Page 1070 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Seizing the first moment of silence, Levin got up,
anxious to escape, 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

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