Page 1261 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Chapter 10

Vassenka drove the horses so smartly that they reached
the marsh too early, while it was still hot.
As they drew near this more important marsh, the chief
aim of their expedition, Levin could not help considering
how he could get rid of Vassenka and be free in his
movements. Stepan Arkadyevitch evidently had the same
desire, and on his face Levin saw the look of anxiety
always present in a true sportsman when beginning
shooting, together with a certain good-humored slyness
peculiar to him.
‘How shall we go? It’s a splendid marsh, I see, and
there are hawks,’ said Stepan Arkadyevitch, pointing to
two great birds hovering over the reeds. ‘Where there are
hawks, there is sure to be game.’
‘Now, gentlemen,’ said Levin, pulling up his boots and
examining the lock of his gun with rather a gloomy
expression, ‘do you see those reeds?’ He pointed to an
oasis of blackish green in the huge half-mown wet
meadow that stretched along the right bank of the river.
‘The marsh begins here, straight in front of us, do you
see—where it is greener? From here it runs to the right

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