Page 1279 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

must be independent; he has his masculine interests. A
man has to be manly,’ said Oblonsky, opening the door.
‘In what way? To go running after servant girls?’ said
Levin.

‘Why not, if it amuses him? Ca ne tire pas a
consequence. It won’t do my wife any harm, and it’ll
amuse me. The great thing is to respect the sanctity of the
home. There should be nothing in the home. But don’t
tie your own hands.’
‘Perhaps so,’ said Levin dryly, and he turned on his
side. ‘Tomorrow, early, I want to go shooting, and I
won’t wake anyone, and shall set off at daybreak.’
‘Messieurs, venes vite!’ they heard the voice of
Veslovsky coming back. ‘Charmante! I’ve made such a
discovery. Charmante! a perfect Gretchen, and I’ve already
made friends with her. Really, exceedingly pretty,’ he
declared in a tone of approval, as though she had been
made pretty entirely on his account, and he was expressing
his satisfaction with the entertainment that had been
provided for him.
Levin pretended to be asleep, while Oblonsky, putting
on his slippers, and lighting a cigar, walked out of the
barn, and soon their voices were lost.

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