Page 196 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘Have you been long with my brother?’ he said to her.
‘Yes, more than a year. Nikolay Dmitrievitch’s health
has become very poor. Nikolay Dmitrievitch drinks a
great deal,’ she said.

‘That is...how does he drink?’
‘Drinks vodka, and it’s bad for him.’
‘And a great deal?’ whispered Levin.
‘Yes,’ she said, looking timidly towards the doorway,
where Nikolay Levin had reappeared.
‘What were you talking about?’ he said, knitting his
brows, and turning his scarred eyes from one to the other.
‘What was it?’
‘Oh, nothing,’ Konstantin answered in confusion.
‘Oh, if you don’t want to say, don’t. Only it’s no good
your talking to her. She’s a wench, and you’re a
gentleman,’ he said with a jerk of the neck. ‘You
understand everything, I see, and have taken stock of
everything, and look with commiseration on my
shortcomings,’ he began again, raising his voice.
‘Nikolay Dmitrievitch, Nikolay Dmitrievitch,’
whispered Marya Nikolaevna, again going up to him.
‘Oh, very well, very well!... But where’s the supper?
Ah, here it is,’ he said, seeing a waiter with a tray. ‘Here,
set it here,’ he added angrily, and promptly seizing the

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