Page 82 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘I guess, but I can’t be the first to talk about it. You can
see by that whether I guess right or wrong,’ said Stepan
Arkadyevitch, gazing at Levin with a subtle smile.
‘Well, and what have you to say to me?’ said Levin in a

quivering voice, feeling that all the muscles of his face
were quivering too. ‘How do you look at the question?’
Stepan Arkadyevitch slowly emptied his glass of
Chablis, never taking his eyes off Levin.
‘I?’ said Stepan Arkadyevitch, ‘there’s nothing I desire
so much as that—nothing! It would be the best thing that
could be.’
‘But you’re not making a mistake? You know what
we’re speaking of?’ said Levin, piercing him with his eyes.
‘You think it’s possible?’
‘I think it’s possible. Why not possible?’
‘No! do you really think it’s possible? No, tell me all
you think! Oh, but if...if refusal’s in store for me!... Indeed
I feel sure..’
‘Why should you think that?’ said Stepan Arkadyevitch,
smiling at his excitement.
‘It seems so to me sometimes. That will be awful for
me, and for her too.’
‘Oh, well, anyway there’s nothing awful in it for a girl.
Every girl’s proud of an offer.’

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