Page 1270 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Chapter 11

When Levin and Stepan Arkadyevitch reached the
peasant’s hut where Levin always used to stay, Veslovsky
was already there. He was sitting in the middle of the hut,
clinging with both hands to the bench from which he was
being pulled by a soldier, the brother of the peasant’s wife,
who was helping him off with his miry boots. Veslovsky
was laughing his infectious, good-humored laugh.
‘I’ve only just come. Ils ont ete charmants. Just fancy,
they gave me drink, fed me! Such bread, it was exquisite!
Delicieux! And the vodka, I never tasted any better. And
they would not take a penny for anything. And they kept
saying: ‘Excuse our homely ways.’’
‘What should they take anything for? They were
entertaining you, to be sure. Do you suppose they keep
vodka for sale?’ said the soldier, succeeding at last in
pulling the soaked boot off the blackened stocking.
In spite of the dirtiness of the hut, which was all
muddied by their boots and the filthy dogs licking
themselves clean, and the smell of marsh mud and powder
that filled the room, and the absence of knives and forks,
the party drank their tea and ate their supper with a relish

1269 of 1759