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ringing voice read his address on the scientific labors of the man whose
jubilee was being kept.
When Katavasov had finished, Levin looked at his watch, saw it
was past one, and thought that there would not be time before the
concert to read Metrov his book, and indeed, he did not now care to do
so. During the reading he had thought over their conversation. He
saw distinctly now that though Metrov’s ideas might perhaps have
value, his own ideas had a value too, and their ideas could only be
made clear and lead to something if each worked separately in his
chosen path, and that nothing would be gained by putting their ideas
together. And having made up his mind to refuse Metrov’s invitation,
Levin went up to him at the end of the meeting. Metrov introduced
Levin to the chairman, with whom he was talking of the political news.
Metrov told the chairman what he had already told Levin, and Levin
made the same remarks on his news that he had already made that
morning, but for the sake of variety he expressed also a new opinion
which had only just struck him. After that the conversation turned
again on the university question. As Levin had already heard it all, he
made haste to tell Metrov that he was sorry he could not take advan-
tage of his invitation, took leave, and drove to Lvov’s.
Chapter 4.
Lvov, the husband of Natalia, Kitty’s sister, had spent all his life in
foreign capitals, where he had been educated, and had been in the
diplomatic service.
During the previous year he had left the diplomatic service, not
owing to any “unpleasantness” (he never had any “unpleasantness”
with anyone), and was transferred to the department of the court of
the palace in Moscow, in order to give his two boys the best education
possible.
In spite of the striking contrast in their habits and views and the
fact that Lvov was older than Levin, they had seen a great deal of one
another that winter, and had taken a great liking to each other.
Lvov was at home, and Levin went in to him unannounced.
Lvov, in a house coat with a belt and in chamois leather shoes, was
sitting in an armchair, and with a pince-nez with blue glasses he was
reading a book that stood on a reading desk, while in his beautiful
hand he held a half-burned cigarette daintily away from him.
His handsome, delicate, and still youthful-looking face, to which
his curly, glistening silvery hair gave a still more aristocratic air, lighted
up with a smile when he saw Levin.
“Capital! I was meaning to send to you. How’s Kitty? Sit here, it’s
more comfortable.” He got up and pushed up a rocking chair. “Have