Absorbed in such thoughts, she passed five days without him, the five days that he was to be at the elections.

Walks, conversation with Princess Varvara, visits to the hospital, and, most of all, reading--reading of one book after another--filled up her time.

But on the sixth day, when the coachman came back without him, she felt that now she was utterly incapable of stifling the thought of him and of what he was doing there, just at that time her little girl was taken ill.

Anna began to look after her, but even that did not distract her mind, especially as the illness was not serious.

However hard she tried, she could not love this little child, and to feign love was beyond her powers.