Anna Karenina — Chapter 41 in French
By Leo Tolstoy
Des pas se firent entendre près de la porte d’entrée et la princesse Betsy, sachant que c’était madame Karénine, regarda Vronskï. Steps were heard near the door, and the Princess Betsy, knowing that it was Madame Karenina, looked at Vronsky. Lui se tourna vers la porte et son visage prit une expression nouvelle et étrange. He was looking toward the door, and his face had a strange, new expression. Il regardait fixement, — avec une joie mêlée de timidité, celle qui entrait, et il se leva lentement. Joyfully, expectantly, and almost timidly he gazed at Anna as she entered, and he rose slowly. Anna entra au salon, très droite, comme toujours, sans changer la direction de son regard ; de son pas rapide, ferme et léger, qui distinguait son allure de celle de toutes les autres femmes du monde, elle franchit le court espace qui la séparait de la maîtresse de la maison, lui serra la main, sourit, et, avec ce même sourire, regarda Vronskï. Anna came into the drawing-room, as always holding herself very erect and looking neither to right nor to left. She crossed the short distance between her and the hostess, with that rapid, light, but decided step which distinguished her from all the other women of this circle. She went directly up to Betsy, and shook hands with a smile, and with the same smile she looked at Vronsky. Celui-ci la salua cérémonieusement et lui avança un siège. He bowed low and offered her a chair.
Elle ne répondit que par un salut de la tête, rougit et fronça les sourcils, mais aussitôt, saluant rapidement de la tête ses connaissances et serrant les mains tendues, elle s’adressa à la maîtresse de la maison. She responded only by bending her head a little, and blushed, and frowned. But instantly she was nodding to her acquaintances and shaking hands; then she turned to Betsy:—
— Je voulais venir plus tôt, mais j’étais chez la comtesse Lydie et me suis attardée chez elle. "I have been at the Countess Lidya's; I wanted to get away earlier, but I was detained. J’y ai rencontré sir John, un homme très intéressant. Sir John was there. Il est très intéressant. He is very interesting."
— Ah, ce missionnaire? "Oh, that missionary?"