"This one is a little Persburg fop. They are machine-made by the dozen, all to one pattern, and all mere rubbish."
"I can see through a weathercock like that popinjay who only wishes to amuse himself."
The Prince is not short on thoughts about Vronsky. He is furious at his wife for steering Kitty away from a man who truly loves her and toward a man who loves himself. Hence his coldness toward the Count at the party. During his argument, the Prince makes the point of comparing Vronsky to Oblonsky. Charming men whose number one priority is pleasure, not holy matrimony. As Kitty is the favorite daughter, the Prince doesn't want to see her fall into the same turmoil that Dolly is in.
Meanwhile, Kitty feels awful for what she has done to Levin, but she believes that the manly, well bred Vronksy is a worthy cause.
Kitty and her mother both go to bed repeating, "Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy."
NOTES:
--I thought the Princess had sound logic in steering Kitty away from the awkward and out-of-towner Levin. I guess the Prince would rather have his daughter married to a devoted husband and see her very rarely than have another Dolly on his hands. Sound logic from his point of view.
--This is all predicated on his analysis of Vronksy. We haven't spent any time in his head. We'll know which parent is correct, and which suitor is best for Kitty, once we do.
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