Page 362 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

birch trees, and high up in the east twinkled the red lights
of Arcturus. Over his head Levin made out the stars of the
Great Bear and lost them again. The snipe had ceased
flying; but Levin resolved to stay a little longer, till Venus,

which he saw below a branch if birch, should be above it,
and the stars of the Great Bear should be perfectly plain.
Venus had risen above the branch, and the ear of the
Great Bear with its shaft was now all plainly visible against
the dark blue sky, yet still he waited.
‘Isn’t it time to go home?’ said Stepan Arkadyevitch.
It was quite still now in the copse, and not a bird was
stirring.
‘Let’s stay a little while,’ answered Levin.
‘As you like.’
They were standing now about fifteen paces from one
another.
‘Stiva!’ said Levin unexpectedly; ‘how is it you don’t
tell me whether your sister-in-law’s married yet, or when
she’s going to be?’
Levin felt so resolute and serene that no answer, he
fancied, could affect him. But he had never dreamed of
what Stepan Arkadyevitch replied.

361 of 1759