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TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart7，Chapter06[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter6`Perhapsthey’renotathome？’saidLevin，ashewentintothehallofCountessBol’shouse。
`Athome；pleasewalkin，’saidtheporter，resolutelyremovinghisovercoat。
`Howannoying！’thoughtLevinwithasigh，takingoffonegloveandstrokinghishat。`WhatdidIcomefor？WhathaveItosaytothem？’
AshepassedthroughthefirstdrawingroomLevinmetinthedoorwayCountessBol，withacarewornandsevereface，givingsomeordertoaservant。
OnseeingLevinshesmiled，andaskedhimtocomeintothenextlittledrawingroomwhereheheardvoices。InthisroomthereweresittinginarmchairsthetwodaughtersoftheCountess，andaMoscowcolonel，whomLevinknew。Levinwalkedup，greetedthem，andsatdownbesidethesofa，withhishatonhisknees。
`Howisyourwife？Haveyoubeenattheconcert？Wecouldn’tgo。
Mammahadtobeattherequiem。’
`Yes，Iheard……Whatasuddendeath！’saidLevin。
TheCountesscamein，satdownonthesofa，andshetooaskedafterhiswifeandinquiredabouttheconcert。
Levinanswered，andrepeatedaninquiryaboutMadameApraksina’ssuddendeath。
`Butshewasalwaysinpoorhealth。’
`Wereyouattheoperayesterday？’
`Yes，Iwas。’
`Luccawasverygood。’
`Yes，verygood，’hesaid，and，asitwasutterlyofnoconsequencetohimwhattheythoughtofhim，hebeganrepeatingwhattheyhadheardahundredtimesaboutthecharacteristicsofthesinger’stalent。CountessBolpretendedtobelistening。Then，whenhehadsaidenoughandhadpaused，thecolonel，whohadbeensilenttillthen，begantotalk。Thecoloneltootalkedoftheoperaandillumination。Atlast，afterspeakingoftheproposedfollejourné；eatTurin’s，thecolonellaughed，gotupnoisily，andwentaway。Levintoorose，buthesawbythefaceoftheCountessthatitwasnotyettimeforhimtogo。Hemuststaytwominuteslonger。Hesatdown。
Butashewasthinkingallthewhilehowstupiditwas，hecouldnotfindasubjectforconversation，andsatsilent。
`Youarenotgoingtothepublicmeeting？Theysayitwillbeveryinteresting，’begantheCountess。
`No，Ipromisedmybelle-soeurtofetchherfromit，’saidLevin。
Asilencefollowed。Themotheroncemoreexchangedglanceswithoneofthedaughters。
`Well，nowIthinkthetimehascome，’thoughtLevin，andhegotup。Theladiesshookhandswithhim，andbeggedhimtosaymillechosestohiswifeforthem。
Theporteraskedhim，ashegavehimhiscoat:`WhereisYourHonorstaying？’andimmediatelywrotedownhisaddressinabighandsomelyboundbook。
`OfcourseIdon’tcare，butstillIfeelashamedandawfullystupid，’thoughtLevin，consolinghimselfwiththereflectionthateveryonedoesit。Hedrovetothepublicmeeting，wherehewastofindhissister-in-law，soastodrivehomewithher。
Atthepublicmeetingofthecommitteetherewereagreatmanypeople，andalmostallthehighestsociety。Levinwasintimeforthereportwhich，aseveryonesaid，wasveryinteresting。Whenthereadingofthereportwasover，peoplemovedabout，andLevinmetSviiazhsky，whoinvitedhimverypressinglytocomethateveningtoameetingoftheSocietyofAgriculture，whereacelebratedreportwastobedelivered，andStepanArkadyevich，whohadonlyjustcomefromtheraces，andmanyotheracquaintances；
andLevinheardandutteredvariouscriticismsonthemeeting，onthenewplay，andonapublictrial。But，probablyfromthementalfatiguehewasbeginningtofeel，hemadeablunderinspeakingofthetrial，andthisblunderherecalledseveraltimeswithvexation。SpeakingofthesentenceuponaforeignerwhohadbeencondemnedinRussia，andofhowunfairitwouldbetopunishhimbyexileabroad，Levinrepeatedwhathehadheardthedaybeforeinconversationfromanacquaintance。
`Ithinksendinghimabroadismuchthesameaspunishingacarpbyputtingitintothewater，’saidLevin。Thenherecollectedthatthisidea，whichhehadheardfromanacquaintanceandutteredashisown，camefromafableofKrilov’s，andthattheacquaintancehadpickeditupfromanewspaperarticle。
Afterdrivinghomewithhissister-in-law，andfindingKittyingoodspiritsandquitewell，Levindrovetotheclub。
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TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart7，Chapter07[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter7Levinreachedtheclubjustattherighttime。Membersandvisitorsweredrivingupashearrived。Levinhadnotbeenattheclubforaverylongwhile-notsincehelivedinMoscow，whenhewasleavingtheuniversityandgoingintosociety。Herememberedtheclub，theexternaldetailsofitsarrangement，buthehadcompletelyforgottentheimpressionithadmadeonhiminolddays。Butassoonas，drivingintothewidesemicircularcourtandgettingoutofthecab，hemountedthesteps，andthehallporter，adornedwithacrossbelt，noiselesslyopenedthedoortohimwithabow；
assoonashesawintheporter’sroomthecloaksandgaloshesofmemberswhothoughtitlesstroubletotakethemoffdownstairs；assoonasheheardthemysteriousringingbellthatprecededhimasheascendedthelow-stepped，carpetedstaircase，andsawthestatueonthelanding，andthethirdporteratthetopdoors，afamiliarfiguregrownolder，intheclublivery，openingthedoorwithouthasteordelay，andscanningthevisitorsastheypassedin-Levinfelttheoldimpressionoftheclubcomebackinarush，animpressionofrepose，comfort，andpropriety。
`Yourhat，please，’theportersaidtoLevin，whoforgottheclubruleofcheckinghishatintheporter’sroom。`Longtimesinceyou’vebeenhere。ThePrinceputyournamedownyesterday。PrinceStepanArkadyevichisnothereyet。’
TheporternotonlyknewLevin，butalsoallhisconnectionsandrelationships，andsoimmediatelymentionedhisintimatefriends。
Passingthroughtheouterhall，dividedupbyscreens，andtheroompartitionedontheright，whereamansitsatthefruitbuffet，Levinpassedbyashufflingoldman，andenteredthediningroom，fullofnoiseandpeople。
Hewalkedalongthetables，almostallfull，andscrutinizedthevisitors。Hesawpeopleofallsorts，oldandyoung；someheknewalittle；
somewereintimatefriends。Therewasnotasinglecrossorworried-lookingface。Allseemedtohavecheckedtheircaresandanxietiesintheporter’sroomwiththeirhats，andwerealldeliberatelygettingreadytoenjoythematerialblessingsoflife。SviiazhskywashereandShcherbatsky，NeviedovskyandtheoldPrince，andVronskyandSergeiIvanovich。
`Ah！Whyareyoulate？’thePrincesaidsmiling，andgivinghimhishandoverhisownshoulder。`How’sKitty？’headded，smoothingoutthenapkinhehadtuckedinathiswaistcoatbuttons。
`Verywell；theyarediningathome，allthreeofthem。’
`Ah，``Alines-Nadines’tobesure！There’snoroomwithus。Gotothattable，andmakehasteandtakeaseat，’saidthePrince，andturningawayhecarefullytookaplateofburbotsoup。
`Levin，thisway！’agood-naturedvoiceshoutedalittlefartheron。ItwasTurovtsin。Hewassittingwithayoungofficer，andbesidethemweretwochairstippedover。Levingladlywentuptothem。Hehadalwayslikedthegoodheartedrake，Turovtsin-hewasassociatedinhismindwithmemoriesofhiscourtship-andatthatmoment，afterthestrainofintellectualconversation，thesightofTurovtsin’sgood-naturedfacewasparticularlywelcome。
`ForyouandOblonsky。He’llbeheredirectly。’
Theyoungman，holdinghimselfveryerect，witheyesforevertwinklingwithenjoyment，wasanofficerfromPeterburg，Gaghin。Turovtsinintroducedthem。
`Oblonsky’salwayslate。’
`Ah，hereheis！
`Haveyouonlyjustcome？’saidOblonsky，comingquicklytowardthem。`Goodday。Hadsomevodka？Well，comealongthen。’
Levingotupandwentwithhimtothebigtablespreadwithspiritsandappetizersofthemostvariedkinds。Onewouldhavethoughtthatoutoftwodozendelicaciesonemightfindsomethingtoone’staste，butStepanArkadyevichaskedforsomethingspecial，andoneoftheliveriedwaitersstandingbyimmediatelybroughtwhatwasrequired。Theydrankaponyeachandreturnedtotheirtable。
Atonce，whiletheywerestillattheirsoup，Gaghinwasservedwithchampagne，andtoldthewaitertofillfourglasses。Levindidnotrefusethewine，andaskedforasecondbottle。Hewasveryhungry，andateanddrankwithgreatenjoyment，andwithstillgreaterenjoymenttookpartinthelivelyandsimpleconversationofhiscompanions。Gaghin，droppinghisvoice，toldthelastgoodstoryfromPeterburg，andthestory，thoughimproperandstupid，wassoludicrousthatLevinbrokeintoroarsoflaughtersoloudthatthosenearlookedround。
`That’sinthesamestyleas，``that’sathingIcan’tendure！’
Youknowthestory？’saidStepanArkadyevich。`Ah，that’sexquisite！Anotherbottle，’hesaidtothewaiter，andhebegantorelatehisgoodstory。
`PiotrIllyichVinovskyinvitesyoutodrinkwithhim，’alittleoldwaiterinterruptedStepanArkadyevich，bringingtwodelicateglassesofsparklingchampagne，andaddressingStepanArkadyevichandLevin。StepanArkadyevichtooktheglass，andlookingtowardabaldmanwithredmustachesattheotherendofthetable，henoddedtohim，smiling。
`Who’sthat？’askedLevin。
`Youmethimonceatmyplace，don’tyouremember？Agood-naturedfellow。’
LevindidthesameasStepanArkadyevichandtooktheglass。
StepanArkadyevich’sanecdotetoowasveryamusing。Levintoldhisstory，andthattoowassuccessful。Thentheytalkedofhorses，oftheraces，ofwhattheyhadbeendoingthatday，andofhowsmartlyVronsky’sAtlashadwonthefirstprize。Levindidnotnoticehowthetimepassedatdinner。
`Ah！Andheretheyare！’StepanArkadyevichsaidtowardtheendofdinner，leaningoverthebackofhischairandholdingouthishandtoVronsky，whocameupwithatallcoloneloftheGuards。Vronsky’sfacetoobeamedwiththelookofgood-humoredenjoymentthatwasgeneralintheclub。HeproppedhiselbowplayfullyonStepanArkadyevich’sshoulder，whisperingsomethingtohim，andheheldouthishandtoLevinwiththesamegood-humoredsmile。
`Verygladtomeetyou，’hesaid。`Ilookedoutforyouattheelection，butIwastoldyouhadgoneaway。’
`Yes，Ileftthesameday。We’vejustbeentalkingofyourhorse。
Icongratulateyou，’saidLevin。`Itwasruninveryfasttime。’
`Yes；you’veracehorsestoo，haven’tyou？’
`No，myfatherhad；butIrememberandknowsomethingaboutthem。’
`Wherehaveyoudined？’askedStepanArkadyevich。
`Wewereatthesecondtable，behindthecolumns。’
`We’vebeencelebratinghissuccess，’saidthetallcolonel。`It’shissecondImperialprize。IwishImighthavetheluckatcardshehaswithhorses。’
`Well，whywasteprecioustime？I’mgoingtothe``infernalregions，’’
addedthecolonel，andhewalkedaway。
`That’sIashvin，’VronskysaidinanswertoTurovtsin，andhesatdowninthevacatedseatbesidethem。Hedranktheglassofferedhim，andorderedabottleofwine。Undertheinfluenceoftheclubatmosphereorthewinehehaddrunk，LevinchattedawaytoVronskyofthebestbreedsofcattle，andwasverygladnottofeeltheslightesthostilitytothisman。Heeventoldhim，amongotherthings，thathehadheardfromhiswifethatshehadmethimatPrincessMaryaBorissovna’s。
`Ah，PrincessMaryaBorissovna-she’sexquisite！’saidStepanArkadyevich，andhetoldananecdoteaboutherwhichsetthemalllaughing。
VronskyinparticularlaughedwithsuchsimpleheartedamusementthatLevinfeltquitereconciledtohim。
`Well，havewefinished？’saidStepanArkadyevich，gettingupwithasmile。`Letusgo。’
[NextChapter][TableofContents]TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart7，Chapter08[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter8Gettingupfromthetable，LevinwalkedwithGaghinthroughtheloftyroomstothebilliardroom，feelinghisarmsswingashewalkedwithapeculiarlightnessandease。Ashecrossedthebigroom，hecameuponhisfather-in-law。
`Well，howdoyoulikeourTempleofIndolence？’saidthePrince，takinghisarm。`Comealong，comealong！’
`Yes，Iwantedtowalkaboutandlookateverything。It’sinteresting。’
`Yes，it’sinterestingforyou。Butitsinterestformeisquitedifferent。Youlookatsuchlittleancients，now，’hesaid，pointingtoaclubmemberwithbentbackandpendulouslip，shufflingtowardtheminhissoftboots，`andimaginethattheywereshlupikslikethatfromtheirbirthup。’
`Shlupiks？’
`Iseeyoudon’tknowthatname。That’sourclubdesignation。
Youknowthegameofrollingeggs:whenone’srolledalongwhileitbecomesashlupik。Soitiswithus；onegoesoncomingandcomingtotheclub，andendsbybecomingashlupik。Ah，youlaugh！butwelookout，forfearofdroppingintoitourselves。YouknowPrinceChechensky？’inquiredthePrince；andLevinsawbyhisfacethathewasjustgoingtorelatesomethingfunny。
`No，Idon’tknowhim。’
`Youdon’tsayso！Well，PrinceChechenskyisawell-knownfigure。
Nomatter，though。He’salwaysplayingbilliardshere。Onlythreeyearsagohewasnotashlupik，andkeptuphisspirits，andevenusedtocallotherpeopleshlupiks。Butonedayheturnsup，andourporter……YouknowVassilii？Why，thatfatone；he’sfamousforhisbonsmots。AndsoPrinceChechenskyaskshim，``Come，Vassiliiwho’shere？Anyshlupikshereyet？’
Andhesays:``You’rethethird。’Yes，mydearboy，thathedid！’
Talkingandgreetingthefriendstheymet，LevinandthePrincewalkedthroughalltherooms:thegreatroomwheretableshadalreadybeenset，andtheusualpartnerswereplayingforsmallstakes；thedivanroom，wheretheywereplayingchess，andSergeiIvanovichwassittingtalkingtosomebody；thebilliardroom，where，aboutthesofainarecess，therewasalivelypartydrinkingchampagne-Gaghinwasoneofthem。Theypeepedintothe`infernalregions，’whereagoodmanymenwerecrowdingroundonetable，atwhichIashvinwassitting。Tryingnottomakeanoise，theywalkedintothedarkreadingroom，whereundertheshadedlampstheresatayoungmanwithawrathfulcountenance，turningoveronejournalafteranother，andabaldgeneralburiedinabook。Theywent，too，intowhatthePrincecalledtheintellectualroom，wherethreegentlemenwereengagedinaheateddiscussionofthelatestpoliticalnews。
`Prince，pleasecome，we’reready，’saidoneofhiscardparty，whohadcometolookforhim，andthePrincewentoff。Levinsatdownandlistened，butrecallingalltheconversationofthemorninghefeltallofasuddenfearfullybored。Hegotuphurriedly，andwenttolookforOblonskyandTurovtsin，withwhomithadbeensopleasant。
Turovtsinwasoneofthecircledrinkinginthebilliardroom，andStepanArkadyevichwastalkingwithVronskynearthedooratthefarthercorneroftheroom。
`It’snotthatshe’sdull；butthisundefined，thisunsettledposition，’Levincaught，andhewasgoingtohurryaway，butStepanArkadyevichcalledhim。
`Levin！’saidStepanArkadyevich；andLevinnoticedthathiseyeswerenotfulloftearsexactly，butmoist，whichalwayshappenedwhenhehadbeendrinking，orwhenhewastouched。Todayitwasduetobothcauses。
`Levin，don’tgo，’hesaid，andhewarmlysqueezedhisarmabovetheelbow，obviouslynotatallwishingtolethimgo。
`Thisisatruefriendofmine-almostmygreatestfriend，’hesaidtoVronsky。`Youalsoarestillcloseranddearertome。AndIwantyou，andIknowyouought，tobefriends，andgreatfriends，becauseyou’rebothsplendidfellows。’
`Well，there’snothingforusnowbuttokissandbefriends，’
Vronskysaid，withgood-naturedplayfulness，holdingouthishand。
Levinquicklytooktheofferedhand，andsqueezeditwarmly。
`I’mvery，veryglad，’saidLevin。
`Waiter，abottleofchampagne，’saidStepanArkadyevich。
`AndI’mveryglad，’saidVronsky。
ButinspiteofStepanArkadyevich’sdesire，andtheirowndesire，theyhadnothingtotalkabout，andbothfeltit。
`Doyouknow，hehasnevermetAnna？’StepanArkadyevichsaidtoVronsky。`AndIwantaboveeverythingtotakehimtoseeher。Letusgo，Levin！’
`Really？’saidVronsky。`Shewillbeverygladtoseeyou。Ishouldbegoinghomeatonce，’headded，`butI’mworriedaboutIashvin，andI
wanttostayontillhefinishes。’
`Why，ishelosing？’
`Hekeepslosing，andI’mtheonlyfriendthatcanrestrainhim。’
`Well，whatdoyousaytopyramids？Levin，willyouplay？Capital！’
saidStepanArkadyevich。`Getthetableready，’hesaidtothemarker。
`Ithasbeenreadyalongwhile，’answeredthemarker，whohadalreadysettheballsinatriangle，andwasknockingtheredoneaboutforhisowndiversion。
`Well，letusbegin。’
AfterthegameVronskyandLevinsatdownatGaghin’stable，andatStepanArkadyevich’ssuggestionLevintookahandinthegame。Vronskysatdownatthetable，surroundedbyfriends，whowereincessantlycominguptohim。Everynowandthenhewenttothe`infernal’tokeepaneyeonIashvin。Levinwasenjoyingadelightfulsenseofreposeafterthementalfatigueofthemorning。HewasgladthatallhostilitywasatanendwithVronsky，andthesenseofpeace，decorumandcomfortneverlefthim。
Whenthegamewasover，StepanArkadyevichtookLevin’sarm。
`Well，letusgotoAnna’s，then。Atonce？Eh？Sheisathome。
Ipromisedherlongagotobringyou。Wherewereyouintendingtospendtheevening？’
`Oh，nowherespecially。IpromisedSviiazhskytogototheSocietyofAgriculture。Byallmeans，letusgo，’saidLevin。
`Verygood；comealong。Findoutifmycarriageishere，’StepanArkadyevichsaidtothewaiter。
Levinwentuptothetable，paidthefortyroubleshehadlost；
paidhisbill，theamountofwhichwasinsomemysteriouswayascertainedbythelittleoldwaiterwhostoodatthecounter，and，swinginghisarms，hewalkedthroughalltheroomstotheexit。
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TOLSTOY:AnnaKareninaPart7，Chapter09[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter9`Oblonsky’scarriage！’theportershoutedinanangrybass。Thecarriagedroveupandbothgotin。Itwasonlyforthefirstfewmoments，whilethecarriagewasdrivingoutoftheclubhousegates，thatLevinwasstillundertheinfluenceoftheclubatmosphereofrepose，comfort，andunimpeachablegoodform。Butassoonasthecarriagedroveoutintothestreet，andhefeltitjoltingovertheunevenroad，heardtheangryshoutofadrivercomingtowardthem，sawintheuncertainlighttheredblindofatavernandtheshops，thisimpressionwasdissipated，andhebegantothinkoverhisactions，andtowonderwhetherhewasdoingrightingoingtoseeAnna。
WhatwouldKittysay？ButStepanArkadyevichgavehimnotimeforreflection，and，asthoughdivininghisdoubts，hedispersedthem。
`HowgladIam，’hesaid，`thatyoushouldknowher！YouknowDollyhaslongwishedforit。AndLvov’sbeentoseeher，andoftengoes。
Thoughsheismysister，’StepanArkadyevichpursued，`Idon’thesitatetosaythatshe’saremarkablewoman……Butyouwillsee。Herpositionisverypainful，especiallynow。’
`Whyespeciallynow？’
`Wearecarryingonnegotiationswithherhusbandaboutadivorce。
Andhe’sagreed；buttherearedifficultiesinregardtotheson，andthebusiness，whichoughttohavebeenarrangedlongago，hasbeendraggingonforthreemonthspast。Assoonasthedivorceisover，shewillmarryVronsky。Howstupidtheseoldritualformsare-``Isaiah，rejoice！’-
whichnoonebelievesin，andwhichonlypreventpeoplebeingcomfortable！’
StepanArkadyevichputin。`Well，thentheirpositionwillbeasregularasmine，asyours。’
`Whatisthedifficulty？’saidLevin。
`Oh，it’salongandtediousstoryThewholebusinessisinsuchanindefinitestatewithus。Butthepointis，shehasbeenforthreemonthsinMoscow，whereeveryoneknowsher，waitingforthedivorce；shegoesoutnowhere，seesnowomanexceptDolly，because，doyouunderstand，shedoesn’tcaretohavepeoplecomeasafavor。ThatfoolPrincessVarvara，evenshehaslefther，consideringthisabreachofpropriety。Well，yousee，insuchapositionanyotherwomanwouldnothavefoundresourcesinherself。Butyou’llseehowshehasarrangedherlife-howcalm，howdignifiedsheis。Totheleft，inthealleyoppositethechurch！’shoutedStepanArkadyevich，leaningoutofthewindowofthecarriage。`Phew！Howhotitis！’hesaid，inspiteoftwelvedegreesoffrost，flingingopenhisunbuttonedovercoatstillmore。
`Butshehasadaughter:nodoubtshe’sbusylookingafterher？’
saidLevin。
`Ibelieveyoupictureeverywomansimplyasafemale，unecouveuse，’saidStepanArkadyevich。`Ifshe’soccupied，itmustbewithherchildren。No，shebringsherupcapitally，Ibelieve，butonedoesn’thearabouther。She’sbusy，inthefirstplace，withwhatshewrites。
Iseeyou’resmilingironically，butyou’rewrong。She’swritingachildren’sbook，anddoesn’ttalkaboutittoanyone，butshereadittomeandI
gavethemanuscripttoVorkuev……youknow，thepublisher……Andhe’sanauthorhimselftoo，Ifancy。Heunderstandsthosethings，andhesaysit’saremarkablepieceofwork。Butareyoufancyingshe’sawritingwoman？
Notabitofit。She’sawomanwithaheart，beforeeverything，butyou’llsee。NowshehasalittleEnglishgirlwithher，andawholefamilyshe’slookingafter。’
`Oh，somethinginaphilanthropicway？’
`Why，youwilllookateverythingintheworstlight。It’snotfromphilanthropy，it’sfromtheheart。They-thatis，Vronsky-hadatrainer，anEnglishman，first-rateinhisownline，butadrunkard。He’scompletelygivenuptodrink-deliriumtremens-andthefamilywerecastontheworld。Shesawthem，helpedthem，gotmoreandmo
