Page 339 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

repaired in the winter, for which very purpose he had
hired three carpenters, had not been put into repair, and
the harrows were being repaired when they ought to have
been harrowing the field. Levin sent for his bailiff, but

immediately went off himself to look for him. The bailiff,
beaming all over, like everyone that day, in a sheepskin
bordered with astrachan, came out of the barn, twisting a
bit of straw in his hands.
‘Why isn’t the carpenter at the thrashing machine?’
‘Oh, I meant to tell you yesterday, the harrows want
repairing. Here it’s time they got to work in the fields.’
‘But what were they doing in the winter, then?’
‘But what did you want the carpenter for?’
‘Where are the hurdles for the calves’ paddock?’
‘I ordered them to be got ready. What would you have
with those peasants!’ said the bailiff, with a wave of his
hand.
‘It’s not those peasants but this bailiff!’ said Levin,
getting angry. ‘Why, what do I keep you for?’ he cried.
But, bethinking himself that this would not help matters,
he stopped short in the middle of a sentence, and merely
sighed. ‘Well, what do you say? Can sowing begin?’ he
asked, after a pause.

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