Page 115 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘Now go,’ he still did not go, as though waiting for
something.
The conversation fell upon table-turning and spirits,
and Countess Nordston, who believed in spiritualism,

began to describe the marvels she had seen.
‘Ah, countess, you really must take me, for pity’s sake
do take me to see them! I have never seen anything
extraordinary, though I am always on the lookout for it
everywhere,’ said Vronsky, smiling.
‘Very well, next Saturday,’ answered Countess
Nordston. ‘But you, Konstantin Dmitrievitch, do you
believe in it?’ she asked Levin.
‘Why do you ask me? You know what I shall say.’
‘But I want to hear your opinion.’
‘My opinion,’ answered Levin, ‘is only that this table-
turning simply proves that educated society—so called—is
no higher than the peasants. They believe in the evil eye,
and in witchcraft and omens, while we..’
‘Oh, then you don’t believe in it?’
‘I can’t believe in it, countess.’
‘But if I’ve seen it myself?’
‘The peasant women too tell us they have seen
goblins.’
‘Then you think I tell a lie?’

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