Page 671 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Ambition was the old dream of his youth and
childhood, a dream which he did not confess even to
himself, though it was so strong that now this passion was
even doing battle with his love. His first steps in the world

and in the service had been successful, but two years
before he had made a great mistake. Anxious to show his
independence and to advance, he had refused a post that
had been offered him, hoping that this refusal would
heighten his value; but it turned out that he had been too
bold, and he was passed over. And having, whether he
liked or not, taken up for himself the position of an
independent man, he carried it off with great tact and
good sense, behaving as though he bore no grudge against
anyone, did not regard himself as injured in any way, and
cared for nothing but to be left alone since he was
enjoying himself. In reality he had ceased to enjoy himself
as long ago as the year before, when he went away to
Moscow. He felt that this independent attitude of a man
who might have done anything, but cared to do nothing
was already beginning to pall, that many people were
beginning to fancy that he was not really capable of
anything but being a straightforward, good-natured fellow.
His connection with Madame Karenina, by creating so
much sensation and attracting general attention, had given

670 of 1759