32 33
as ever, and picking up a cigarette. He expected some queer outburst
from Levin.
“I don’t understand what you are doing,” said Levin, shrugging his
shoulders. “How can you do it seriously?”
“Why not?”
“Why, because there’s nothing in it.”
“You think so, but we’re overwhelmed with work.”
“On paper. But, there, you’ve a gift for it,” added Levin.
“That’s to say, you think there’s a lack of something in me?”
“Perhaps so,” said Levin. “But all the same I admire your grandeur,
and am proud that I’ve a friend in such a great person. You’ve not
answered my question, though,” he went on, with a desperate effort
looking Oblonsky straight in the face.
“Oh, that’s all very well. You wait a bit, and you’ll come to this
yourself. It’s very nice for you to have over six thousand acres in the
Karazinsky district, and such muscles, and the freshness of a girl of
twelve; still you’ll be one of us one day. Yes, as to your question, there
is no change, but it’s a pity you’ve been away so long.”
“Oh, why so?” Levin queried, panic-stricken.
“Oh, nothing,” responded Oblonsky. “We’ll talk it over. But what’s
brought you up to town?”
“Oh, we’ll talk about that, too, later on,” said Levin, reddening
again up to his ears.
“All right. I see,” said Stepan Arkadyevitch. “I should ask you to
come to us, you know, but my wife’s not quite the thing. But I tell you
what; if you want to see them, they’re sure now to be at the Zoological
Gardens from four to five. Kitty skates. You drive along there, and I’ll
come and fetch you, and we’ll go and dine somewhere together.”
“Capital. So good-bye till then.”
“Now mind, you’ll forget, I know you, or rush off home to the coun-
try!” Stepan Arkadyevitch called out laughing.
“No, truly!”
And Levin went out of the room, only when he was in the doorway
remembering that he had forgotten to take leave of Oblonsky’s col-
leagues.
“That gentleman must be a man of great energy,” said Grinevitch,
when Levin had gone away.
“Yes, my dear boy,” said Stepan Arkadyevitch, nodding his head,
“he’s a lucky fellow! Over six thousand acres in the Karazinsky district;
everything before him; and what youth and vigor! Not like some of
us.”
“You have a great deal to complain of, haven’t you, Stepan
Arkadyevitch?”
“Ah, yes, I’m in a poor way, a bad way,” said Stepan Arkadyevitch
with a heavy sigh.