Page 1469 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Chapter 4

Lvov, the husband of Natalia, Kitty’s sister, had spent
all his life in foreign capitals, where he had been educated,
and had been in the diplomatic service.
During the previous year he had left the diplomatic
service, not owing to any ‘unpleasantness’ (he never had
any ‘unpleasantness’ with anyone), and was transferred to
the department of the court of the palace in Moscow, in
order to give his two boys the best education possible.
In spite of the striking contrast in their habits and views
and the fact that Lvov was older than Levin, they had seen
a great deal of one another that winter, and had taken a
great liking to each other.
Lvov was at home, and Levin went in to him
unannounced.
Lvov, in a house coat with a belt and in chamois
leather shoes, was sitting in an armchair, and with a pince-
nez with blue glasses he was reading a book that stood on
a reading desk, while in his beautiful hand he held a half-
burned cigarette daintily away from him.

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