Page 1057 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

But it is hard for anyone who is dissatisfied not to
blame someone else, and especially the person nearest of
all to him, for the ground of his dissatisfaction. And it
vaguely came into Levin’s mind that she herself was not to

blame (she could not be to blame for anything), but what
was to blame was her education, too superficial and
frivolous. ("That fool Tcharsky: she wanted, I know, to
stop him, but didn’t know how to.’) ‘Yes, apart from her
interest in the house (that she has), apart from dress and
broderie anglaise, she has no serious interests. No interest
in her work, in the estate, in the peasants, nor in music,
though she’s rather good at it, nor in reading. She does
nothing, and is perfectly satisfied.’ Levin, in his heart,
censured this, and did not as yet understand that she was
preparing for that period of activity which was to come for
her when she would at once be the wife of her husband
and mistress of the house, and would bear, and nurse, and
bring up children. He knew not that she was instinctively
aware of this, and preparing herself for this time of terrible
toil, did not reproach herself for the moments of
carelessness and happiness in her love that she enjoyed
now while gaily building her nest for the future.

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