Page 712 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘Well, I have had some today already,’ said the old
man, obviously accepting the invitation with pleasure.
‘But just a glass for company.’
Over their tea Levin heard all about the old man’s

farming. Ten years before, the old man had rented three
hundred acres from the lady who owned them, and a year
ago he had bought them and rented another three
hundred from a neighboring landowner. A small part of
the land—the worst part—he let out for rent, while a
hundred acres of arable land he cultivated himself with his
family and two hired laborers. The old man complained
that things were doing badly. But Levin saw that he simply
did so from a feeling of propriety, and that his farm was in
a flourishing condition. If it had been unsuccessful he
would not have bought land at thirty-five roubles the acre,
he would not have married his three sons and a nephew,
he would not have rebuilt twice after fires, and each time
on a larger scale. In spite of the old man’s complaints, it
was evident that he was proud, and justly proud, of his
prosperity, proud of his sons, his nephew, his sons’ wives,
his horses and his cows, and especially of the fact that he
was keeping all this farming going. From his conversation
with the old man, Levin thought he was not averse to new
methods either. He had planted a great many potatoes, and

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