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Andtheasseverationsofhislove，whichseemedtohimsotrivialthathewasashamedtoutterthem，shedrankineagerly，andgraduallybecamecalmer。Thenextday，completelyreconciled，theyleftforthecountry。[NextChapter][TableofContents]
TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart6，Chapter01[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]PARTSIXChapter1DaryaAlexandrovnaspentthesummerwithherchildrenatPokrovskoe，athersisterKittyLevin’s。Thehouseonherownestatewasquiteinruins，andLevinandhiswifehadpersuadedhertospendthesummerwiththem。
StepanArkadyevichgreatlyapprovedofthearrangement。Hesaidhewasverysorryhisofficialdutiespreventedhimfromspendingthesummerinthecountrywithhisfamily，whichwouldhavebeenthegreatesthappinessforhim；andremaininginMoscow，hecamedowntothecountryfromtimetotimeforadayortwo。BesidestheOblonskys，withalltheirchildrenandtheirgoverness，theoldPrincess，too，cametostaythatsummerwiththeLevins，assheconsidereditherdutytowatchoverherinexperienceddaughterinherinterestingcondition。Moreover，Varenka，Kitty’sfriendabroad，keptherpromisetocometoKittywhenshewasmarried，andstayedwithherfriend。AllofthesewerefriendsorrelationsofLevin’swife。
Andthoughhelikedthemall，heratherregrettedhisownLevinworldandways，whichwassmotheredbythisinfluxofthe`Shcherbatskyelement，’
ashecalledittohimself。OfhisownrelationstherestayedwithhimonlySergeiIvanovich，buthetoowasamanoftheKoznishevandnottheLevinstamp，sothattheLevinspiritwasutterlyobliterated。
IntheLevins’house，solongdeserted，therewerenowsomanypeoplethatalmostalltheroomswereoccupied，andalmosteverydayithappenedthattheoldPrincess，sittingdowntotable，countedthemallover，andputthethirteenthgrandsonorgranddaughterataseparatetable。
AndKitty，withhercarefulhousekeeping，hadnolittletroubletogetallthechickens，turkeysandgeese，ofwhichsomanywereneededtosatisfythesummerappetitesofthevisitorsandchildren。
Thewholefamilyweresittingatdinner。Dolly’schildren，withtheirgovernessandVarenka，weremakingplansforgoingtolookformushrooms。
SergeiIvanovich，whowaslookeduptobyallthepartyforhisintellectandlearning，witharespectthatalmostamountedtoawe，surprisedeveryonebyjoiningintheconversationaboutmushrooms。
`Takemewithyou。Iamveryfondofpickingmushrooms，’hesaid，lookingatVarenka；`Ithinkit’saveryfineoccupation。’
`Oh，weshallbedelighted，’answeredVarenkacoloring。KittyexchangedmeaningglanceswithDolly。TheproposalofthelearnedandintellectualSergeiIvanovichtogolookingformushroomswithVarenkaconfirmedcertaintheoriesofKitty’swithwhichhermindhadbeenverybusyoflate。Shemadehastetoaddresssomeremarktohermother，sothatherlookshouldnotbenoticed。AfterdinnerSergeiIvanovichsatwithhiscupofcoffeeatthedrawing-roomwindow，andwhilehetookpartinaconversationhehadbegunwithhisbrother，hewatchedthedoorthroughwhichthechildrenwouldstartonthemushroom-pickingexpedition。Levinwassittingonthewindowsillnearhisbrother。
Kittystoodbesideherhusband，evidentlyawaitingtheendofaconversationthathadnointerestforher，inordertotellhimsomething。
`Youhavechangedinmanyrespectssinceyourmarriage，andforthebetter，’saidSergeiIvanovich，smilingtoKitty，andobviouslylittleinterestedintheconversation，`butyouhaveremainedtruetoyourpassionfordefendingthemostparadoxicaltheories。’
`Katia，it’snotgoodforyoutostand，’herhusbandsaidtoher，drawingupachairforherandlookingsignificantlyather。
`Oh，andthere’snotimeeither，’addedSergeiIvanovich，seeingthechildrenrunningout。
AttheheadofthemallTaniagallopedsideways，inhertightlydrawnstockings，andwavingabasketandSergeiIvanovich’shat，sheranstraightuptohim。
BoldlyrunninguptoSergeiIvanovichwithsmilingeyes，solikeherfather’sfineeyes，shehandedhimhishatandmadeasthoughshewouldputitonforhim，softeningherfreedombyashyandfriendlysmile。
`Varenka’swaiting，’shesaid，carefullyputtinghishaton，seeingfromSergeiIvanovich’ssmilethatshemightdoso。
Varenkawasstandingatthedoor，dressedinayellowprintgown，withawhitekerchiefonherhead。
`I’mcoming，I’mcoming，VarvaraAndreevna，’saidSergeiIvanovich，finishinghiscupofcoffee，andputtingintotheirseparatepocketshishandkerchiefandcigarcase。
`AndhowsweetmyVarenkais！Eh？’saidKittytoherhusband，assoonasSergeiIvanovichrose。ShespokesothatSergeiIvanovichcouldhear，anditwasclearthatshemeanthimtodoso。`Andhowgood-lookingsheis-sucharefinedbeauty！Varenka！’Kittyshouted。`Shallyoubeinthemillforest？We’llcomeouttoyou。’
`Youcertainlyforgetyourcondition，Kitty，’saidtheoldPrincess，hurriedlycomingoutatthedoor。`Youmustn’tshoutlikethat。’
Varenka，hearingKitty’svoiceandhermother’sreprimand，wentwithlight，rapidstepsuptoKitty。Therapidityofhermovement，herflushedandeagerface，everythingbetrayedthatsomethingoutofthecommonwasgoingoninher。Kittyknewwhatthisthingwasandhadbeenwatchingherintently。ShecalledVarenkaatthatmomentmerelyinordermentallytogiveherablessingfortheimportanteventwhich，asKittyfancied，wasboundtocometopassthatdayafterdinnerintheforest。
`Varenka，Ishouldbeveryhappyifacertainsomethingweretohappen，’shewhisperedasshekissedher。
`Andareyoucomingwithus？’VarenkasaidtoLevininconfusion，pretendingnottohaveheardwhathadbeensaid。
`Iamcoming，butonlyasfarasthethreshingfloor，andthereIshallstop。’
`Why，whatdoyouwantthere？’saidKitty。
`Imustgotohavealookatthenewwagons，andtomakemycalculations，’
saidLevin；`andwherewillyoube？’
`Ontheterrace。’
[NextChapter][TableofContents]
TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart6，Chapter02[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter2Ontheterracewereassembledalltheladiesoftheparty。Theyalwayslikedsittingthereafterdinner，andthatdaytheyhadworktodotheretoo。Besidesthesewingofbaby’schemisesandknittingofswaddles，withwhichallofthemwerebusy，thatafternoonjamwasbeingmadeontheterracebyamethodnewtoAgathyaMikhailovna，withouttheadditionofwater。
Kittyhadintroducedthisnewmethod，whichhadbeeninuseinherhome。
AgathyaMikhailovna，towhomthetaskofjammakinghadalwaysbeenintrusted，consideringthatwhathadbeendoneintheLevinhouseholdcouldnotbeamiss，hadneverthelessputwaterwiththestrawberries，maintainingthatthejamcouldnotbemadewithoutit。Shehadbeencaughtintheact，andwasnowmakingraspberryjambeforeeveryone，anditwastobeprovedtoherconclusivelythatjamcouldbeverywellmadewithoutwater。
AgathyaMikhailovna，herfaceheatedandangry，herhairuntidy，andherthinarmsbaretotheelbows，wasswayingthepreservingpaninacircularmotionoverthecharcoalstove，lookingdarklyattheraspberriesanddevoutlyhopingtheywouldstickandnotcookproperly。ThePrincess，consciousthatAgathyaMikhailovna’swrathmustbechieflydirectedagainsther，asthepersonresponsiblefortheraspberryjammaking，triedtoappeartobeabsorbedinotherthingsandnotinterestedintheraspberries，talkingofothermatters，butcaststealthyglancesinthedirectionofthestove。
`Ialwaysbuymymaids’dressesmyself，atthebargainsale，’
thePrincesssaid，continuingthepreviousconversation。`Isn’tittimetoskimit，mydear？’sheadded，addressingAgathyaMikhailovna。`There’snottheslightestneedforyoutodoit，andit’shotforyou，’shesaid，stoppingKitty。
`I’lldoit，’saidDolly，and，gettingup，shecarefullypassedthespoonoverthefrothingsugar，andfromtimetotimeshookofftheclingingjamfromthespoonbyknockingitonaplatethatwascoveredwithyellow-redscumandblood-coloredsyrup。`Howthey’lllickthisatteatime！’shethoughtofherchildren，rememberinghowsheherselfasachildhadwonderedhowitwasthegrown-uppeopledidnoteatwhatwasbestofall-thescumofthejam。
`Stivasaysit’smuchbettertogivemoney，’Dollytookupmeanwhiletheweightysubjectunderdiscussion-ofwhatpresentsshouldbemadetoservants。`But……’
`Money’soutofthequestion！’thePrincessandKittyexclaimedwithonevoice。`Theyappreciateapresent……’
`Well，lastyear，forinstance，IboughtourMatrionaSemionovna，notapoplin，butsomethingofthatsort，’saidthePrincess。
`Iremembershewaswearingitonyournameday。’
`Acharmingpattern-sosimpleandrefined-Ishouldhavelikeditmyself，ifshehadn’thadit。SomethinglikeVarenka’s。Soprettyandinexpensive。’
`Well，nowIthinkit’sdone，’saidDolly，droppingthesyrupfromthespoon。
`Whenitsetsasitdrops，it’sready。Cookitalittlelonger，AgathyaMikhailovna。’
`Theflies！’saidAgathyaMikhailovnaangrily。`It’llbejustthesame，’sheadded。
`Ah！Howsweetitis！Don’tfrightenit！’Kittysaidsuddenly，lookingatasparrowthathadsettledonthestepandwaspeckingatthecenterofaraspberry。
`Yes，butyoukeepalittlefurtherfromthestove，’saidhermother。
`AproposdeVarenka，’saidKitty，speakinginFrench，astheyhadbeendoingallthewhile，sothatAgathyaMikhailovnashouldnotunderstandthem，`youknow，maman，Isomehowexpectthingstobesettledtoday。YouknowwhatImean。Howsplendiditwouldbe！’
`Butwhatafamousmatchmakersheis！’saidDolly。`Howcarefullyandcleverlyshethrowsthemtogether！……’
`No-tellme，mamma，whatdoyouthink？’
`Why，whatisonetothink？He’(``he’meantSergeiIvanovich)
`mightatanytimehavebeenoneofthebestmatchesinRussia；now，ofcourse，he’snotquiteayoungman，stillIknoweversomanygirlswouldbegladtomarryhim，evennow……She’saverynicegirl，buthemight……’
`Oh，no，mamma，dounderstandwhy，forhimandforhertoo，nothingbettercouldbeimagined。Inthefirstplace，she’scharming！’saidKitty，crookingoneofherfingers。
`Hethinksherveryattractive，that’scertain，’assentedDolly。
`Thenheoccupiessuchapositioninsocietythathehasnoneedtolookforeitherfortuneorpositioninhiswife。Allheneedsisagood，sweetwife-arestfulone。’
`Well，withherhewouldcertainlyberestful，’Dollyassented。
`Thirdly，thatsheshouldlovehim。Andsoitis……thatis，itwouldbesosplendid！……Ilookforwardtoseeingthemcomingoutoftheforest-andeverythingsettled。Ishallseeatoncebytheireyes。Ishouldbesodelighted！Whatdoyouthink，Dolly？’
`Butdon’texciteyourself。It’snotatallthethingforyoutobeexcited，’saidhermother。
`Oh，I’mnotexcited，mamma。Ifancyhewillproposetohertoday。’
`Ah，that’ssostrange-howandwhenamanproposes！……Thereisasortofbarrier，andallatonceit’sbrokendown，’saidDolly，smilingpensivelyandrecallingherpastwithStepanArkadyevich。
`Mamma，howdidpapaproposetoyou？’Kittyaskedsuddenly。
`Therewasnothingoutoftheway-itwasverysimple，’answeredthePrincess，butherfacebeamedalloverattherecollection。
`Oh，buthowwasit？Youlovedhim，atanyrate，beforeyouwereallowedtospeak？’
Kittyfeltapeculiarpleasureinbeingablenowtotalktohermotheronequaltermsaboutthosequestionsofsuchparamountinterestinawoman’slife。
`OfcourseIdid；hehadcometostaywithusinthecountry。’
`Buthowwasitsettledbetweenyou，mamma？’
`Youimagine，Idaresay，thatyouinventedsomethingquitenew？
It’salwaysjustthesame:itwassettledbytheeyes，bysmiles……’
`Howwellyousaidthat，mamma！It’sjustbytheeyes，bysmilesthatit’sdone，’Dollyassented。
`Butwhatwordsdidhesay？’
`WhatdidKostiasaytoyou？’
`Hewroteitinchalk。Itwaswonderful……Howlongagoitseems！’
shesaid。
Andthethreewomenallfelltomusingonthesamething。Kittywasthefirsttobreakthesilence。Sherememberedallthatlastwinterbeforehermarriage，andherpassionforVronsky。
`There’sonething……thatoldloveaffairofVarenka’s，’shesaid，anaturalchainofideasbringinghertothispoint。`IshouldhavelikedtosaysomethingtoSergeiIvanovich，topreparehim。They’reall-allmen，Imean，’-sheadded，`awfullyjealousoverourpast。’
`Notall，’saidDolly。`Youjudgebyyourownhusband。ItmakeshimmiserableevennowtorememberVronsky。Eh？that’strue，isn’tit？’
`Yes’，Kittyanswered，apensivesmileinhereyes。
`ButIreallydon’tknow，’themotherputinindefenseofhermotherlycareofherdaughter，`whattherewasinyourpastthatcouldworryhim？ThatVronskypaidyouattentions-thathappenstoeverygirl。’
`Oh，yes，butwedidn’tmeanthat，’Kittysaid，flushingalittle`No，letmespeak，’hermotherwenton，`why，youyourselfwouldnotletmehaveatalkwithVronsky。Don’tyouremember？’
`Oh，mamma！’saidKitty，withanexpressionofsuffering。
`There’snokeepingyouyoungpeopleinchecknowadays……Yourfriendshipcouldnothavegonebeyondwhatwassuitable。Ishouldmyselfhavecalleduponhimtoexplainhimself。But，mydarling，it’snotrightforyoutobeagitated。Pleaserememberthat，andcalmyourself。’
`I’mperfectlycalm，maman。’
`HowhappyitwasforKittythatAnnacamethen，’saidDolly，`andhowunhappyforher。Itturnedoutquitetheopposite，’shesaid，struckbyherownideas。`ThenAnnawassohappy，andKittythoughtherselfunhappy。Nowitisjusttheopposite。Ioftenthinkofher。’
`Afinepersontothinkabout！Horrid，repulsivewoman-noheart，’
saidhermother，whocouldnotforgetthatKittyhadmarriednotVronsky，butLevin。
`Whatdoyouwanttotalkofitfor？’Kittysaidwithannoyance。
`Ineverthinkaboutit，andIdon’twanttothinkofit……AndIdon’twanttothinkofit，’shesaid，catchingthesoundofherhusband’sfamiliarsteponthestepsoftheterrace。
`What’sthatyoudon’twanttothinkabout？’inquiredLevin，comingontotheterrace。
Butnooneansweredhim，andhedidnotrepeatthequestion。
`I’msorryI’vebrokeninonyourfemininekingdom，’hesaid，lookingroundoneveryonediscontentedly，andperceivingthattheyhadbeentalkingofsomethingwhichtheywouldnottalkaboutbeforehim。
ForasecondhefeltthathewassharingthefeelingofAgathyaMikhailovna，vexationattheirmakingjamwithoutwater，and，onthewhole，attheoutside，Shcherbatskyauthority。Hesmiled，however，andwentuptoKitty。
`Well，howareyou？’heaskedher，lookingatherwiththeexpressionwithwhicheveryonelookedathernow。
`Oh，verywell，’saidKitty，smiling，`andhowhavethingsgonewithyou？’
`Thewagonheldthreetimesasmuchasthetelegadid。Well，arewegoingforthechildren？I’veorderedthehorsestobeputin。’
`What！YouwanttotakeKittyinthewidedroshky？’hermothersaidreproachfully。
`Yes-atwalkingpace，Princess。’
Levinnevercalledtheprincess`maman’asmenoftendocalltheirmothers-in-law，andthePrincessdislikedhisnotdoingso。ButthoughhelikedandrespectedthePrincess，Levincouldnotcallhersowithoutasenseofprofaninghisfeelingforhisdeadmother。
`Comewithus，maman，’saidKitty。
`Idon’tliketoseesuchimprudence。’
`Well，I’llwalkthen，I’msowell。’Kittygotupandwenttoherhusbandandtookhishand。
`Youmaybewell，buteverythinginmoderation，’saidthePrincess。
`Well，AgathyaMikhailovna，isthejamdone？’saidLevin，smilingtoAgathyaMikhailovna，andtryingtocheerherup。`Isitallrightinthenewway？’
`Isupposeit’sallright。Accordingtoournotionsit’sboiledtoolong。’
`It’llbeallthebetter，AgathyaMikhailovna，itwon’tturnsour，eventhoughtheiceinouricehousehasbeguntomeltalready，sothatwe’venocoolplacetostoreit，’saidKitty，atoncediviningherhusband’smotive，andaddressingtheoldhousekeeperwiththesamefeeling；`butyourpicklesaresogood，thatmammasaysshenevertastedanylikethem，’
sheadded，smiling，andputtingherkerchiefstraight。
AgathyaMikhailovnalookedsulkilyatKitty。
`Youneedn’ttrytoconsoleme，mistress。Ineedonlytolookatyouwithhim，andIfeelhappy，’shesaid，andsomethingintheroughfamiliarityofthatwithhimtouchedKitty。
`Comealongwithustolookformushrooms，youwillshowusthebestplaces。’
AgathyaMikhailovnasmiledandshookherhead，asthoughtosay:
`Iwouldevenliketobeangrywithyou，butIcan’t。’
`Doit，please，accordingtomyrecipe，’saidthePrincess；`putsomepaperoverthejam，andmoistenitwithalittlerum，and，evenwithoutice，itwillnevergrowmoldy。’
[NextChapter][TableofContents]
TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart6，Chapter03[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter3Kittywasparticularlygladofachanceofbeingalonewithherhusband，forshehadnoticedtheshadeofmortificationthathadpassedoverhisface-alwayssoquicktoreflecteveryfeeling-atthemomentwhenhehadcomeontotheterraceandaskedwhattheyweretalkingof，andhadgotnoanswer。
Whentheyhadsetoffonfootaheadoftheothers，andhadgottenoutofsightofthehouseontothebeaten，dustyroad，sprinkledwithearsofryeandwithseparategrains，sheclungfastertohisarmandpresseditclosertoher。Hehadquiteforgottenthemomentaryunpleasantimpression，andalonewithherhefelt，nowthatthethoughtofherapproachingmotherhoodwasneverforamomentabsentfromhismind，anewanddeliciousbliss，quitepurefromallalloyofsense，inbeingneartothewomanheloved。
Therewasnoneedofspeech，yethelongedtohearthesoundofhervoice，which，likehereyes，hadchangedsinceshehadbecomepregnant。Inhervoice，asinhereyes，therewasthatsoftnessandgravitywhichisfoundinpeoplecontinuallyconcentratedonsomecherishedpursuit。
`Soyou’renottired？Leanmoreonme，’saidhe。
`No，I’msogladofachanceofbeingalonewithyou，andImustown，thoughI’mhappywiththem，Isighforourwintereveningsalone。’
`Thatwasgood，butthisisevenbetter。Botharebetter，’hesaid，squeezingherhand。
`Doyouknowwhatweweretalkingaboutwhenyoucamein？’
`Aboutjam？’
`Oh，yes，aboutjamtoo；but，afterward，abouthowmenpropose。’
`Ah！’saidLevin，listeningmoretothesoundofhervoicethantoherwords，andallthewhilepayingattentiontotheroad，whichpassednowthroughtheforest，andavoidingplaceswhereshemightmakeafalsestep。
`AndaboutSergeiIvanovichandVarenka。You’venoticed？……I’mveryanxiousforit，’shewenton。`Whatdoyouthinkaboutit？’Andshepeepedintohisface。
`Idon’tknowwhattothink，’Levinanswered，smiling。`Sergeiseemsverystrangetomeinthatway。Itoldyou，youknow……’
`Yes，thathewasinlovewiththatgirlwhodied……’
`ThatwaswhenIwasachild；Iknowaboutitfromhearsayandtradition。Irememberhimthen。Hewaswonderfullysweet。ButI’vewatchedhimsincewithwomen；heisfriendly，someofthemhelikes，butonefeelsthattohimthey’resimplypeople，notwomen。’
`Yes，butnowwithVarenka……Ifancythere’ssomething……’
`Perhapsthereis……Butonehastoknowhim……He’sapeculiar，wonderfulperson。Helivesaspirituallifeonly。He’stoopure，tooexaltedanature。’
`Why？Wouldthislowerhim，then？’
`No，buthe’ssousedtoaspirituallifethathecan’treconcilehimselfwithactualfact，andVarenkaisafterallfact。’
Levinhadgrownusedbynowtoutteringhisthoughtboldly，withouttakingthetroubleofclothingitinexactlanguage。Heknewthathiswife，insuchmomentsoflovingtendernessasnow，wouldunderstandwhathemeanttosayfromahint，andshedidunderstandhim。
`Yes，butthere’snotsomuchofthatactualfactaboutherasaboutme。Icanseethathewouldneverhavecaredforme。Sheisaltogetherspiritual。’
`Oh，no，heissofondofyou，andIamalwayssogladwhenmypeoplelikeyou……’
`Yes，he’sverygoodtome；but……’
`It’snotasitwaswithpoorNikolenka……Youreallycaredforeachother，’Levinfinished。`Whynotspeakofhim？’headded。`Isometimesblamemyselffornotdoingso；itendsinone’sforgetting。Ah，howterribleanddearhewas！……Yes，whatwerewetalkingabout？’Levinsaid，afterapause。
`Youthinkhecan’tfallinlove，’saidKitty，translatingintoherownlanguage。
`It’snotsomuchthathecan’tfallinlove，’Levinsaid，smiling，`buthehasnottheweaknessnecessary……I’vealwaysenviedhim，andevennow，whenI’msohappy，Istillenvyhim。’
`Youenvyhimfornotbeingabletofallinlove？’
`Ienvyhimforbeingbetterthanme，’saidLevin。`Hedoesnotliveforhimself。Hiswholelifeissubordinatedtohisduty。Andthat’swhyhecanbecalmandcontented。’
`Andyou？’Kittyasked，withanironicalandlovingsmile。
Shecouldneverhaveexplainedthechainofthoughtthatmadehersmile；butthelastlinkinitwasthatherhusband，inexaltinghisbrotherandabasinghimself，wasnotquitesincere。Kittyknewthatthisinsinceritycamefromhisloveforhisbrother，fromhissenseofshameatbeingtoohappy，and，
