I cannot tear myself away.  I see him everywhere. We meet at Besty’s and sequester ourselves in our own corner, or another room, if need be.  And we talk. To listen to him!  Everything he says seems to have some other meaning, undertones of devotion and sex.  I admit it.  I’m infatuated. I’m obsessed. But I won’t say that last word.  The one which with context ascribes so much meaning, so much responsibility, so much weight to a relationship.  What can he know of that?  No.  We talk.  There is nothing shameful in that.  There is nothing shameful that anyone can see, anyways.  Luckily no one can see inside my heart or hear my thoughts.

Karenin had the audacity to step out with me tonight. I know how he dislikes Betsy and her crowd- and since when has he become so concerned with my circles?  Anyway, he was rather dull and attempted to talk business.  No one was having any of it.  I spent my time talking with Vronksy.  He has the funniest stories from a secret society at Yale… he won’t admit that the stories are about him and his friends, but I know that they are.  Karenin has decided to leave early… well let him.  It isn’t my fault that I am interesting and he is not.  Let him read Seryozha a story and put him to bed. I’ll stay on and see what the night might bring…