Page 90 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Stepan Arkadyevitch’s eyes sparkled more than usual.
‘Why not? A roll will sometimes smell so good one
can’t resist it.’

‘Himmlisch ist’s, wenn ich bezwungen
Meine irdische Begier;
Aber doch wenn’s nich gelungen
Hatt’ ich auch recht huebsch Plaisir!’

As he said this, Stepan Arkadyevitch smiled subtly.
Levin, too, could not help smiling.
‘Yes, but joking apart,’ resumed Stepan Arkadyevitch,
‘you must understand that the woman is a sweet, gentle
loving creature, poor and lonely, and has sacrificed
everything. Now, when the thing’s done, don’t you see,
can one possibly cast her off? Even supposing one parts
from her, so as not to break up one’s family life, still, can
one help feeling for her, setting her on her feet, softening
her lot?’
‘Well, you must excuse me there. You know to me all
women are divided into two classes...at least no...truer to
say: there are women and there are...I’ve never seen
exquisite fallen beings, and I never shall see them, but such
creatures as that painted Frenchwoman at the counter with

89 of 1759