Page 604 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

power to exchange the dreary, artificial, idle, and
individualistic life he was leading for this laborious, pure,
and socially delightful life.
The old man who had been sitting beside him had long

ago gone home; the people had all separated. Those who
lived near had gone home, while those who came from far
were gathered into a group for supper, and to spend the
night in the meadow. Levin, unobserved by the peasants,
still lay on the haycock, and still looked on and listened
and mused. The peasants who remained for the night in
the meadow scarcely slept all the short summer night. At
first there was the sound of merry talk and laughing all
together over the supper, then singing again and laughter.
All the long day of toil had left no trace in them but
lightness of heart. Before the early dawn all was hushed.
Nothing was to be heard but the night sounds of the frogs
that never ceased in the marsh, and the horses snorting in
the mist that rose over the meadow before the morning.
Rousing himself, Levin got up from the haycock, and
looking at the stars, he saw that the night was over.
‘Well, what am I going to do? How am I to set about
it?’ he said to himself, trying to express to himself all the
thoughts and feelings he had passed through in that brief
night. All the thoughts and feelings he had passed through

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