Page 60 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Levin read it, and without raising his head stood with
the note in his hands opposite Sergey Ivanovitch.
There was a struggle in his heart between the desire to
forget his unhappy brother for the time, and the

consciousness that it would be base to do so.
‘He obviously wants to offend me,’ pursued Sergey
Ivanovitch; ‘but he cannot offend me, and I should have
wished with all my heart to assist him, but I know it’s
impossible to do that.’
‘Yes, yes,’ repeated Levin. ‘I understand and appreciate
your attitude to him; but I shall go and see him.’
‘If you want to, do; but I shouldn’t advise it,’ said
Sergey Ivanovitch. ‘As regards myself, I have no fear of
your doing so; he will not make you quarrel with me; but
for your own sake, I should say you would do better not
to go. You can’t do him any good; still, do as you please.’
‘Very likely I can’t do any good, but I feel—especially
at such a moment—but that’s another thing—I feel I
could not be at peace.’
‘Well, that I don’t understand,’ said Sergey Ivanovitch.
‘One thing I do understand,’ he added; ‘it’s a lesson in
humility. I have come to look very differently and more
charitably on what is called infamous since brother
Nikolay has become what he is...you know what he did..’

59 of 1759