Page 1092 - ANNA KARENINA
P. 1092
Anna Karenina
possible way to relieve him, to soothe him; but it was all
in vain, and Levin saw that she herself was exhausted both
physically and morally, though she would not admit it.
The sense of death, which had been evoked in all by his
taking leave of life on the night when he had sent for his
brother, was broken up. Everyone knew that he must
inevitably die soon, that he was half dead already.
Everyone wished for nothing but that he should die as
soon as possible, and everyone, concealing this, gave him
medicines, tried to find remedies and doctors, and
deceived him and themselves and each other. All this was
falsehood, disgusting, irreverent deceit. And owing to the
bent of his character, and because he loved the dying man
more than anyone else did, Levin was most painfully
conscious of this deceit.
Levin, who had long been possessed by the idea of
reconciling his brothers, at least in face of death, had
written to his brother, Sergey Ivanovitch, and having
received an answer from him, he read this letter to the sick
man. Sergey Ivanovitch wrote that he could not come
himself, and in touching terms he begged his brother’s
forgiveness.
The sick man said nothing.
1091 of 1759
