn。AnnaArkadyevnareadandgraspedthesense，yetitwasannoyingtohertoread-thatis，tofollowthereflectionofotherpeople’slives。Shehadtoogreatadesiretoliveherself。Ifshereadthattheheroineofthenovelwerenursingasickman，shelongedtomovewithnoiselessstepsabouthissickroom；ifshereadofamemberofParliamentdeliveringaspeech，shelongedtodeliverit；ifshereadofhowLadyMaryhadriddenafterthehounds，andhadprovokedhersister-in-law，andhadsurprisedeveryonebyherdaring-she，too，longedtobedoingthesame。Buttherewasnochanceofdoinganything；and，herlittlehandstoyingwiththesmoothpaperknife，sheforcedherselftoread。
TheheroofthenovelwasalreadybeginningtoattainhisEnglishhappiness，abaronetcy，andanestate，andAnnawasfeelingadesiretogowithhimtohisestate，whenshesuddenlyfeltthatheoughttofeelashamed，andthatshewasashamedofthesamething。Butwhatwasithewasashamedof？`WhathaveItobeashamedof？’sheaskedherselfininjuredsurprise。Sheabandonedthebookandsankagainstthebackofherchair，tightlygrippingthepaperknifeinbothhands。Therewasnothingtobeashamedof。ShewentoverallherMoscowrecollections。Allwerefine，pleasant。Sherecalledtheball，recalledVronskyandhisenamored，submissiveface；sherecalledallherconductwithhim-therewasnothingshameful。Yet，withallthat，atthisverypointinherreminiscences，thefeelingofshamewasintensified，asthoughsomeinnervoice，preciselyhere，whensherecalledVronsky，weresayingtoher:`Warm，verywarm-hot！’`Well，whatisit？’shesaidtoherselfresolutely，shiftingonherseat。`Whatdoesitmean？AmIafraidtolookatthiswithoutblinking？Well，whatisit？Canitbethatbetweenmeandthisboy-officerthereexist，orcanexist，anyotherrelationsthansuchasarecommonwitheveryacquaintance？’Shelaughedcontemptuouslyandtookupherbookagain；butnowshewasabsolutelyunabletomakesenseofwhatsheread。Shepassedthepaperknifeoverthewindowpane，thenlaiditssmooth，coolsurfacetohercheek，andalmostlaughedaloudattheunreasoningjoythatallatoncepossessedher。Shefeltthathernerves，likestrings，werebeingtautenedmoreandmoreuponsomekindoftighteningpeg。Shefelthereyesopeningwiderandwider，herfingersandtoestwitchingnervously，somethingwithinstoppingherbreathing，whileallimagesandsoundsseemedintheswayinghalf-murktostrikeherwithextraordinaryvividness。Momentsofdoubtwerecontinuallybesettingher:wasthecargoingforward，orback，orwasitstandingabsolutelystill？WasitreallyAnnushkaatherside，orastranger？`What’sthatonthearmofthechair-afurcloakorsomebeast？AndwhatamImyself:isitI，orsomeotherwoman？’Shewasafraidofyieldingtothistrance-butsomethingwasdrawingherintoit，and，atwill，shecouldyieldtoitorresistit。Shegotuptorouseherself，andslippedoffherplaidandthecapeofwarmdress。Foramomentsheregainedherself-possession，andrealizedthatthethinpeasantwhohadcomeinwearingalongnankeenovercoat，withabuttonmissingfromit，wasthefireman，thathewaslookingatthethermometer，thatthewindandsnowhadburstinafterhimthroughthedoor；buttheneverythinggrewconfusedagain……Thatpeasantwiththelongwaisttooktognawingsomethingwithinthewall；thelittlecronestartedstretchingherlegsthewholelengthofthecarandfilleditwithablackcloud；thentherewasadreadfulscreechingandbanging，asthoughsomeonewerebeingrentintopieces；thenaredblazeblindedhereyes，and，atlast，everythingwasscreenedbyawall。Annafeltthatshehadplungeddownward。Yetallthiswasnotterrible，butjoyful。Thevoiceofamanmuffledupandcoveredwithsnowshoutedsomethinginherveryear。Shearoseandcameto，realizingthattheyhadcometoastation，andthatthiswastheconductor。SherequestedAnnushkatohandherthecapeshehadtakenoff，andhershawl，putthemon，andwenttowardthedoor。
`Doyouwishtogetout？’askedAnnushka。
`Yes，Iwanttogetabreathofair。It’sveryhotinhere。’