Page 762 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

nest, to get in touch with the earth, so as to renew his
strength like the heroes of old for the work that lay before
him. In spite of his exaggerated stoop, and the emaciation
that was so striking from his height, his movements were

as rapid and abrupt as ever. Levin led him into his study.
His brother dressed with particular care—a thing he
never used to do—combed his scanty, lank hair, and,
smiling, went upstairs.
He was in the most affectionate and good-humored
mood, just as Levin often remembered him in childhood.
He even referred to Sergey Ivanovitch without rancor.
When he saw Agafea Mihalovna, he made jokes with her
and asked after the old servants. The news of the death of
Parfen Denisitch made a painful impression on him. A
look of fear crossed his face, but he regained his serenity
immediately.
‘Of course he was quite old,’ he said, and changed the
subject. ‘Well, I’ll spend a month or two with you, and
then I’m off to Moscow. Do you know, Myakov has
promised me a place there, and I’m going into the service.
Now I’m going to arrange my life quite differently,’ he
went on. ‘You know I got rid of that woman.’
‘Marya Nikolaevna? Why, what for?’

761 of 1759