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seem unmoved; but Levin noticed that his eyes were wet when he
turned to him.
“I’ve long, always wished for this!” said the prince, taking Levin by
the arm and drawing him towards himself. “Even when this little
feather-head fancied...”
“Papa!” shrieked Kitty, and shut his mouth with her hands.
“Well, I won’t!” he said. “I’m very, very ...plea ...Oh, what a fool I
am...”
He embraced Kitty, kissed her face, her hand, her face again and
made the sign of the cross over her.
And there came over Levin a new feeling of love for this man, till
then so little known to him, when he saw how slowly and tenderly Kitty
kissed his muscular hand.
Chapter 16.
The princess sat in her armchair, silent and smiling; the prince sat
down beside her. Kitty stood by her father’s chair, still holding his hand.
All were silent.
The princess was the first to put everything into words, and to
translate all thoughts and feelings into practical questions. And all
equally felt this strange and painful for the first minute.
“When is it to be? We must have the benediction and announce-
ment. And when’s the wedding to be? What do you think, Alexander?”
“Here he is,” said the old prince, pointing to Levin—”he’s the prin-
cipal person in the matter.”
“When?” said Levin blushing. “Tomorrow; If you ask me, I should
say, the benediction today and the wedding tomorrow.”
“Come, mon cher, that’s nonsense!”
“Well, in a week.”
“He’s quite mad.”
“No, why so?”
“Well, upon my word!” said the mother, smiling, delighted at this
haste. “How about the trousseau?”
“Will there really be a trousseau and all that?” Levin thought with
horror. “But can the trousseau and the benediction and all that—can
it spoil my happiness? Nothing can spoil it!” He glanced at Kitty, and