Page 1493 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘Levin, don’t go,’ he said, and he warmly squeezed his arm
above the elbow, obviously not at all wishing to let him
go.
‘This is a true friend of mine—almost my greatest

friend,’ he said to Vronsky. ‘You have become even closer
and dearer to me. And I want you, and I know you ought,
to be friends, and great friends, because you’re both
splendid fellows.’
‘Well, there’s nothing for us now but to kiss and be
friends,’ Vronsky said, with good-natured playfulness,
holding out his hand.
Levin quickly took the offered hand, and pressed it
warmly.
‘I’m very, very glad,’ said Levin.
‘Waiter, a bottle of champagne,’ said Stepan
Arkadyevitch.
‘And I’m very glad,’ said Vronsky.
But in spite of Stepan Arkadyevitch’s desire, and their
own desire, they had nothing to talk about, and both felt
it.
‘Do you know, he has never met Anna?’ Stepan
Arkadyevitch said to Vronsky. ‘And I want above
everything to take him to see her. Let us go, Levin!’

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