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the same set, of the same coterie, his comrade in the Corps of Pages,
Serpuhovskoy, who had left school with him and had been his rival in
class, in gymnastics, in their scrapes and their dreams of glory, had
come back a few days before from Central Asia, where he had gained
two steps up in rank, and an order rarely bestowed upon generals so
young.
As soon as he arrived in Petersburg, people began to talk about
him as a newly risen star of the first magnitude. A schoolfellow of
Vronsky’s and of the same age, he was a general and was expecting a
command, which might have influence on the course of political events;
while Vronsky, independent and brilliant and beloved by a charming
woman though he was, was simply a cavalry captain who was readily
allowed to be as independent as ever he liked. “Of course I don’t envy
Serpuhovskoy and never could envy him; but his advancement shows
me that one has only to watch one’s opportunity, and the career of a
man like me may be very rapidly made. Three years ago he was in just
the same position as I am. If I retire, I burn my ships. If I remain in the
army, I lose nothing. She said herself she did not wish to change her
position. And with her love I cannot feel envious of Serpuhovskoy.”
And slowly twirling his mustaches, he got up from the table and walked
about the room. His eyes shone particularly brightly, and he felt in that
confident, calm, and happy frame of mind which always came after he
had thoroughly faced his position. Everything was straight and clear,
just as after former days of reckoning. He shaved, took a cold bath,
dressed and went out.
Chapter 21.
“We’ve come to fetch you. Your lessive lasted a good time today,”
said Petritsky. “Well, is it over?”
“It is over,” answered Vronsky, smiling with his eyes only, and twirl-
ing the tips of his mustaches as circumspectly as though after the
perfect order into which his affairs had been brought any over-bold or
rapid movement might disturb it.
“You’re always just as if you’d come out of a bath after it,” said
Petritsky. “I’ve come from Gritsky’s” (that was what they called the
colonel); “they’re expecting you.”
Vronsky, without answering, looked at his comrade, thinking of some-
thing else.
“Yes; is that music at his place?” he said, listening to the familiar
sounds of polkas and waltzes floating across to him. “What’s the fete?”
“Serpuhovskoy’s come.”
“Aha!” said Vronsky, “why, I didn’t know.”
The smile in his eyes gleamed more brightly than ever.
Having once made up his mind that he was happy in his love, that
he sacrificed his ambition to it—having anyway taken up this position,
Vronsky was incapable of feeling either envious of Serpuhovskoy or
hurt with him for not coming first to him when he came to the regiment.
Serpuhovskoy was a good friend, and he was delighted he had come.