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lay sideways on the pillow. Levin could see the scanty locks wet with
sweat on the temples and tense, transparent-looking forehead.
“It cannot be that that fearful body was my brother Nikolay?”
thought Levin. But he went closer, saw the face, and doubt became
impossible. In spite of the terrible change in the face, Levin had only
to glance at those eager eyes raised at his approach, only to catch the
faint movement of the mouth under the sticky mustache, to realize the
terrible truth that this death-like body was his living brother.
The glittering eyes looked sternly and reproachfully at his brother
as he drew near. And immediately this glance established a living
relationship between living men. Levin immediately felt the reproach
in the eyes fixed on him, and felt remorse at his own happiness.
When Konstantin took him by the hand, Nikolay smiled. The
smile was faint, scarcely perceptible, and in spite of the smile the stern
expression of the eyes was unchanged.
“You did not expect to find me like this,” he articulated with effort.
“Yes...no,” said Levin, hesitating over his words. “How was it you
didn’t let me know before, that is, at the time of my wedding? I made
inquiries in all directions.”
He had to talk so as not to be silent, and he did not know what to
say, especially as his brother made no reply, and simply stared without
dropping his eyes, and evidently penetrated to the inner meaning of
each word. Levin told his brother that his wife had come with him.
Nikolay expressed pleasure, but said he was afraid of frightening her
by his condition. A silence followed. Suddenly Nikolay stirred, and
began to say something. Levin expected something of peculiar gravity
and importance from the expression of his face, but Nikolay began
speaking of his health. He found fault with the doctor, regretting he
had not a celebrated Moscow doctor. Levin saw that he still hoped.
Seizing the first moment of silence, Levin got up, anxious to es-
cape, if only for an instant, from his agonizing emotion, and said that he
would go and fetch his wife.
“Very well, and I’ll tell her to tidy up here. It’s dirty and stinking
here, I expect. Marya! clear up the room,” the sick man said with effort.
“Oh, and when you’ve cleared up, go away yourself,” he added, looking
inquiringly at his brother.
Levin made no answer. Going out into the corridor, he stopped
short. He had said he would fetch his wife, but now, taking stock of the
emotion he was feeling, he decided that he would try on the contrary to
persuade her not to go in to the sick man. “Why should she suffer as
I am suffering?” he thought.
“Well, how is he?” Kitty asked with a frightened face.
“Oh, it’s awful, it’s awful! What did you come for?” said Levin.
Kitty was silent for a few seconds, looking timidly and ruefully at
her husband; then she went up and took him by the elbow with both
hands.
“Kostya! take me to him; it will be easier for us to bear it together.
You only take me, take me to him, please, and go away,” she said. “You
must understand that for me to see you, and not to see him, is far more
painful. There I might be a help to you and to him. Please, let me!” she
besought her husband, as though the happiness of her life depended
on it.
Levin was obliged to agree, and regaining his composure, and com-
pletely forgetting about Marya Nikolaevna by now, he went again in to
his brother with Kitty.
Stepping lightly, and continually glancing at her husband, showing
him a valorous and sympathetic face, Kitty went into the sick-room,
and, turning without haste, noiselessly closed the door. With inaudible